Metro launches its development program for regional products at its Outaouais stores

MONTREAL, Aug. 13, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Metro is pleased to announce that some 73 new grocery products from 10 Outaouais suppliers are making their debut today in 13 of the region's Metro stores.

Metro's Local Purchasing Policy is aimed at offering as many regional products as possible on the shelves of its network of stores and to increase their visibility, in order to meet the demand of customers, who more than ever are seeking out products from Quebec and from their region. It is also intended to assist suppliers in their business development efforts among Quebecers as part of a large chain.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais, a regional tour was organized during which the purchasing team met with suppliers who are interested and in a position to sell their products at Metro, in order to discuss their products, their labelling, their prices, their merchandising, etc. This process has resulted in several local suppliers being discovered and in assisting them in their efforts leading to their products making it onto the shelves of Metro stores.   

"I would like to point out the efforts that Metro has made in order to make it easier to get products from the region onto its shelves and to make them shine, including providing them with a choice spot in-store and by promoting them on various platforms ", said Sylvain Lefebvre, President of the Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais. "This project with Metro allows participating farmers to develop their business, which benefits the economic activity of the entire region."

"Our goal is to increase the in-store presence of a distinctive selection of products grown in a region, at a competitive price for our clientele. To do so, we don't hesitate to provide personalized support to each one of those partner-suppliers" said Christian Bourbonnière, Senior Vice President, Quebec Division, for Metro. "Benefiting from their experience and equipped with better tools, businesses that want to grow with Metro see their development increase rapidly, with some even moving on to distributing throughout the network."

Launched in May of 2013, Metro's Local Purchasing Policy rests on three guiding principles and is aimed at making Metro a prime showcase for regional products; a privileged partner of Aliments du Québec; the main ally of innovative Quebec suppliers. So far, the implementation of the program in Lanaudière, Chaudière-Appalaches, Centre-du-Québec, Estrie and the Lower St. Lawrence has enabled more than 650 new fresh and grocery products from 100 suppliers to make their debut in Metro stores in their region. Metro's Local Purchasing Policy can be viewed on Metro's website. The 2015 Corporate Responsibility Update is available at metro.ca/responsibility.

Metro Inc.
With annual sales of over $11 billion, METRO INC. (TSX: MRU), founded in 1947, is the only major Canadian food distribution company to have its head office in Quebec. Along with its affiliates and franchisees, METRO INC. employs in Quebec and Ontario over 65,000 people, whose mission is to satisfy their customers every day and earn their-long term loyalty. METRO INC. operates a network of almost 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.

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SOURCE METRO INC.

Image with caption: "METRO LAUNCHES ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR REGIONAL PRODUCTS AT ITS OUTAOUAIS STORES (CNW Group/METRO INC.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150813_C4075_PHOTO_EN_477554.jpg

Geneviève Grégoire, Communication Advisor, Metro Inc., [email protected], 514 643-1000 ext 2055; Charles Séguin, Marketing Agent, Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais, 819 281-7676, [email protected]