Empire Co. continues
to struggle after it bought Canada Safeway for $5.8 billion last
year.
Its profit slumped
from $108.8 million to $65.4 million in the most recent quarter.
Sales declined from
$6.25 to $6.19 billion, all because of the Western Canadian stores.
The Sobeys stores in
Eastern Canada had sales gains of six-tenths of one per cent.
Empire is second to
Loblaws in Canada; last year Loblaws bought Shoppers Drug Mart chain.
Both have apparently
been losing market share to Wal-Mart.