Daily Synopsis: October 21, 2026

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Welcome to the Daily Synopsis by Retail Insider. We hope you enjoy the 12 articles we published covering key developments in Canadian retail. Here are a couple highlights with a full list of the day’s articles thereafter.

Odd Cookie expanded to nearly 1,000 retail locations nationwide within its first year by innovating the traditional cookie into a thin, crispy snack suited for easy snacking. Walmart Canada plans to open a 165,000-square-foot Supercentre in Calgary’s Southcentre Mall by 2028 in the mall’s former Hudson’s Bay space, relocating from a nearby site to enhance grocery, pharmacy, and merchandise services. Concurrently, Groupe Dynamite is rolling out its upgraded Dynamite 3.0 store concept across Canada, focusing on premium design and personalized styling to improve sales and brand presence.

JACOB is relaunching under the founder’s daughter with a focus on beauty and accessories, opting to explore retail partnerships rather than reopening physical stores, signalling a cautious approach to brand revival. Meanwhile, Alrifai Real Estate is developing 500 modular apartments on the rooftop of Prince Albert’s Gateway Mall to provide student housing close to post-secondary institutions, using off-site fabrication for faster build times with minimal retail disruption. Both efforts reflect innovative strategies linking real estate and retail in response to evolving market needs.

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