NEWS BRIEFS

S&S Activewear strengthens Canadian division with key leadership appointments

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
S&S Activewear strengthens its Canadian division with new leadership and strategic investments to enhance growth and customer support nationwide.

KINTON RAMEN to open new Markham location

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
KINTON RAMEN began franchising in 2021 - nearly a decade after launching its first restaurant in downtown Toronto in 2012.

Shine Beyond Your Company: Enter the 2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Showcase your retail achievements from 2024 with the 2025 Excellence in Retailing Awards. Celebrate your team’s innovation, resilience, and success on a national stage. Register by March 14, 2025 to inspire the industry, gain recognition, and set new benchmarks for retail brilliance.  

Amazon Faces Boycott for Closing Quebec Warehouses

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
CSN calls for a boycott as Amazon shuts Quebec warehouses, cutting 4,500 jobs amid unionization disputes.

Flow Water Teams Up with José Bautista 

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Anita Mehra -
Flow Water partners with José Bautista to boost premium hydration, enhance retail presence, and strengthen its sports and wellness market appeal.

Lacoste unveils new boutique in Vancouver’s CF Pacific Centre

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The new Lacoste store offers an immersive experience and features a wide range of products, including classic polo shirts, stylish outerwear, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children

RONA Reunites with Matériaux Pont-Masson for Growth

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
RONA Inc. renews its partnership with retailer Matériaux Pont-Masson, expanding its dealer network across Québec and Ontario to enhance growth and service.

Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health™ donates $12.8M, impacting over 1 million women in 2024

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The Shoppers Foundation for Women's Health will invest $50M by 2026 to address some of the most pressing health inequities facing women, including lack of representation in health research, barriers to accessing mental healthcare, and the urgent consequences women disproportionately face due to poverty and domestic violence.

Best Buy Canada’s Teen Tech for Tomorrow program awards more than $110,000 to secondary schools and robotics teams across Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
15 winning secondary schools and robotics teams will be provided grants aimed to improve access to important tech for Canadian teens, said Best Buy.

Apple Posts Record Q1 Revenue and EPS Amid Strong Holiday Sales and Expanding Apple Intelligence

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Lee Rivett -
Apple reports $124.3B in quarterly revenue and record EPS, fueled by holiday demand and AI integration.

Odd Burger announces nationwide launch of pizza

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Odd Burger Corporation is a franchised vegan fast-food restaurant chain and food technology company that manufactures a proprietary line of plant-based protein and dairy alternatives.

For the first time ever, no Golden Scissors Award winner as governments fall short: CFIB

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Red tape hurts small businesses, slows the economy, and hinders growth, says the CFIB.

The RONA Foundation invites Canadian charities to apply for 2025 Build from the Heart program

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The RONA Foundation is a charitable organization created in 1998. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of Canadians in need by revitalizing their living environments and making it easier to access housing.

Diane J. Brisebois to Retire as RCC President & CEO

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Diane J. Brisebois will retire as RCC President & CEO in 2025 after 30 years, with a Special Committee overseeing the leadership transition.

Shake Shack Announces Yorkdale Opening Date

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Shake Shack is opening its third Toronto location at Yorkdale Shopping Centre on February 12, marking another step in its nationwide expansion.

Payroll employment higher than a year ago: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada says payroll employment in retail trade fell by 6,100 (-0.3%) in November, following little change in October and a decrease of 8,400 (-0.4%) in September.

Tim Hortons brings back Special Olympics donut to support Canadian athletes

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Now in its sixth year, the Special Olympics Donut campaign by Tim Hortons continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of athletes.

Small business confidence continues to decline as U.S. tariffs loom: CFIB

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region.

The Body Shop announces new head franchisee for Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The Body Shop operates 61 stores across Canada, with an imminent revitalized e-commerce platform.

Bank of Canada cuts interest rate to 3%,US tariffs looming

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
"In Canada, past cuts to interest rates have started to boost the economy. The recent strengthening in both consumption and housing activity is expected to continue."

Business leaders want Canada to fight U.S. tariffs with corresponding dollar-for-dollar tariffs: KPMG

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
KPMG said 88 per cent of the companies surveyed export or sell to the U.S. and 81 per cent say their business will be impacted by U.S. tariffs.

Retail Crime Is Escalating—Will You Be Part of the Solution?

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Retail Insider -
RCC’s Retail Secure Conference 2025, March 19 in Mississauga, tackles pressing retail crime issues with expert-led sessions, networking, and the Retail Legends Awards. Save $100 with early bird pricing by Feb 19, plus 20% off for groups of five. Nominate standout loss prevention professionals and register today at www.retailsecure.ca.

Canada’s video game industry contributed $5.1 billion to GDP in 2024

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The video game industry is a cornerstone of Canada's digital economy, creating high quality jobs, driving innovation, and showcasing our creativity on the global stage.

Manitobah releases 2nd annual Social Impact Report

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Manitobah is a trailblazer for Indigenous business, demonstrating how Indigenous values, ethics, and culture can achieve success in the global marketplace.

Red Lobster announces launch of Happy Hour

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Red Lobster is the world's largest and most-loved seafood restaurant company, headquartered in Orlando, Fla. 

