Metro launches development program for regional products at Metro and Super C stores in the Estrie region

MONTREAL, Nov. 18, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Metro is pleased to announce that some 100 new grocery products from 18 Eastern township suppliers will now make their way into 7 Metro and Super C stores in the Estrie region. This Metro initiative is aimed at offering as many regional products as possible on the shelves of its network of stores and to assist suppliers in their business development efforts in Quebec.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Conseil de l'industrie bioalimentaire de l'Estrie (CIBLE), depository body of the Créateurs de saveurs Cantons-de-l'Est brand, and the Metro merchants in the Eastern Townships, two regional tours of the Eastern Townships were organized over the last few months. During the course of those visits, Metro buyers met with suppliers who are interested and in a position to sell their products at Metro, in order to discuss their products, their labeling, their prices, their merchandising, etc. This process has resulted in several local farmers being discovered and in assisting them in their efforts leading to their products coming to the shelves of Metro and Super C stores in their area.

"This initiative is in keeping with the spirit of the Local Purchasing Policy announced in 2013, one of the three guiding principles of which consists of making Metro a prime showcase for regional products," said Serge Boulanger, Senior Vice-President, National Procurement and Corporate Brands for Metro. "Our goal is to increase the in-store presence of a distinctive selection of the products available 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."  

"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. This project with Metro allows participating farmers to develop their business, which benefits the economic activity of the entire region," commented Ghislain Lefebvre, Director of the Conseil de l'industrie bioalimentaire de l'Estrie.

"We are very pleased with the spinoffs stemming from our Local Purchasing Policy. We have noticed several positive impacts: new agreements with innovative suppliers, still more products certified Aliments du Québec, not to mention over 400 new regional products from about sixty new suppliers. We are more determined than ever to mobilize our employees, merchants, partners and suppliers in order to continue to make it easier to access local products," said Marie-Claude Bacon, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Responsibility for Metro.

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 innovate Quebec suppliers. Metro's Local Purchasing Policy can be viewed on Metro's website. The 2014 Corporate Responsibility Report 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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Image with caption: "The Metro Plus Centre-ville Lac-Mégantic display, grouping Cantons-de-l’Est products (CNW Group/METRO INC.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141118_C4299_PHOTO_EN_8185.jpg