Empire Company Ltd and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire nine Morelli’s pharmacies located in Longo’s grocery stores in Ontario. Each of the nine pharmacies will be integrated into Sobeys National Pharmacy operations and will be rebranded as a Longo’s Pharmacy. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. Introduced by Gerry Morelli in 1990, Morelli’s Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy offering both dispensing and clinical services to patients throughout the GTA and Hamilton. The first Morelli’s inside a Longo’s grocery store was opened in 2005, after which eight additional in-store pharmacies were opened at Longo’s locations. “The acquisition of nine Morelli’s pharmacies provides Empire with a strategic opportunity to grow the Ontario pharmacy network with an established and trusted partner already embedded in Longo’s day-to-day operations,” said Doug Nathanson, General Counsel and Chief Pharmacy & Development Officer. “The conversion to Longo’s Pharmacy ensures the continuity of exceptional patient and customer service, while also providing the opportunity for Empire to diversify its brand offering to new patients and Longo’s guests.” In addition to the locations in the Longo’s supermarkets, the Morelli’s family of pharmacies included locations in the Hamilton area, Woodbridge, Richmond Hill and Oakville.
Morelli’s Pharmacy, 770 Hurontario St., Burlington, Ontario L6Y 4M3 (905/459-9667 www.morellispharmacy.com)
Empire Company Ltd., 115 King St., Stellarton, Nova Scotia B0K 1S0 (902/752-8371 www.empireco.ca)