Metro Inc. is taking over franchising at two Loblaws-owned
No Frills stores, one in Elmira, the other in Blenheim.
That arises out of a Bureau of Competition order to Loblaws
to divest the outlets because its $12.4-billion purchase of Shopper’s Drug Mart
would give it too much market clout in those communities.
The bureau’s chief concern is about Loblaw’s domination of
the pharmacy business.
In Elmira, Metro is in negotiations with Paul and Adele
Henderson who run the No Frills franchise.
Metro plans to convert it to its
Food Basics banner.
About 2,800 Elmira residents have signed a petition opposing
the bureau’s order. They want to retain the No Frills store.
Mayor Todd Cowan likened the bureau’s order to consumers
shopping for jeans. They want Levi’s, but the government says they have to buy
Wrangler.
What I'd like to know is why the bureau has laid no charges yet against Ontario's two largest egg-grading companies who control 90 per cent of the market and, according to e-mails, talk to each other about pricing and about who gets which accounts.
