June 12 (Reuters) - Dollarama ( DLMAF ) reported an 8.6%

rise in first-quarter sales on Wednesday, as more Canadians

shopped at its stores for groceries and essentials.

The Montreal-based discount store's sales rose to C$1.41

billion ($1.03 billion) in the quarter ended April 28, compared

with C$1.29 billion a year ago. Analysts on average expected

C$1.41 billion, according to LSEG data.

($1 = 1.3747 Canadian dollars)