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The company will host a massive picnic at the Olympic Stadium for 5,000 students


Montreal, June 14, 2009 – Metro is proud to be the major sponsor of the first Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL). The event, a 1, 000 km course between La Baie and Montréal from June 12 to 14, will conclude today with a major rally involving 5,000 students and 1,000 supervisors and will focus on the theme "Get up and move!" Metro will host a massive picnic at the Olympic Stadium, as well as provide dinner, evening snacks and breakfast the next day.

Through its role as major sponsor, Metro is associated with the "Eat better" component of the GDPL. From June 12 to14, Metro will refuel cyclists with healthy foods throughout the 1,000 km course.

The GDPL promotes physical activity and healthier eating habits. The event aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle by highlighting the importance of physical activity and good nutrition among children and, by ripple effect, their parents.

"It's only natural that we be involved in such a cause," explains Eric R. La Flèche, President and CEO, Metro Inc. "The Be active, Eat better" theme is perfectly aligned with our values and our mission to offer Quebecers healthy food choices, particularly children aged six to 12."

Metro's province-wide retail network will help raise the cause's profile. Since May, Metro’s 223 stores in Quebec have invited their clients to purchase, for only $1, a lunchbox that children will enjoy putting together like a puzzle. Coupons, which can be applied to the in-store purchase of various foods that make up a healthy lunch, will also be handed out. All profits from the sale of lunchboxes will benefit the GDPL. The sales of the lunchbox will continue until June 17.

Did you know…

• 6 000 shepherd’s pie in individual portions will be cooked;
• 12 000 sandwiches will be prepared;
• 6 000 Tropical Fiesta Selection popsicles will be distributed;
• And 850 kilos of ground beef used.

About the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie

In November 2008, the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie hit the road in Quebec with a sizeable goal: to create the largest health event ever organized in this province. This unique event, an initiative of the non-profit organization Go le Grand défi, brings people together in the aim of developing healthy lifestyles among children aged six to 12 and, by ripple effect, their parents. From now until June 2009, the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie plans to call on every elementary school in the province's 17 administrative regions to encourage children to be more active and eat better.

Metro Inc.
With annual sales of nearly $11 billion and over 65,000 employees, Metro Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Quebec and Ontario, where it operates a network of close to 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, A&P, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, Clini Plus, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.


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Information source:
Marie-Claude Bacon
Director, Corporate Affairs
Metro inc.
514 643-1086
mbacon@metro.ca