The parent company of Sobeys and Safeway says sales at its stores surged 37 per cent over a four-week period as Canadians stocked their shelves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a news release Wednesday, Empire Company Limited said it started reporting “significantly higher” sales in all formats except fuel on Feb.
28. The Nova Scotia-based company says sales further accelerated from March 8 onward as customers began to stock up in preparation for possible stay-at-home requirements. “Although initial demand was skewed towards shelf-stable grocery items, sales mix has returned to more usual levels, across both grocery and fresh categories,” Empire said in the release. “However, Empire continues to see heightened demand for canned goods,