Duty Free Stores Revamped at Edmonton International Airport 

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Edmonton International Airport unveils revamped duty-free stores, blending local culture with global retail for an elevated travel experience.

Starbucks bringing back and introducing amenities

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
"The changes come as part of a plan to refocus on what has always made Starbucks special — creating a welcoming coffeehouse where people want to gather and relax, and where skilled baristas serve the finest handcrafted coffee."

Lightspeed Launches New Innovations to Boost Retail and Hospitality

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Lightspeed unveiled new tools for retail, hospitality, and golf operations in the latest quarter, improving efficiency, customer experience, and business growth.

Taxpayers launching court fight against ‘undemocratic’ capital gains tax hike

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
A new report from the C.D. Howe Institute shows the capital gains tax increase will result in 414,000 fewer jobs and shrink Canada’s GDP by nearly $90 billion.

Moneris appoints Mia Huntington as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Prior to joining Moneris, she was the Executive Vice President, Point-of-Sale Lending at Elavon, focused on developing commercial models and delivering compelling customer offerings including buy now, pay later solutions.

Cluck Clucks brings its famous fried chicken and waffles to U.S. with 1st location in Texas

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Cluck Clucks has earned a cult following in Canada, where it currently operates six locations across the Greater Toronto Area.

Retail sales stable in November: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 1.6% in December.

Nemesis Pavilion to open in February at new Surrey Pavilion in City Centre

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The 2,600 square foot Nemesis space will feature 50 seats, with an expansive patio expected to open during the warmer months.

Cognizant study shows consumers who embrace AI could drive $4.4 Trillion in spending over 5 years 

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
As AI-influenced buying evolves, businesses must navigate mixed consumer attitudes towards AI, says Cognizant.

RONA brings together its collaborators to launch 2025

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
This year, RONA awarded seven vendors with Vendor of the Year in their respective categories.

Loblaw and Flashfood helped Canadians save over $50 million on groceries in 2024

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Since initiating their partnership with Flashfood in 2019, Loblaw has diverted nearly 86 million pounds of potential food waste from landfill through the program.

RCCSTORE25: First Look at Game-Changing Speakers!

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Retail Insider -
Get ready for RCCSTORE25, Canada’s premier retail event, on June 3-4 in Toronto. Hear from inspiring speakers like Brian Burke, Sharon Gai, Ira Kalish, and Eric Morris. Explore leadership, AI, consumer insights, and economic trends. Save $200 with Early Bird Pricing until Feb 28 2025.

Store-closing sales underway across Canada at all cleo, Ricki’s, Bootlegger clothing stores

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Initial discounts on all merchandise run from 25 to 40 per cent off the original ticketed price at the clothing stores.

CPI rises 1.8% y/y in December but Canadians pay less for food at restaurants: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada said Canadians paid less for food purchased from restaurants in December (-1.6%) on a year-over-year basis.

Calgary set to host Alberta’s biggest RV sale and show

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
As one of Alberta's largest and most anticipated RV events, the Calgary RV Adventure Sale & Show will feature an impressive selection of RVs, outdoor lifestyle products, exclusive deals, and expert advice.

Consumers see improvement in financial health: Bank of Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Fewer consumers reported that they are spending less or plan to reduce their spending; and, for the first time since 2021, consumers said they expect their spending to increase faster than they expect prices to rise.

Loblaw Sells Wellwise by Shoppers Stores to Verillium Health Care

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Loblaw divests 42 Wellwise by Shoppers stores to Verillium Health Care, focusing on pharmacy growth as the healthcare brand transitions to new ownership.

Heritage launches Lunar New Year charitable dinners

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Heritage said proceeds from the event will benefit the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Vancouver’s historic Chinatown.

Consumers regained their spending mojo, but tariffs cloud 2025: TD

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
TD said consumer spending gained momentum toward the end of 2024, supported by lower interest rates, which boosted consumer confidence, and external factors, such as the GST relief.

Baskin-Robbins raises $30,000 for BGC Canada in Pink Spoon Campaign

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The fundraiser is part of an ongoing partnership between Baskin-Robbins and BGC Canada that includes scholarships, in-kind gifts and cause promotion

Stark decline in Canada’s small business employment: Intuit

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The Intuit report reveals that while overall employment has grown year-over-year, small business growth is lagging, hindered by high interest rates making it harder for some to access financing to fuel growth.

Nourcy Unveils a Brand-New Concept at YQB

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
In addition to its beloved café concept and ready-to-heat meal service, the Nourcy restaurant will also offer an alcoholic beverage menu for travellers.

Covergalls and Mark’s Team Up to Support Women in Trades

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Covergalls partners with Mark’s Commercial to supply women-focused workwear, including gear tailored for female miners, to 383 stores across Canada.

Chick-fil-A expands True Inspiration Awards grant program, awarding US$6 million to 56 non-profits

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the United States. More than 200,000 people are employed by independent owner-operators in more than 3,000 restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

GoBolt Parcel achieves 562% YoY growth in electric vehicle deliveries

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
In 2024, GoBolt Parcel completed 1.5 million shipments powered by EVs, solidifying its leadership in sustainable logistics across Canada and the U.S.
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