Loblaw sells four stores to Metro, Jean Coutu

Loblaw is selling two of its No Frills stores in small-town Ontario to rival grocer Metro.

The two stores, in Blenheim and Elmira, in the southwestern part of the province, were put up for sale as part of the Competition Bureau's approval of Loblaw's purchase of Shoppers Drug Mart.

On Monday, the Competition Bureau also announced Loblaw had sold two Shoppers Drug Mart stores in New Brunswick to Quebec drugstore giant Jean Coutu Group. The stores are located in the towns of Dalhousie and St. Stephen.

As well, nine pharmacies in existing Loblaw stores, have also been licensed out to Remedy’s Rx, a retail banner buying group with 275 independent members in six provinces, plus 25 corporate stores across Canada.

Two of those stores are in Newfoundland and seven are in Ontario (see complete list below)

Loblaw announced its $12.4-billion purchase of Shoppers Drug Mart a year ago. To seal the deal, the Competition Bureau ordered Loblaw to sell 18 stores and nine pharmacies to independent operators.

Loblaw must still find buyers for 14 stores identified by the Competition Bureau.

READ: With “behavioural restrictions” Loblaw gets OK to buy Shoppers

Here is a list of the nine pharmacies being picked up by Remedy's:

• Bay Roberts, NF, Dominion Bay Roberts

• Carbonear, NF Dominion Carbonear

• Almonte, Ont. Patrice’s Your Independent Grocer

• Embrun, Ont. Embrun Your Independent Grocer

• Ingersoll, Ont. Your Independent Grocer Ingersoll

Listowel, Ont. Zehrs Listowel

Port Perry, Ont. Vos’ Your Independent Grocer Port Perry

Prescott, ON O’Reilly’s Your Independent Grocer,

Tillsonburg, Ont. Zehrs Tillsonburg