Loblaw's 4th national Big Brands event helps Canadians keep their wallets and
their pantries full

--More great value store-wide on popular national brands, including Loblaw's own President's Choice

BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 25 /CNW/ - On your mark, get set, SAVE! By taking advantage of BIG savings from Loblaw on daily essentials for the family, plus popular favourites, and once-in-a-while treats, Canadians can put extra money towards March break fun or their piggy banks.

Launching today in Quebec, February 26th in Atlantic Canada and Ontario and February 27th in Western Canada, Loblaw is thrilled to bring their two-week-long Big Brands event to stores across the country, bringing Canadians even more of the great value they already expect when shopping at Loblaw corporate and franchise stores.

The Big Brands event runs store-wide for two weeks only, featuring select grocery items such as coffee and paper towels, plus meat, seafood and general merchandise items including, electronics, small appliances and toys. It's easy for customers to purchase extra quantities of their favourite products with the convenience of getting everything in one place. Popular national brand items from Kraft, Pepsi, Campbell's Nestle, Loblaw's own President's Choice and more are on sale for half-price at the following locations: Ontario - Real Canadian Superstore(R), Loblaw Great Food(R), Loblaws(R), Zehrs(R), Fortinos(R), valu-mart(R) and Your Independent Grocer(R), Quebec - Provigo(R) and Loblaws(R), Atlantic Canada - Dominion(R), and Atlantic Superstore(R).

Customers can also take advantage of family sized savings on select national brands and Club Pack(R) items during the Buy Big and Save Big sale happening March 11th in Maxi(R) and Maxi & Cie(R) stores in Quebec, March 12th at nofrills(R) in Ontario and Atlantic Canada and March 13th at nofrills(R) in Western Canada.

Also, in Western Canada at Real Canadian Superstore(R) and Extra Foods(R), the Big Brands event will feature great prices on various brand names store-wide.

There are plenty of extra reasons to get in on the action during the Big Brands event too. Customers can rack up PC(R) points! When customers spend $25 or more on iTunes cards with their President's Choice Financial(R) MasterCard(R) or President's Choice Financial(R) bank card they will receive a bonus of 5000 PC points**. Customers can also save $20 off select Samsung handsets for PC(R) Mobile and $10 off the purchase of a $20 PC(R) long distance card with an in-flyer coupon.

"We are dedicated to providing great value and helping customers save money on 'must-have' essentials, favourite household staples and more," comments Julija Hunter, Vice President, Public Relations, Loblaw Companies Limited. "With March Break around the corner, hopefully some of these savings will provide our customers with some extra money for family fun."

For more information on the Big Brands event, see your store for details or visit any of the following websites; www.superstore.ca, www.loblaws.ca, www.loblawgreatfood.ca, www.nofrills.ca, www.fortinos.ca, www.zehrs.ca, www.zehrsgreatfood.ca, www.valumart.ca, www.yourindependentgrocer.ca, www.extrafoods.ca, www.saveeasy.ca, www.provigo.ca and www.maxi.ca

*Stores include: Real Canadian Superstore, Loblaws, Loblaw Great Food, No Frills, Fortinos, Zehrs, Zehrs Great Food, valumart, Your Independent Grocer, Extra Foods, Atlantic Save Easy, Atlantic Superstore, Provigo, Maxi and Maxi & Cie

**iTunes cards are available only in select stores. For more information, visit www.pc.ca

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food distributor and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ over 139,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice(R), no name(R) and Joe Fresh Style(R) brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial(R) services and offers the PC(R) points loyalty program.

For further information: or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact Christina Alviano, Public Relations Coordinator, Loblaw Companies Limited, [phone], extension 616166, Email: [email protected]