Daily Synopsis: September 28, 2026

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Welcome to the Daily Synopsis by Retail Insider. We hope you enjoy the 10 articles we published covering key developments in Canadian retail. Here are a couple highlights with a full list of the day’s articles thereafter.

The Competition Bureau is investigating minimum advertised pricing policies in the Canadian grocery sector, concerned that these rules may hinder price competition and prevent consumers from seeing the lowest prices, despite discounts being available in-store. Slate Grocery REIT has agreed to a $2.3 billion all-cash buyout by a joint venture between Brixmor Property Group and Everview Partners, offering unit holders a premium price and immediate liquidity. Sunterra Group has closed its Red Deer market, marking its second store closure this year amid court-supervised restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Sports Experts invested approximately $8 million to renovate its 45,000-square-foot Carrefour Laval flagship, enhancing inventory capacity, customer navigation, and e-commerce fulfillment while concentrating on high-margin categories like footwear, which has driven strong early sales gains. Pharmacy Brands Canada has expanded to over 300 locations nationwide, with significant growth in Ontario.

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Competition Bureau concerned that grocery deals are being kept from Canadians

The Bureau said minimum advertised pricing policies can prevent retailers from advertising lower prices, even when they are prepared to offer those prices in-store.

Slate Grocery REIT agrees to US $2.3 billion buyout

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. All-cash transaction of US $13 per unit

Sports Experts Unveils $8M CF Carrefour Laval Flagship

Sports Experts has invested about $8 million to transform its 45,000-square-foot CF Carrefour Laval flagship, with early sales exceeding forecasts.

Celebrity Chef Stefano Faita opening Toronto’s first Bring-Your-Own-Pasta restaurant

BYOPasta exclusively serves Stefano Faita’s signature sauces and turns leftover pasta into a restaurant-quality dish, leaving the pasta up to guests.

Calgary AI Startup StoriBot Targets Retail With ‘Narrative Intelligence’ Platform

Calgary-based AI startup StoriBot is targeting automotive, grocery and other retail sectors with its Narrative Intelligence platform as it builds enterprise adoption.

Sunterra closes another of its Market locations

In May, Sunterra closed down its downtown Edmonton location on Jasper Avenue after three decades in business.

CF Fairview Pointe Claire Launches The B!G TV: A 27-Foot Retro Experience

Until November 9, CF Fairview Pointe Claire brings the West Island community together with nostalgia-packed giant screen gaming, free movie nights, and daily surprises.

Donatella Versace and REVOLVE launch joint venture focused on beauty and fashion

The new business will combine Donatella's creative direction and cultural influence with REVOLVE’s digital commerce platform, technology, consumer intelligence and operating capabilities.

Tourism spending on the rise: Statistics Canada

Tourism GDP accounted for 1.77% of nominal GDP in the second quarter, virtually unchanged from the first quarter.

Pharmacy Brands Canada Grows to more than 300 Locations in Canada

PBC's growth has accelerated across the country, with particularly strong expansion in Ontario, where the network has added more than 50 locations over the past two years.

From The Desk: Retailers adapt formats and expansion amid labour, cost and consumer shifts

Canadian retailers adjust store formats and expansion amid labour challenges, cost pressures and uneven spending, balancing growth with operational control.

Daily Synopsis: September 25, 2026

Competition Bureau seeks info on grocers in new wave, Marc Giroux steps in as CEO of Metro Inc., Pokemon thefts rise, Starbucks closing some Canadian locations, ABC Books shutting on Yonge St. in Toronto, and other news.

Aritzia’s Store Network Has Shifted South as U.S. Expansion Accelerates

Aritzia now operates more boutiques in the United States than in Canada as the Vancouver-founded retailer directs most new-store growth south of the border. Its mature Canadian network offers a useful template for the company’s push toward a potential 180-to-200-store U.S. footprint.

Starbucks undertakes massive refresh of North American locations and closing 250 stores

A refresh of Starbucks cafés is designed to bring customers back to what they love most about the coffeehouse: great coffee, craft, connection, and community.

Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop has ambitious growth plans in Canada and internationally

Tommy Gun’s CEO Keenan Fisher discusses the Canadian barbershop brand’s growth, franchising strategy and plans for 80-plus new locations worldwide.

MEC to Open Small-Format Whistler Store as Retailer Tests New Concept

MEC will open a 2,200-square-foot store in Whistler Village, testing a smaller retail format backed by curated inventory and its broader online assortment.

Lavazza Targets Canadian Growth as It Moves to Double North American Business by 2028

Lavazza is expanding its Canadian presence as part of a strategy to more than double its North American business by 2028, with growth opportunities in distribution, Western Canada and experiential marketing.

Guac Mexi Grill Marks 10 Years With 56 Locations, Eyes U.S. Expansion

Oakville-based Guac Mexi Grill is marking its 10th anniversary with 56 Canadian locations and plans to add 10 to 15 restaurants annually while expanding into the U.S. and India.

Rawcology Founder Tara Tomulka turns personal health journey into growing plant-based food business

Rawcology has grown from a nutrition blog into a food brand offering organic, low-sugar products, with founder Tara Tomulka eyeing further growth in Canada and international markets.

AI transforming retail pricing, from dynamic discounts to personalized offers

McGill professor Maxime Cohen examines how artificial intelligence could reshape retail pricing, customer discounts, fairness and the future of AI-driven commerce.