Sales at Empire — a network of roughly 1,600 stores, including Farm Boy, IGA, Safeway and Foodland — rose to $7.9 billion in its first quarter, ended Aug. 6, up 4.1 per cent compared to the same period last year. The jump came from higher fuel sales and food inflation, as well as its expansion of FreshCo in Western Canada, the company said in aSign up to receive the daily top stories from the Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
But Empire’s profit dropped to $187.5 million, down $1 million or 0.5 per cent compared to last year. Earnings per share was 71 cents in the quarter, below forecasts of 74 cents, but one cent higher than the previous year.Article content
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