Canada and U.S. trade disputes have sparked a search for lower-priced alternatives and the "Buy Canadian" movement. Retail stores are now benefiting from a surge in sales of local goods.Aaron Vincent Elkaim/The Canadian Press
Retailer Loblaw Companies Ltd L-T beat second-quarter revenue and profit estimates on Thursday, driven by strong demand for essential products such as groceries and medicines at its Real Canadian Superstore locations and discount banners, including Maxi.
Consumers seeking lower-priced alternatives across categories ranging from food to healthcare have boosted demand for discount retailers such as Loblaw.
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Same-store sales at its food retail segment rose 3.5 per cent in the second quarter, while drug retail unit sales increased 4.1 per cent from a year earlier.
The “Buy Canadian” movement, sparked by trade disputes between the U.S. and Canada, has also led to consumers switching to locally made goods.
This shift has led to a dramatic reshuffling of shelves at Canadian retail stores, which are now benefiting from a surge in sales of Canadian products.
Loblaw’s retail sales, its biggest revenue contributor, climbed 5.4 per cent in the quarter ended June 14, compared with a 1.4 per cent increase a year ago. E-commerce sales also jumped 17.5 per cent.
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Earlier this month, U.S. President Trump threatened to impose a 35 per cent tariff for goods imported from Canada, starting Aug. 1, raising concerns about an escalating trade war.
Loblaw’s quarterly revenue rose 5.2 per cent to $14.67-billion from a year ago. Analysts estimated a rise of five per cent to $14.64-billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
On an adjusted basis, the company posted earnings per share of $2.40, topping expectations of $2.33 per share.
Loblaw maintained its annual adjusted profit forecast of high single-digit growth.
Separately, Loblaw announced a 4-for-1 stock split on Thursday to keep shares affordable for retail and employee investors.