An employee returns shopping carts to a Oakville Metro grocery store. Sales at Metro discount names are outpacing sales at the main chain. Photo by Peter J. Thompson / Financial Post

Discount-store sales, along with pharmacy retail, are driving growth for Metro Inc. faster than its conventional stores as consumers continue to search for value amid rising costs.

The company, whose food store banners include Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, reported $5.1 billion in sales for the fourth quarter, a 3.4 per cent increase compared to the prior year, according to its latest earnings results released on Nov. 19.

Chief executive Eric La Flèche told analysts that both basket size and foot traffic were up for the retailer’s discount side, while a rise in average basket size at

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