Real Canadian Superstore® and Alberta Loblaw banners stores and customers donate more than $300,000 in cash and products for Alberta flood relief

CALGARY, June 28, 2013 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - Thanks to the efforts of the customers and teams from Real Canadian Superstore^®, Extra Foods^®, Your Independent Grocer^®, nofrills^®, Shop Easy^® and Wholesale Clubs^® across Alberta more than $300,000 in cash and products has been donated in support of Alberta flood relief efforts.

Since June 21, Loblaw Companies has donated products such as water, and its President's Choice^® EAT FLEET food trucks have been providing food to local shelters like the Blackie Evacuation Shelter and Village Square Leisure Centre Shelter in Calgary. More water, canned food and essential baby care supplies will be delivered to the Canadian Red Cross as part of their mass distribution planned on Saturday, June 29.

"We would like to express our gratitude for the efforts of our customers and employees. Since last Friday, more than $180,000 has been raised in-store," said Gordon Chem, executive vice-president, Real Canadian Superstore^® and Extra Foods^®, Western Canada, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Our employees have also been generous with their time from volunteering at shelters, shipping product, supplying trucks, working at the Canadian Red Cross distribution centres and supporting their fellow team members impacted by the flooding."

"The Red Cross is working across southern Alberta to provide urgent relief to families affected by the flooding," said Conrad Sauvé, secretary general and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. "We are grateful to Loblaw for making it easier for Canadians to support relief and recovery operations in flood-affected communities."

The Loblaw's team will continue to work with the Canadian Red Cross to identify where they need help the most.

Real Canadian Superstore^®, Extra Foods^®, Your Independent Grocer^®, nofrills^®, Shop Easy^® and Wholesale Clubs^® locations across Alberta will continue to accept $2 donations through in-store Give a Little, Help a Lot™ and SMILE campaigns. One hundred per cent of funds raised will go to the Canadian Red Cross, Calgary Food Bank, Salvation Army High River and other local shelters and charities in need.

Loblaw's commitment to supporting Canada's communities focuses on four key areas,  President's Choice^® Children's Charity, healthy active kids, feeding our neighbours and greening our communities.

About Loblaw Companies LimitedTSX: L

Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer 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 more than 134,000 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^®, no name^® and Joe Fresh^® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial^® services and offers the PC^® points and PC Plus™ loyalty program.

Image with caption: "President's Choice® EAT FLEET food trucks and local Loblaw employees serve food to residents of Blackie Alberta, temporarily residing at the Blackie Evacuation Shelter on June 23 (CNW Group/Loblaw Companies Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130628_C4302_PHOTO_EN_28640.jpg

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Public Relations
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