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Empire Company
Retail

Empire Company Company Overview

Empire Company logo

Empire Company

● Active
Retail · Stellarton, Nova Scotia, Canada · Est. 1963
RetailGroceryE-CommercePharmacy↗ Website
$9.2B CAD
Valuation
$42.0B CAD
Revenue
130k+
Employees
1963
Founded

Empire Company Limited is one of Canada's largest food retailers, operating Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Farm Boy, Thrifty Foods, and the Voilà online grocery service across all ten provinces. The company serves millions of Canadians through more than 1,500 stores and a pharmacy network, anchored by the Scene+ loyalty program shared with Scotiabank and Cineplex.

Recent Press
5 items
Press Release·2026-03-13
Empire Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results
Empire Company Limited reported fiscal third quarter 2026 net loss of $385 million due to non-cash impairment charges of approximately $750 million related to the rationalization of its e-commerce network. Adjusted net earnings were $164 million ($0.72 per share), up 12.3% from the prior year.
Press Release·2026-01-28
Empire Provides E-Commerce Update, Targets $95 Million in Annualized Operating Income Improvement
Empire Company Limited and its subsidiary Sobeys Inc. announced a strategic e-commerce update focused on expanding third-party delivery partnerships while rationalizing its Voilà e-commerce network. The company expects approximately $95 million in annualized operating income improvement by fiscal 2027.
Press Release·2025-12-11
Empire Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results
Empire Company Limited reported fiscal second quarter 2026 net earnings of $159 million ($0.69 per share) and announced capital expenditures of approximately $850 million planned for fiscal 2026, with roughly half allocated to renovations and new store expansion across its Sobeys and related banners.
Press Release·2025-09-11
Empire Releases Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Results with Net Earnings of $212 Million
Empire Company Limited reported first quarter fiscal 2026 net earnings of $212 million ($0.91 per share), up from $208 million ($0.86 per share) in the prior year. The results reflected solid same-store sales growth and continued execution against the company's operational efficiency initiatives.
Press Release·2025-06-19
Empire Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2025 Results
Empire Company Limited reported fourth quarter fiscal 2025 net earnings of $173 million ($0.74 per share), up from $149 million in the prior year. For the full fiscal year 2025, the company delivered adjusted net earnings growth of 12.3% per share, driven by improved margins and disciplined cost management.
Company History
9 milestones
William Sobey opened a meat delivery business in Stellarton, Nova Scotia, which grew into a local grocery store that became the foundation of the Sobeys retail empire spanning over a century of Canadian food retailing.

Empire Company Organization Structure & Team

Org Chart
130,000 employees · Click a leader to explore their team
17,610 across 12 departments
Chief Executive Officer
Michael Medline
Matt Reindel — Departments
· 17610 people across 12 depts

Empire Company Financials, Revenue & Market Share

Annual Revenue
$42.0B CAD
+4% vs prior year
YoY Growth
+4%
From $36.3B CAD to $42.0B CAD
Revenue / Employee
$209K
Annual revenue per full-time employee
Revenue Growth
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
$36.3B CAD
$38.0B CAD
$39.2B CAD
$40.5B CAD
$42.0B CAD
Market Share
Canadian Grocery Retail
17%
share
Empire Company (Sobeys)
17%
Loblaw Companies
28%
Metro Inc.
21%
Walmart Canada
16%
Costco Canada
10%
$159.5B
TAM
$28.7B
SAM
$2.9B
SOM
Revenue Streams
Core Products/Services70%
Value-Added Services20%
Other Revenue10%
Business Units
Core Business70%
Primary product and service delivery
Growth Initiatives20%
New markets and product expansion
Corporate & Admin10%
Central functions and shared services

