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Empire is the parent company of Sobeys Inc. Together, they form a Canadian company headquartered in Nova Scotia and serve Canadians across the country.

An Image of Sobeys Related Business Office.
Text Reading 'Sobeys Inc.'

About Us

Empire Company Limited (TSX: EMP.A) is a Canadian company headquartered in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Empire’s key businesses are food retailing, through wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc., and related real estate.

With approximately $31.6 billion in annualized sales and $16.4 billion in assets, Empire and its subsidiaries, franchisees and affiliates employ approximately 131,000 people.

Brand Purpose

“We are a family nurturing families.”
-Sobeys

Sobeys Inc., has more than 115 years of experience serving customers in the food-retail business. Sobeys Inc. is one of only two national Canadian grocers operating across all 10 provinces with approximately 1,500 stores.

Sobeys Inc. oversees familiar banner names of Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawtons Drugs, as well as more than 350 retail fuel locations. It also operates with five core retail food formats and related businesses to ensure it is able to satisfy the unique shopping needs of its customers.

Full Service

Fresh Service

Community Service

Discount Service

Convenience Service

Across its banners and businesses from coast-to-coast, Sobeys Inc. fosters a family culture of care, trust, respect, and growth for its people, customers and their communities. Together, our store teammates, franchisees, and diverse retail networks are dedicated to serving customer needs by providing exceptional shopping and food experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

Empire became incorporated on February 12th, 1963.

Empire was first publicly traded in July 1982.

Empire's fiscal year-end is the first Saturday in May. For fiscal 2022 it was May 7, 2022. For fiscal 2023 it is May 6, 2023.

Empire’s head office is located at:

115 King Street Stellarton,
Nova Scotia,
B0K 1S0

Phone: (902) 752-8371

Fax: (902) 755-6477

The 2022 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for September 15th, 2022.

Financial reports for both Sobeys Inc. and Empire can be obtained through our website under the Shareholders, Investors, & Analysts section. Alternatively, financial information can be requested by contacting the company under the Contact Us section or by writing to:

Investor Relations,
Empire Company Limited,
115 King Street Stellarton,
Nova Scotia,
B0K 1S0

Empire does not have a credit rating with any rating agency. However, the wholly-owned subsidiary, Sobeys Inc. has a rating of BBB- (stable outlook) from S&P and a rating of BBB low (positive trend) from DBRS.

Empire and its subsidiaries, franchisees, and affiliates employ approximately 130,000 people.

Fiscal 2022 & F2023 earnings release dates are as follows:

Quarter 4 (Year End): June 22, 2022
Quarter (F23): September 15, 2022
Quarter 2(F23): December 15, 2022
Quarter 3 (F23): March 16, 2023

The CUSIP number for Empire's Non-Voting Class A shares is 291843407.

Empire’s transfer agent is AST Trust Company and can be contacted at:

AST Trust Company (Canada),
P.O. Box 700,
Station B,
Montréal,
Québec,
H3B 3K3

Telephone: 1 800 387 082

Email: inquiries@astfinancial.com

Website: www.astfinancial.com/ca

In the case of a lost or missing stock certificate, please contact Empire’s transfer agent, AST Trust Company at:

AST Trust Company (Canada),
P.O. Box 700,
Station B,
Montréal,
Québec,
H3B 3K3

Telephone: 1 800 387 082

Email: inquiries@astfinancial.com

Website: www.astfinancial.com/ca

To change your address and other account information, please contact the transfer agent, AST Trust Company at:

AST Trust Company (Canada),
P.O. Box 700,
Station B,
Montréal,
Québec,
H3B 3K3

Telephone: 1 800 387 082

Email: inquiries@astfinancial.com

Website: www.astfinancial.com/ca

Empire’s ticker symbol that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange is 'EMP.A'. This is only for Non-Voting Class A shares.

As of May 7, 2022:

Non-Voting Class A shares: 164,524,653

Class B common shares, voting: 98,138,079

For information concerning Empire Investor Relations, go to the Contact Us section of the website or contact the company directly at:

Investor Relations,
Empire Company Limited,
115 King Street,
Stellarton,
Nova Scotia,
B0K 1S0

Telephone: (902) 752-8371

Empire's Non-Voting Class A shares trade on The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

Empire's dividend record and payment dates for fiscal 2022 are:

Record DatePayment Date
July 15, 2021July 30, 2021
October 15, 2021October 29, 2021
January 14, 2022January 28, 2022
April 14, 2022* April 29, 2022*

*Subject to approval by the Board of Directors

Working for Sobeys Inc., you’ll have access to flexible hours over all 1,500 store locations in Canada. There is a range of employment opportunities from in-store to distribution centres to corporate offices. Additionally, Sobeys Inc. provides its employees with programs to help them excel in their careers with educational assistance, paid vacations, health insurance, and a pension plan.

Read More

Sobeys Inc. is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire. Both companies have a wealth of business empowerments that continue in both branches of operation: food-retailing and real estate. Follow the links below to find out more.

An Image of Sobeys freshly produce fruits.

Food and Retailing

An Image of Voila office front view.

Real Estate

A Sobeys employee happily displaying a crate full of fresh vegetables

Sustainable Business Report