(Bloomberg) -- Loblaw Cos., Canada’s biggest grocer and the owner of the Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy chain, withdrew its outlook for the year on Thursday because of the volatility triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the company said it had seen a significant increase in sales as Canadians rushed to supermarkets and pharmacies, it also reported higher costs related to additional staffing, cleaning and security, and temporary pay premiums.

“In light of the uncertainty about the duration and impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Canadian economy, we can expect the volatility in our business to continue,” Executive Chairman Galen Weston said.

The outbreak, which has killed tens of thousands and disrupted daily life across the globe, has caused companies to recalibrate and pull their expectations. While many companies, like restaurants and apparel retailers, will undoubtedly be hurt by mandatory closures, essential businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies have seen a boom in sales as consumers stock up.

But with rapid shifts in behavior quickly becoming the norm, even these apparent beneficiaries of the outbreak are shelving their outlooks.

Loblaw’s report that costs are rising echo similar comments by Dollarama Inc. last week, which has also been hiring and increasing pay, despite a drop in traffic at the discount retailer.

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