Empire Company Internal Tools & Processes

Internal Tools
12 departments
Store Operations8500 people · 3 roles
Standards & Certifications
10 standards
Compliance frameworks, security audits, and quality certifications this company maintains.
Quality
FSSC 22000
Certified
Empire Company's Compliments private-label manufacturing partners and distribution centres operate under FSSC 22000 food safety system certification, ensuring consistent food safety management across the full private-label supply chain from production to store shelf.
Quality
HACCP
Certified
Empire's store-level deli, bakery, and prepared foods operations across Sobeys, Farm Boy, and Safeway banners adhere to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) protocols, meeting Canadian Food Inspection Agency requirements for temperature control and cross-contamination prevention.
Security
PCI DSS
Certified
Empire Company maintains PCI DSS compliance across all Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, and Farm Boy point-of-sale systems and the Voilà e-commerce platform to protect cardholder data for millions of weekly grocery transactions and Scene+ loyalty program payments.
Regulatory
SOX
Compliant
As a TSX-listed public company, Empire Company complies with Canadian Securities Administrators' disclosure and internal control requirements analogous to Sarbanes-Oxley, ensuring reliable financial reporting across all retail and real estate subsidiaries.
Privacy
PIPEDA
Compliant
Empire Company complies with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) governing the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data from 15 million Scene+ loyalty members and Voilà customer accounts across all banners.
Privacy
Quebec Law 25
Compliant
Empire's IGA and Metro&-competing banners operating in Quebec comply with Law 25 (Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector), the province's updated privacy legislation requiring explicit consent, breach notification, and data minimization for all customer-facing digital services.
Environmental
GRI Standards
Compliant
Empire Company publishes an annual ESG report aligned with GRI Standards, disclosing Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions from store operations, refrigerant use, and supply chain logistics, as part of its commitment to reduce food waste and achieve net-zero targets by 2050.
Quality
Canada Organic
Certified
Empire's Compliments Organics private-label line and Farm Boy's organic produce section are certified under the Canada Organic Regime, meeting CFIA organic product regulations for pesticide-free growing, non-GMO sourcing, and certified organic handler accreditation.
Safety
OHSAS 18001 / ISO 45001
Certified
Empire's distribution centres, including the Vaughan Voilà Customer Fulfilment Centre, operate under ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management standards, protecting warehouse associates and robotics technicians in high-throughput fulfilment environments.
Security
Deloitte ISAE 3402
Certified
Empire Company's Voilà e-commerce and Ocado CFC technology platform undergoes ISAE 3402 (SOC 1 equivalent) assurance reporting, providing financial control attestation over automated order management, inventory, and billing systems relied upon by grocery delivery customers.

Empire Company Interview Preparation

Interview Prep
Role-specific interview questions and keywords. Select a department, then click any role to prepare.
Store Operations· 3 roles

Empire Company Products & Competitors

Product Suite
5 products · select one to explore
Retail
Retail
Sobeys
Canada's neighbourhood grocery store

Sobeys is Empire's flagship full-service grocery banner operating over 800 stores across Canada, offering fresh produce, prepared foods, in-store pharmacy, and Scene+ loyalty rewards. It targets mid-to-premium mainstream shoppers seeking quality and convenience in urban and suburban markets.

Use Cases
Running weekly fresh department promotions tied to the Sobeys flyer and Scene+ bonus point eventsManaging in-store pharmacy consultations and prescription refill integrations with the Sobeys appExecuting private-label Compliments product placement strategies across perishable and centre-aisle categories
No image
Key Customers
L
Loblaws
MRU
Metro
WMT
Walmart Canada
Competitive Intelligence
VSLoblaws
THEM

Loblaw Companies' flagship banner is Canada's largest food retailer, operating over 2,400 corporate and franchise locations with the PC Optimum loyalty program and Joe Fresh apparel brand.

EDGE

Stronger Scene+ loyalty redemption options versus PC Optimum

VSMetro (Quebec/Ontario)
THEM

Metro Inc. operates the Metro banner as a mid-market full-service grocer across Quebec and Ontario, known for strong fresh departments and the metro& loyalty app.

EDGE

Larger private-label Compliments lineup vs. Metro's Selection brand

VSWalmart Canada
THEM

Walmart Canada operates Supercentre and neighbourhood market formats offering full grocery alongside general merchandise, competing primarily on everyday low pricing.

EDGE

Higher fresh quality perception and specialty departments vs. Walmart

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