TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart aims to expand its selection of consumer electronics products under a new merchandising agreement with Sony.

The Canadian drug store chain said that under the agreement, it is slated to add about 50 Sony products to its offering of consumer electronics, games and accessories in approximately 700 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores nationwide.

Shoppers Drug Mart said the products will start appearing in stores this fall. New products will include Sony’s popular video game systems such as the PlayStation3 and PlayStation Portable, as well as an assortment of PlayStation games, accessories and peripherals.

According to the retailer, the pact is part of the company’s strategic initiative to revitalize the service center of its stores.

"This agreement with Sony, coupled with the recent announcement of our distribution arrangement with Rogers, brings together leading brands and serves to further strengthen our value proposition and optimize the service center in our stores," Jurgen Schreiber, president and chief executive officer of Shoppers Drug Mart, said in a statement.

"Our customers have responded very favorably to our current assortment of consumer electronics and entertainment products," Schreiber stated. "Enhancing our product assortment with popular Sony items will provide our customers with even greater choice and convenience in this growing category."

The drug chain operates more than 1,183 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores across Canada.

"We are extremely excited to add Shoppers Drug Mart to our portfolio of retailers across Canada," commented Stephen Turvey, general manager of Sony Computer Entertainment Canada. "With their vast network of stores across the country, Shoppers Drug Mart increases our ability to provide Canadians with the very best gaming solutions on the market today."

Under the agreement with Rogers Communications Inc., announced in late April, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. will test the sale of the telecommunications company’s cell phones and wireless handheld devices in select stores this summer. Plans call for Rogers and Fido wireless products to be sold in over 30 Shoppers Drug Mart stores "in a key regional area," the companies said.