Empire Company Limited reaches agreement to acquire nine Morelli’s pharmacies in Ontario

Each pharmacy to be rebranded as Longo’s Pharmacy and integrated into Sobeys National Pharmacy operations

STELLARTON, NS, Aug. 18, 2026 /CNW/ — Empire Company Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sobeys Inc. (“Empire” or the “Company”) (TSX: EMP.A) today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire nine Morelli’s pharmacies co-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 remains subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of Ontario College of Pharmacists regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2027.

Since being founded by Gerry Morelli in 1990, Morelli’s Pharmacy has been a trusted 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.

“Morelli’s has been a vital part of our Longo’s community for decades, providing expert pharmacy services and dispensing,” said Deb Craven, President, Longo’s. “We will continue to offer our guests and patients the same care and trust that Morelli’s is known for, while providing the benefit of Empire’s scale, operational expertise and long‑term commitment to advancing pharmacy-led primary care in Canada.”

“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.”