Business
COVID-19 Crisis - Empire Company Update
COVID-19 Crisis - Empire Company Update Canada NewsWire STELLARTON, NS, April 15...
About this update from Empire Co Ltd Class A
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nCOVID-19 Crisis - Empire Company Update\n\n/* Style Definitions */\nspan.prnews_span\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\na.prnews_a\n{\ncolor:blue;\n}\nli.prnews_li\n{\nfont-size:8pt;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\n}\np.prnews_p\n{\nfont-size:0.62em;\nfont-family:\"Arial\";\ncolor:black;\nmargin:0in;\n}\n.prntac{\nTEXT-ALIGN: CENTER\n}\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCanada NewsWire\nSTELLARTON, NS, April 15, 2020\n\n\n\nInvesting in the safety of teammates and customers, and supporting communities across Canada\n STELLARTON, NS, April 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Empire Company Limited (\"Empire\" or the \"Company\") today announced business updates related to the impact of the recent novel coronavirus (\"COVID-19\" or \"pandemic\") outbreak.\n\"Management's top priorities are ensuring the health and safety of our teammates and customers, keeping our shelves stocked, and supporting charitable organizations to immediately address urgent needs in communities across Canada,\" said Michael Medline, President and CEO, Empire. \"All of our grocery and pharmacy locations have adapted to ensure we can continue to operate as an essential service, providing Canadians with affordable food and other vital products during this terrible pandemic.  A huge thank you to our teammates in our stores and distribution centres who are working so hard to serve our customers.\"\nSales Impact\nSame-store sales for the first weeks of the fourth quarter were strong, reflecting an improving trend that began in the latter half of the third quarter.  However, starting on February 28, the Company reported significantly higher sales in all formats except fuel.  Sales further accelerated from March 8 onward as customers began to stock up in preparation for possible stay-at-home requirements. By March 22, the sales intensity began to subside, although still significantly above prior year levels. Same-store sales growth for the four-week period starting March 8, excluding fuel and Easter, were approximately 37%.\nAlthough initial demand was skewed towards shelf stable grocery items, sales mix has returned to more usual levels, across both grocery and fresh categories. However, Empire continues to see heightened demand for canned goods, baking supplies and cleaning and sanitization products. In these unprecedented times, it is too early...