During this period, Metro continues to grow in all of its business segments. New products and store concepts are developed to add even more value for consumers.
In 1998, Metro invests $1.8 million in professional training and creates its own training centre, Metro’s School for Professionals, for its staff, and for its retailers and their employees.
Metro's house brands undergo a major transformation with the new Merit Selection label replacing the Metro – The Obvious Choice and Marché Richelieu labels. For its part, the Montréal Merit Beef division earns HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certification, one of the industry’s most important international food-safety control standards.
In June of 1999, Metro acquires the Loeb banner along with its two warehouses in Ottawa and a network of 41 supermarkets in Eastern and Northeastern Ontario.
The Information Systems Division’s hard work ensures a problem-free Y2K transition. In January 2000, the Company adopts a new corporate name, Metro Inc. That same year, Metro launches its website, www.metro.ca, a treasure-trove of original recipe ideas and meal suggestions as well as information on the Company, and introduces a new line of premium products: Irresistible.
In 2001, Metro Inc. introduces three new meat product lines—Express
Meat, RedGrill and Tender Fork—along with in-store chefs to answer
customers’ questions.
In 2002, Metro Inc. acquires the assets of Grossiste Sue Shang Inc., a grocery distributor serving independent convenience stores in Quebec.
In 2003, Metro Inc. launches a new banner, Metro Plus, with its improved ultra-modern, friendly, boutique-based store concept. In addition to the usual services, Metro Plus offers a Nos Trouvailles (Our Discoveries) section, featuring a wide range of non-food products, a Bio Découvertes (Organic Discoveries) food section, with more than 1,200 organic and natural products, and a health and beauty section called Les Essentiels (The Essentials), with 2,500 pharmaceutical products and a wide array of seasonal and floral items.
In spring of that same year, the Montréal and Québec City Merit Beef Division meat and frozen food warehouses double in size, following investments of more than $23 million.
In 2003, Metro’s Food Services Division purchases Alexandre Gaudet Ltée, a food distributor serving small-surface stores, allowing it to supply more than 2,000 such stores, including 800 under one Metro banner or another.
Metro Inc. acquires the 15 stores under the Supermarchés A. Gagnon chain in May 2004. These stores generate approximately $160 million in sales per year.
That same year, Metro’s website www.metro.ca wins the Grand Prize in the business-to-consumer (B2C) promotional site category at the Boomerang Awards.
In August 2005, to better position itself in Ontario, Metro
purchases all the shares of The Great Atlantic & Pacific
Company of Canada (A & P Canada) for $1.7 billion. This
acquisition places Metro second in terms of market share in each of
the two largest Canadian markets, with 35% in Quebec and 24% in
Ontario.
Also in 2005, Super C implements a new store concept with two
zones: Le Marché (fresh foods) and Le Depôt (grocery products).
At Merit Beef, a new category of meat is introduced: Angus quality beef.
Fiscal 2006 signals the development and implementation of the Company's integration and rationalization plan related to the acquisition of A & P Canada.
In Ontario, Metro completes the conversion of its Super C
discount stores to the Food Basics banner.
In January 2006, Metro becomes the first retailer to offer
consumers reusable bags.
That same year, in order to provide its different banners with the best products at the lowest possible prices, Metro creates a national procurement group for grocery and private label products.
In 2007, the private label program is overhauled as Metro chooses
two new private brands, Selection for regular products, and
Irresistibles, which becomes Metro’s premium signature.
