Loblaw Companies Ltd. has announced plans to expand its grocery pick-up and delivery services across the country this year.
The company plans to add home delivery to five more markets this year, including Montreal, Halifax and Regina.
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Late last year, the company partnered with California-based Instacart to launch home delivery in two Canadian cities. It is currently available in 11 markets, including Toronto and Vancouver.
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Loblaw also says it plans to expand its click-and-collect program, which allows customers to order groceries online and pick them up, with 500 new pick-up sites this year.
By the end of 2018, the retailer aims to have more than 700 pick-up locations — including more grocery stores, GO Train commuter stations in the Toronto area, and the first of many Shoppers Drug Mart stores.
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Loblaw operates grocery stores under several names, including Real Canadian Superstore, Extra Foods, No Frills, Independent, Wholesale Club and Dominion.
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The announcement came as Loblaw raised its quarterly dividend to 29.5 cents per share from 27 cents per share and reported improved quarterly earnings.
Loblaw earned a profit attributable to common shareholders of $377 million or 98 cents per diluted share on $10.37 billion in revenue for the quarter ended March 24. That compared with a profit of $232 million or 58 cents per share on $10.40 billion in revenue in the same quarter last year.
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