New Sobeys CEO Michael Medline Says Grocer Let Down Its Customers

Sobeys Inc. let down its customers in its product offerings and marketing, but the grocer is racing to improve its operations, cut costs and win back shoppers, especially those in Western Canada who abandoned Safeway stores, its new leader says.

Michael Medline, who took over as chief executive officer of parent Empire Co. Ltd. and Sobeys two months ago, said the company has a “byzantine” structure that needs to be simplified while its marketing message needs to be sharper and more compelling to woo back consumers – particularly to its Safeway supermarkets.

“We will take aggressive and bold actions to address the issues in our business, and we are prepared to make the tough decisions and [take] decisive actions necessary to see Empire return to sustainably profitable growth,” Mr. Medline told an analyst call after the company released its third-quarter results, which continued to show sliding sales.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Globe and Mail