T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Loblaws - statistics & facts
The first Loblaws store, founded in 1919, aimed to bring the latest self-serve, cash-and-carry concept to Canada. Today it has emerged as one of the main players in the Canadian supermarket and grocery industry, reaching a considerable 29 percent share of the market. As of 2023, Loblaws generated a revenue of around 59.5 billion Canadian dollars and counted more than 2,000 stores throughout the country. However, with rising food and grocery prices, many Canadians are opting for more discounted items or items on promotion and less expensive produce to help save money. Grocery stores have been trying to deal with this situation and to retain current customers or attract new ones by providing coupons, offering discounts on bulk products, or even freezing prices for a while, as Loblaws did for 1,500 of its "No name" private label products between October 2022 and January 2023.
Loblaw’s financial performance
Since 1953, the Loblaws supermarket chain has been a market division of Loblaw Companies Limited, headquartered in Brampton, Ontario. Retail sales of Loblaw Companies Limited in Canada have increased over the last few years, rising from about 31.6 billion Canadian dollars in 2013 to nearly 58.4 billion Canadian dollars in 2023. In recent years, the group’s assets have also shown growth, reaching a peak in 2023, when the group had total assets amounting to close to 39 billion Canadian dollars. The selling, general and administrative expenses of Loblaws slightly increased as well. In 2013, Loblaw's selling, general, and administrative expenses amounted to 6.35 billion Canadian dollars. This figure increased to 15.3 billion Canadian dollars in 2023.Shoppers Drug Mart
Loblaw Companies has six independent divisions, including Shoppers Drug Mart, one of the leading pharmacy chains in Canada. Founded in 1962 by pharmacist Murry Koffler, the first Shoppers Drug Mart store revolutionized retail pharmacy by combining mass merchandizing and self-service. Headquartered in North York, Toronto, the pharmacy retailer was acquired by Loblaw Companies in 2014. Annual drug sales for Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada have witnessed a steady increase in recent years. In 2023, front store sales accounted for nearly half of all Shoppers Drug Mart sales, amounting to approximately 8.5 million Canadian dollars. Front stole sales include traditionally non-pharmacy products, such as food and cosmetics.
