(Montreal, November 20, 2007) – Mr. Maurice Jodoin, Chairman of the Board of METRO inc., announced today that Mr. Eric Richer La Flèche will become President and Chief Executive Officer of METRO inc., effective April 1st, 2008.

Mr. La Flèche has been Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2005. His appointment follows the personal decision of Mr. Pierre H. Lessard, President and Chief Executive Officer since 1990, to retire at the termination of his employment contract ending April 1st 2008.

“The appointment of M. La Flèche is in line with the Company’s succession plan, developed many years ago by the Human Resources Committee and the Board of Directors. Therefore, the succession of the Chief Executive Officer comes from within its own ranks in an orderly and harmonious way”, indicated Mr. Jodoin.

Mr. La Flèche, 45, who holds an MBA from Harvard Business School as well as a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa, joined METRO inc. in 1991 as Senior Director, Real Estate Development. In 1992, he became Vice-President, Real Estate and Legal Affairs, a position he held until 1997 and then moved to Super C where he contributed to the division’s rapid development. He was in charge of the Loeb division since its acquisition in 1999, leading its resurgence. He has held the positions of Senior Vice-President, Super C and President, Loeb Canada inc. from 2000 to 2004.

The Board wants to underline the outstanding contribution of Mr. Lessard as CEO of METRO inc.

Since he took the helm of METRO inc., the Company has reported 17 years of sustained growth in net income. The market capitalization has increased more than 60 times, reaching today $3.2 billion and sales are five times the ones of 1990.


Mr. Lessard, 65, has positioned METRO as a leader of the Canadian food industry, with the acquisition and the integration of 48 Steinberg in 1992, of 41 Loeb stores in 1999 and finally, in 2005, A&P Canada with its 236 food stores throughout Ontario under the A&P, Dominion, Food Basics, The Barn and Ultra Food & Drug banners.

Over the years, Mr. Lessard has taken great care to build a solid team of talented managers making sure that today’s accomplishments become the foundation for an even more promising future for METRO, its employees and shareholders.

“I am sure that METRO’s management team under the leadership of Eric Richer La Flèche will continue its tradition of business excellence, growth and building shareholders’ value”, said Mr. Lessard.


METRO INC.
With annual sales of nearly $11 billion and over 65 000 employees, METRO INC. is a leader in the food and pharmacy market segments in both Quebec and Ontario where it operates a network of close to 600 supermarkets under Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, A&P, Dominion, Loeb and Food Basics banners as well as over 250 pharmacies under the Brunet, Clini Plus, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.

Photos of Mr. Lessard and Mr. La Flèche are available on request. Please contact the undersigned for an electronic copy.

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SOURCE: METRO

INFORMATION: Marie-Claude Bacon
Director, Corporate Affairs
(514) 643-1086
1-800- 361-4681

Biographical Notes of Mr. Pierre H. Lessard

Biographical Notes of Mr. Eric Richer La Flèche  

PROFILE

PIERRE H. LESSARD
President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Pierre H. Lessard holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a master's degree in Commerce from Laval University. He is also a member and Fellow (FCA) of the Quebec Order of Chartered Accountants.

Mr. Lessard started his career as an auditor at Touche Ross and Company. He subsequently joined in 1967, Denault Ltée, a food distributor of Sherbrooke, where he held various positions, including that of Assistant to the President, Treasurer and Controller.

In 1969, when Denault Ltée, Couvrette & Provost and Lamontagne Ltée were amalgamated to form Provigo Inc., he became Vice-President Finance and Administration of the Company and was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in 1976.

In October 1985, Mr. Lessard became Vice-Chairman of the Board of Pathonic Network Inc. In March 1988, he was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Aeterna Life Insurance Company, and in October 1990, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of Metro Inc.

He is a member of several boards, including those of TD Bank Financial Group, SNC Lavalin Group Inc. and Metro Inc., and is involved in many community activities and fund-raising campaigns.

November 2007


PROFILE

ERIC RICHER LA FLÈCHE
Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Eric Richer La Flèche holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a degree in Civil Law (LL.L) from the University of Ottawa.

Mr. La Flèche began his career in 1983 with the firm of Martineau Walker as a corporate and securities lawyer. In 1985, he joined the Department of Finance as Special Assistant to the Minister, Michael H. Wilson. From 1988 to 1990, he was a project development officer with Canderel Limited.

His career in the grocery industry began in 1991 when he joined METRO INC. as Executive Director of Real Estate Development, before being appointed Vice-President of Real Estate and Legal Affairs. In 1997, he moved to the Super C banner as Vice-President of Operations, then as Senior Vice-President and General Manager. In 1999, he was appointed President of Loeb Canada Inc. while remaining Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Super C. In January 2005, he was appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of METRO INC.

Mr. La Flèche is involved in several local charities.

November 2007

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