Sept 10 (Reuters) - Empire Company Ltd EMPa.TO :
* EMPIRE DELIVERS STRONG FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2021 EARNINGS, MARKET SHARE GROWTH CONTINUES
* Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE C$0.71
* Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE ESTIMATE C$0.59 -- REFINITIV IBES DATA
* QTRLY SAME-STORE SALES EXCLUDING FUEL INCREASED BY 11.0%
* QTRLY FOOD RETAILING SALES C$7.35 BILLION VERSUS C$6.74 BILLION
* ALBERTA FRESHCO STORE LOCATION IS A NEW SITE LOCATED IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN WINTER OF FISCAL 2022
* SECOND FRESHCO LOCATION IS LOCATED IN SASKATCHEWAN AND WILL BE CONVERTING FROM A REGINA SOBEYS STORE
* SOBEYS STORE WILL CLOSE FOR RENOVATION IN WINTER OF FISCAL 2022 AND WILL RE-OPEN AS FRESHCO THAT SUMMER
* E-COMMERCE BUSINESSES IN QUEBEC AND BRITISH COLUMBIA EXPERIENCED SALES GROWTH OF ABOUT 370% IN Q1
* OVER PAST 14 WEEKS ENDED SEPTEMBER 5, 2020, CO'S SAME-STORE SALES GROWTH, EXCLUDING FUEL, AVERAGED ABOUT 8% TO 10%