Shoppers Drug Mart announces first series of service reductions in response
to impending Ontario Liberal Government cuts to community pharmacy

TORONTO, April 12 /CNW/ - Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation (TSX: SC) announced today that it will undertake the first in a series of reductions in store operating hours as a result of the impending funding cuts to community pharmacy by the Ontario Liberal Government. Beginning Tuesday, April 13th, Shoppers Drug Mart will implement store hour reductions for seven stores in the London region. Two of these stores will also implement additional reductions in pharmacy hours, known as "lock-and-leave", whereby the pharmacy is closed while the rest of the store remains open. These reductions will be effective seven days a week, unfortunately removing over 170 hours of front-line health care and pharmacy access from London residents weekly. Effective Monday, April 19th, 2010, stores in the London market will also be implementing a fee for delivery services.

"The decision to reduce our operating hours in the London market was a difficult one for our Associate-owners," said Jürgen Schreiber, President and CEO of Shoppers Drug Mart. "However, given the impending funding cuts to community pharmacy announced by the Ontario Liberal Government, we must modify our business model to ensure the long-term sustainability of our stores. We regret the inconvenience these changes may cause to our valued patients and customers. Our Associate-owners are deeply committed to serving their patients and customers to the best of their ability and will continue to do so under these difficult circumstances."

The Company will continue to review its operations, market by market, across the Province of Ontario and will provide updates regarding any further changes when they become available.

About Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With more than 1,170 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The Company also licenses or owns more than 49 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and six luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale. As well, the Company also owns and operates 64 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Alberta.

For more information, visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

For further information: Tammy Smitham, Director, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart, [phone], [email protected]