Loblaws has seen a 36% jump in revenue and stronger-than-expected earnings in the third quarter as a result of increased business from its Shoppers Drug Mart acquisition. Loblaws said third-quarter revenue climbed to 13.6 billion from $10 billion a year earlier. Excluding Shoppers, revenue at Loblaws edged up just 2% in an intensely competitive business. Loblaw continues to experimnet with the removal or independent brand names in an attmept to impove its margins. In somes cases, it has removed brands and then returned them to its shelves after gauging customer reaction.
