(Montreal – December 14, 2004) - Pierre H. Lessard, President and Chief Executive Officer of METRO INC., is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Eric Richer La Flèche as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

In this capacity, Mr. La Flèche will assume overall responsability for all food retail and wholesale operations of the company as well as real estate development.

Mr. La Flèche joined METRO INC. in 1991 to head the real estate development and was promoted soon after to Vice President real estate and legal affairs. Mr. La Flèche then moved on to other senior positions with increasing operational responsabilities and since 2000, he was Senior Vice President of Super C and President of LOEB CANADA INC.

Mr. La Flèche holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a law degree from the University of Ottawa. He was recognized in 2001 as one of "Canada's Top 40 under 40".

This appointment will serve to focus the company's efforts on the growth of its food sector and to maximize internal synergies.

With $6 billion in annual sales and more than 32,500 employees, METRO INC. is a leader in the Quebec and Ontario food and pharmaceutical industries. The Company's banners include Metro, Super C, Loeb and Brunet.

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Source : METRO INC.

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Corporate Affairs
(514) 643-1086

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