STELLARTON — Empire Co. Ltd. says it earned $233 million in its latest quarter, up from $212 million in the same quarter last year. The grocery retailer, whose banners include Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo and Farm Boy, says the profit amounted to $1.04 per diluted share for the quarter ended Aug. 1. The result was up from a profit of 91 cents per diluted share a year earlier. Sales for what was Empire’s first quarter totalled $8.48 billion, up from $8.26 billion. Food sales totalled $7.92 billion, up from $7.79 billion a year ago, while fuel sales rose to $553 million, up from $467 million. Same-store food sales rose 1.2 per cent, while higher prices helped boost same-store fuel sales 18.9 per cent. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 10, 2026. The Canadian Press
