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From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

Retail Insider -
This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Jollibee marks 10 years in Canada with promotional campaign and plans for 26 more restaurants

Mario Toneguzzi -
The Filipino fast-food chain, which opened its first Canadian restaurant in Winnipeg in December 2016, now has 28 locations across five provinces.

Massive T&T Supermarket to open in former Bay space at CF Markville

Mario Toneguzzi -
CF Markville will be T&T’s 18th location in Ontario, and it also marks the fourth partnership with Cadillac Fairview, following CF Fairview Mall, CF Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke, and CF Polo Park in Winnipeg.

Canada loses 42,000 jobs in August: Statistics Canada

Mario Toneguzzi -
Wholesale and retail trade (-55,000; -1.8%) recorded the largest decline across industries over the past 12 months.

Pilgrim Plans Canadian Expansion After Oshawa Store Opening

Craig Patterson -
Pilgrim CEO Robert Hayes discusses the jewelry brand's Canadian expansion plans, new Oshawa Centre store, suburban performance, growing wholesale network and the increasing role of piercing services.

Typical expanding its reach and its stretchable towel product

Mario Toneguzzi -
Typical is now selling through The Knot, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom, while building out corporate gifting and hospitality channels alongside its DTC business.

Calgary’s Forum Thermal to open 18,000-square-foot urban spa in late 2026

Mario Toneguzzi -
With six signature pools, three saunas and two steam rooms, Forum will offer a series of interconnected experiences. 

OpenRoad Auto announces 16-acre Surrey automall development

Mario Toneguzzi -
The Surrey Auto Loop, located at 13340 76 Avenue, is being developed in partnership with Conwest Developments and will include seven lots and approximately 166,000 square feet of commercial space.

Many small businesses at risk due to trade war: CFIB

Mario Toneguzzi -
One in five (18%) small exporters and 11% of importers affected by the Canada-U.S. trade war say they would stop being financially viable if the trade war lasts three months or more.

Grocery Prices Face New Pressure as Ottawa Imposes Counter-Tariffs

Sylvain Charlebois -
Sylvain Charlebois examines how Canada’s new counter-tariffs could affect grocery prices, food inflation and affordability as Ottawa extends fuel-tax relief.

Daily Synopsis: September 3, 2026

Retail Insider -
Lululemon reports numbers, Gather Packaging pivots after US tariffs, Couche-Tard shifting convenience store mix, D Spot Expansion, and other news.

Lululemon Canada Sales Fall 11% as Outlook Weakens

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon's Canadian revenue fell 11% in Q2 as traffic and product challenges intensified, with the retailer warning of deeper declines ahead.

Retail Insider’s Canadian Retail Monitor — August 2026 Edition: Demand Strengthens as Volumes Rise

Craig Patterson -
Retail Insider’s first edition of the Canadian Retail Monitor finds demand strengthened, with sales volumes rising faster than headline sales. Health, apparel and general merchandise led growth, while grocery weakened and e-commerce rebounded sharply.

Gather Packaging Pivots to Canada After 50% U.S. Tariff

Craig Patterson -
Toronto-based Gather Packaging is targeting Canadian retailers after a 50% U.S. tariff disrupted a market representing more than 75% of its plant volume.

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Retail Insider Introduces Canadian Retail Sector Analysis

Craig Patterson -
New reporting series from Retail Insider delivers sector-level insight into Canadian retail, connecting trends across categories and consumer behaviour.

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Retail Insider Articles, by Category, can be found below.

RETAILER NEWS

Latest retail store openings, closings, expansions, etc.

News

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Jollibee marks 10 years in Canada with promotional campaign and plans for 26 more restaurants

Massive T&T Supermarket to open in former Bay space at CF Markville

Pilgrim Plans Canadian Expansion After Oshawa Store Opening

Typical expanding its reach and its stretchable towel product

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA

Latest retail financial results, industry data, and third-party research affecting Canadian retail.

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS

Latest retail news focused on leaders, recognition, etc.

RETAILER OP-EDS

Latest retail opinion editorials.

RETAILER NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA (Con't)

News

Canadian Retailers Enter Holiday 2026 With Spending Momentum and Price-Sensitive Shoppers

Craig Patterson -
Canadian shoppers are spending more heading into Holiday 2026, but Salesforce says price sensitivity, promotions, shipping costs and hybrid shopping will shape the season.

Dr. Phone Fix reports 32% revenue growth in Q2

Canadian economy bounces back in Q2: Statistics Canada

Retail payroll employment declines in June: Statistics Canada

Corby Spirit and Wine Limited sees record full-year Fiscal 2026 results 

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER OP-EDS (Con't)

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