A Sobeys store in Toronto.
The Sobeys grocery store chain is expanding its gasoline retailing business with the purchase of 250 gas stations in Atlantic Canada and Quebec from Shell Canada.
Sobeys' parent company Empire Company Ltd. didn't say what it is paying for the stations, most of which are in Quebec.
The chain already has gas bars at some of its Atlantic stores, but this deal will allow it to add them to it Quebec stores as well.
News of the deal came as Empire reported an adjusted profit of $74.6-million, compared to year-earlier earnings of $69.9-million.
Empire, which owns real estate holdings as well as Sobeys, reported sales of $4.04-billion during the quarter, up 3.4 per cent from $3.9-billion in the same period a year earlier.