JEAN COUTU AND UNIPRIX TEAM UP TO BUY RIVAL
By Adnews Staff
Jean Coutu Group and Uniprix are strengthening their hold in Quebec's drug-store market. The two have bought Quebec's fourth largest drug-store chain, Cumberland (Merivale Ltˇe) of Montreal. Under the deal, Uniprix will first purchase all of the Cumberland stores and then sell 24 of them to Jean Coutu. Uniprix keeps 29. The move gives Jean Coutu 226 franchised stores in Quebec and gives Uniprix 190. Advertising for Uniprix is done by Diesel Marketing and PR is done by Direction Strategic Communications. Both agencies are based in Montreal PALM Publicitˇ of Montreal creates advertising for Jean Coutu and 3H of Montreal does advertising for Cumberland. Jean Coutu leads the Quebec market in terms of sales volume with revenue of $822 million in the year to May 31, 1996. This figure includes sales at 34 franchised outlets in New Brunswick and Ontario. Uniprix has annual sales of $500 million.