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The company that owns Sobeys has purchased the Mayrand Food Group, a Quebec-based grocery store operator.
“Mayrand is a respected Quebec institution with deep local roots and a loyal customer base. This transaction allows the Mayrand brand to continue serving customers and communities while benefiting from Empire’s scale, operational expertise and long‑term commitment to food retail in Québec,” Luc L’Archevêque, chief customer officer, Empire (EMP-A-T) said in a press release.
The transaction is pursuant to a court‑approved process and is subject to closing conditions, as well as required regulatory approvals. It is expected to close in Q1 of fiscal 2027, according to Empire.
Mayrand is a century-old retailer
Founded over 110 years ago in 1914, Mayrand is a Quebec retailer known for a broad product assortment and competitive pricing. It operates four stores in Anjou, Laval, Brossard and Saint‑Jérôme.
The acquisition will provide Empire with an entry into the Quebec discount and warehouse food market. Mayrand’s large‑format stores and extensive assortment (more than 10,000 products) will add to Empire’s current offerings. According to its website, Mayrand serves more than 3,500 customers every day.
Empire will “ensure continuity for the Mayrand workforce and stability for customers, suppliers and business partners,” it said in the release. The company has over 350 employees.
Empire is headquartered in Stellarton, N.S. Its main business is food retailing, through wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc.
It has approximately $32 billion in annual sales and $17 billion in assets. The company employs approximately 129,000 people.
In 2025, troubled Colabor Group purchased Mayrand’s distribution arm, Alimplus Inc., operating under the name Mayrand Plus. However earlier this week, Colabor announced a sell-off of its assets after entering creditor protection in January.
This is not the first time Empire has purchased smaller, boutique grocery brands. In 2021, it purchased a controlling stake in Toronto-based Longo’s. In 2018, it bought Ottawa-based Farm Boy, and Empire has been actively expanding both banners in the years since those acquisitions.
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