Grocery retailer Empire reports $159M Q2 profit, down from $173M a year ago

Empire Co. Ltd. says it earned $159 million in its latest quarter, down from $173 million in the same quarter last year.

The company behind Sobeys says its profit amounted to 69 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Nov. 1 compared with a profit of 73 cents per diluted share a year earlier.

Sales for what was the company's second quarter totalled $8.0 billion, up from $7.8 billion in the same quarter last year.

Same-store sales were up 2.0 per cent, while food same-store sales rose 2.5 per cent.

Empire also announced the appointment of Jo Mark Zurel to the company's board of directors.

Zurel is chair of the board at Fortis Inc. and also serves on the boards of Major Drilling Group International Inc. and Highland Copper Company Inc.