North West Company Inc Q2 2021 Earnings Call Transcript

The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : I just wanted to ask a quick question about just what you're seeing in terms of your northern Canadian communities with respect to trends in out shopping just with restrictions having been relaxed? Are you beginning to see more of your community residents increasing the proportion of out shopping, which obviously in shopping was a big benefit to you through COVID?

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : And then are you able to -- last quarter, I think you had mentioned that exiting COVID or maybe once things normalize, you sort of expect to return to kind of a mid-single-digit growth rate in terms of same-store sales growth. Is there anything that would have changed your view? Or is that still kind of what you're expecting once things settle out?

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : And then the increased dividend was a surprise. Obviously, you announced a nice increase just 2 quarters ago. So can you talk a little bit about what your priorities are for excess cash flow as you sort of move through the next 12 to 24 months?

Question: Stephen MacLeod - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research - Analyst : And then are you still sort of focused on when you think about acquisition opportunities are still focused largely on health and other complementary businesses that would tuck in nicely to the retail store base?