Loblaws is One Step Closer at Taking Over Shoppers Drug Mart

The Competition Bureau approves Loblaw’s purchase of Shoppers Drug Mart for $12.4 billion. The condition is that Loblaws must sell 18 stores and 9 pharmacies to an independent operators. The transaction is scheduled to close on March 28, 2014.

What interests me the most is how it will affect the PC Plus and Shoppers Optimum programs. There does not seem to be any indication on whether the points program would merge, so I will be watching the news very closely.

My preference would be the merge the points programs somehow, so that the points become that much more valuable because we will be able to earn and redeem points at more places. I personally feel that the Shoppers Optimum program has much more value. So here is hoping for a smooth merger and an improvement to the loyalty program. With the combined resources, they have an opportunity to make the loyalty program much more customer friendly.