MONTREAL – Grocery and drugstore retailer Metro Inc. says it earned a fourth-quarter profit of $217.0 million, down from $219.9 million in the same quarter last year, as it was hit by costs related to problems at its frozen food distribution centre in Toronto.

The company says operations at the facility resumed last week after it was shut down for almost two months, but the temporary closure cost it $22.5 million in the quarter.

The company behind the Metro grocery chain and Jean Coutu drugstores says its profit amounted to $1.00 per diluted share for the 12-week period ended Sept. 27, up from 98 cents per diluted share a year ago when it had more shares outstanding.

Sales for the quarter totalled $5.11 billion, up from $4.94 billion in the same quarter last year.

Food same-store sales

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