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METRO Reports 2021 Second Quarter Results MONTRÉAL , April 21 , 2021 / CNW / - METRO INC . ( TSX : MRU ) today announced its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 ended March 13 , 2021 . 2021 SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS • Sales of $ 4,193.0 million , up 5.1 % • Food same - store sales up 5.5 % , and up 10.1 % for the first 10 weeks of the quarter Pharmacy same - store sales down 0.8 % • • Net earnings of $ 188.1 million , up 6.8 % and adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) of $ 194.7 million , up 6.5 % Fully diluted net earnings per share of $ 0.75 , up 8.7 % , and adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) of $ 0.78 , up 8.3 % Expenses related to COVID - 19 totalling $ 29 million , including $ 8 million of gift cards to front - line employees ( Millions of dollars , except for net earnings per share ) 2021 Sales 4,193.0 % 100.0 12 weeks / Fiscal Year 2020 % Change ( % ) 3,988.9 100.0 5.1 Operating income before depreciation and amortization 396.1 9.4 374.1 9.4 5.9 Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization ( 2 ) Net earnings 396.1 9.4 374.1 9.4 5.9 188.1 4.5 176.2 4.4 6.8 Fully diluted net earnings per share 0.75 0.69 8.7 Adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) 194.7 4.6 46 182.8 4.6 6.5 Adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) 0.78 0.72 8.3 24 weeks / Fiscal Year ( Millions of dollars , except for net earnings per share ) 2021 % 2020 % Change ( % ) Sales 8,471.2 100.0 8,018.7 100.0 5.6 Operating income before depreciation and amortization 795.3 9.4 737.2 9.2 7.9 Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization ( 2 ) Net earnings 795.3 9.4 744.7 9.3 6.8 379.3 4.5 346.4 4.3 9.5 Fully diluted net earnings per share 1.51 1.36 11.0 Adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) Adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) 392.4 1.57 4.6 363.7 4.5 7.9 1.43 9.8 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE " We delivered strong sales and earnings growth in our second quarter . More than one year into the pandemic crisis , our teams continue to show extraordinary resilience to safely serve our communities while executing well on our strategic priorities of operational excellence , supply chain modernization and digital acceleration . Our affiliated pharmacists have begun to administer vaccines and we look forward to increasing the pace as soon as more vaccine supply becomes available in the coming weeks . As we are currently cycling the peak sales of the start of the pandemic last year , we are confident that our sales volume will remain elevated compared to pre- pandemic levels and we are well positioned to continue to deliver value to our customers and shareholders " , declared Eric La Flèche , President and Chief Executive Officer . OPERATING RESULTS SALES Sales in the second quarter of Fiscal 2021 reached $ 4,193.0 million , up 5.1 % compared to $ 3,988.9 million in the second quarter of 2020. Food same - store sales were up 5.5 % ( 9.7 % in 2020 ) and were up 10.1 % for the first 10 weeks of the quarter as we experienced an unprecedented surge in sales in the last two weeks of the second quarter last year due to the pandemic . Online food sales increased by about 240 % versus last year . Our food basket inflation was approximately 2.0 % ( 2.0 % in 2020 ) . Pharmacy same - store sales were down 0.8 % ( up 7.9 % in 2020 ) , with a 4.2 % increase in prescription drugs and a 10.5 % decrease in front - store sales . This