Empire to buy nine Morelli's pharmacies in Ontario
Empire Company and its subsidiary Sobeys have signed a deal to buy nine Morelli’s pharmacies co-located in Longo’s grocery stores in Ontario.
Each of the nine pharmacies will be integrated into Sobeys National Pharmacy operations and will be rebranded as a Longo's Pharmacy.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2027.
Empire—which also operates drug store chain Lawtons—said the deal remains subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of Ontario College of Pharmacists regulatory approvals.
Morelli’s Pharmacy, founded by Gerry Morelli in 1990, is a full-service pharmacy offering both dispensing and clinical services to patients throughout the GTA and Hamilton. The first Morelli's inside a Longo's grocery store was opened in 2005, after which eight additional in-store pharmacies were opened at Longo's locations.
"Morelli's has been a vital part of our Longo's community for decades, providing expert pharmacy services and dispensing," said Deb Craven, president of Longo's, in a press release. "We will continue to offer our guests and patients the same care and trust that Morelli's is known for, while providing the benefit of Empire's scale, operational expertise and long‑term commitment to advancing pharmacy-led primary care in Canada."
Doug Nathanson, general counsel and chief pharmacy and development officer at Empire, added:"The acquisition of nine Morelli's pharmacies provides Empire with a strategic opportunity to grow the Ontario pharmacy network with an established and trusted partner already embedded in Longo's day-to-day operations. The conversion to Longo's Pharmacy ensures the continuity of exceptional patient and customer service, while also providing the opportunity for Empire to diversify its brand offering to new patients and Longo's guests."
