HIGHLIGHTS

• The Company realized earnings of $85.1 million compared to $56.9 million, an increase of 49.6%, and fully diluted net earnings per share of $0.73, up 25.9% from $0.58 last year.
• Integration and rationalization costs of $3.9 million and an income tax gain of $9.4 million were recorded in the third quarter. Excluding these non-recurring items, adjusted net earnings would have been $78.3 million, up 37.6% over the same quarter last year, and adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share would have been $0.68, an increase of 17.2%.
• The Company’s sales increased 75.8% to $3,336.7 million. Excluding the acquisition of A&P Canada, decreased sales of tobacco products and discontinuance, at the end of 2005, of certain low margin supply contracts, the sales increase would have been 2.9%.
• With $15.5 million in synergies achieved in the third quarter and $32.6 million after 40 weeks, we are confident to exceed our target of $35 million for the first year.

  Please look at our Press Release

Conference Call
Financial analysts are invited to participate in a conference call at 4:30 p.m. EDT August 10, 2006 on the third quarter results of fiscal 2006. To access the conference call, please dial 416-644-3417 or 514-940-2795. The media and public are invited to listen to the call in real time or delayed time on the METRO INC. Web site at www.metro.ca.

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