Loblaw’s president focused on growth

Vicente Trius, Loblaw’s president who took the reigns in August is looking to grow sales at the country’s largest grocer as competition heats up.

Wednesday Trius will release his frist set of quarterly financial results at a time when supermarket sales in Canada aren’t budging.

Increased competition is coming from Walmart’s expanding food offering; Whole Foods, which will open more stores; and Target, which will open stores in 2013.

Analysts got a chance to meet with Trius last month, said a report in the Globe and Mail.

“We believe Mr. Trius is probably the right man for the job, but the job is enormous,” Caicco said in the report.

Analysts agreed that Trius has an impressive track record of building businesses from nothing.

Other areas that the grocer will focus on for growth include financial services, mobile phones, health and wellness products, ethnic goods and Joe Fresh merchandise.