Montreal, June 19, 2026 — METRO, in collaboration with its long‑standing partner Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ), is proud to mark the inaugurate the 10th kitchen in the METRO Shared Kitchens network in Quebec. Operated by Carrefour Familial Hochelaga, this new facility strengthens access to culinary infrastructure in the heart of the Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve neighbourhood and demonstrates the growing impact of this community‑building program.
Located in Hochelaga‑Maisonneuve, this METRO Shared Kitchen supports the development of community initiatives that promote healthy and accessible food for families. Through its activities, the Carrefour Familial Hochelaga provides practical support to a vulnerable population, for whom access to a variety of foods remains a challenge, by offering opportunities to learn, cook, and improve daily eating habits. The Frigo‑don initiative complements this program by providing essential, low‑cost food assistance in a welcoming environment where parents and children come together, share, and develop new food habits.
“For many of the families we support, access to a variety of food is a challenge. This METRO Shared Kitchen has become a valuable resource for people to cook together, learn, and create moments of community that make a real difference in their daily lives,” said Mathieu Morin, Executive Director of Carrefour Familial Hochelaga.
METRO is investing nearly three million dollars in the first two editions of METRO Shared Kitchens, including nearly $80,000 for the development and operation of the kitchen at Carrefour Familial Hochelaga.
“This 10th shared kitchen marks an important milestone in the deployment of our network across Quebec. We made sure to develop a project that genuinely responds to the needs of the community. We are very proud of this tangible initiative, which allows us to create a lasting legacy in the communities where we operate and brings our purpose to life: Nourishing the health and well being of our communities,” said Marie Claude Bacon, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, METRO.
Meeting the needs of the community sector
The sharing of space, human resources, and equipment among organizations, as well as funding to build new professional kitchen facilities dedicated to various types of culinary programs, enables community sector organizations to better meet their needs.
“Through the METRO Shared Kitchens program, we are giving organizations the means to strengthen their on‑the‑ground efforts at a time of growing need for food assistance in Quebec. While resources and infrastructure remain limited, these initiatives provide concrete solutions by fostering autonomy, inclusion, well‑being, and the vitality of communities,” said Alexandre Lebel, Executive Director, Food Banks of Quebec.
The third edition of METRO’s Shared Kitchens is already underway. The selected beneficiary organizations will be announced in the coming weeks.
About METRO Inc.
With annual sales of more than $22 billion, METRO Inc. is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario, providing employment to more than 97,000 people. Its purpose is to Nourish the health and well‑being of our communities. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, manufacturer, and provider of eCommerce services, the company operates or services a network of some 1,000 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, Food Basics, Adonis and Première Moisson, and some 640 pharmacies primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners. For more details, visit corpo.metro.ca and follow the latest news on LinkedIn.
About Food Banks of Quebec
The Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ) network is present throughout Quebec with its 34 regional members, many of which operate under the Moisson name. They provide nutritious foodstuffs to more than 1,400 affiliated community organizations delivering food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people every month. Since 1988, the FBQ has made it possible for resources, expertise and information to be pooled to fight food insecurity and alleviate hunger among vulnerable populations.
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