Metro kicks off local buying program in Ottawa

Metro is kicking off its local purchasing program in Ontario with a pilot project that puts 91 locally-sourced products on the shelves of 25 Ottawa locations.

The program launches with products from 19 Ottawa area suppliers across the deli, dairy, grocery, meat, frozen grocery, bakery and produce categories. Metro will monitor the success of the program to determine how it should roll out in other markets in Ontario.

"The Ottawa pilot project will be the first proof-point in Metro’s commitment to provide easier access to our customers to more local products," said Joe Fusco, senior vice-president, Metro Ontario, in a press release. “They will truly appreciate the wide range of unique regional items that we are now able to offer them.”

Some of the brands hitting Ottawa area shelves include Against the Grain Farms, Grandma’s Garden laundry soap and Centreside Dairy.

Metro has run a similar program in Quebec since 2013. Since its launch in that province, more than 800 new products from 200 suppliers have reached store shelves at Metro and Super C stores.