NEWS BRIEFS

Half of Canadians foresee inflation, cost of living as biggest financial challenge in 2025: TD

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The TD survey uncovered Canadians' financial priorities in 2025, with 56 per cent of those surveyed indicating a main priority was their day-to-day expenses, down 3% from last year, saving and investing for the future (47 per cent) and paying down debt (30 per cent).

Redberry to open 1st downtown Toronto Jersey Mike’s Subs at Union Station

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The downtown opening is part of Redberry's long-term plan to open 300 Jersey Mike's locations in the next 10 years.

Toronto Tempo Launches First Merchandise Collection

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Toronto Tempo debuts its first merchandise collection, featuring Canadian and female-founded brands, ahead of its 2026 WNBA season launch.

Lightspeed Launches Mobile Checkout Feature for Retailers

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Lightspeed unveils mobile checkout on iPhone, enabling seamless transactions, faster service, and personalized shopping experiences for customers.

Quartz Co. Celebrates Canadian Winter with Bold New Campaign

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Anita Mehra -
Quartz Co. launches its Winter 2025 campaign, celebrating Canadian winters with bold visuals, eco-conscious designs, and timeless sophistication.

Lululemon Boosts Q4 Forecasts After Strong Holiday Sales

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Lululemon raises Q4 revenue and earnings forecasts, citing strong holiday sales and continued growth in the athletic apparel market.

Red Apple Opening New Store in Gravelbourg, SK, February 14

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Red Apple expands to Gravelbourg, SK, with a new store opening Feb. 14, featuring deals, giveaways, and a family-friendly shopping experience.

Promising first year of fundraising for MTY Group Foundation

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
For the past year, the MTY Foundation has been supporting communities in need by providing them with what they require to foster their flourishing.

Cineplex reports solid financial results for December

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Cineplex has 168 movie theatres and location-based entertainment venues. The company also operates The Rec Room, Playdium, and Cineplex Junxion.

Employment rises while unemployment rate decreases: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Canada added 91,000 jobs in December 2024, lowering unemployment to 6.7%, with gains in full-time roles and key industries like education and health care.

Brand refresh rolling out across Chopped Leaf chain in 2025

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Chopped Leaf has over 118 locations across Canada and in the United States, and is continuing to expand across North America and internationally, with more than 25 locations committed to open.

Statements Media partners with Brookfield in digital advertising space

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Founded in 2005, Statements Media is a boutique outdoor advertising company based in Toronto that specializes in premium out-of-home properties and innovative advertising networks.

Aritzia Reports 72% Profit Surge Amid U.S. Growth and Challenges

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Aritzia's third-quarter profits jumped 72%, driven by U.S. expansion and e-commerce gains, while Canadian sales faced economic challenges.

Tourism spending on the decline: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Foreign tourism demand was down 2.7% in the third quarter, while domestic tourism demand increased 0.5%.

Circle K unveils all-new meal deals in Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Recognizing the increasing demand for value and convenience, Circle K has crafted a menu of mix-and-match meal combinations, all priced affordably between $5 and $7.

Nescafé Espresso Concentrate expands to the US

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Nescafé Espresso Concentrate is made with 100% Arabica beans and comes in a 300-milliliter bottle (enough for approximately 20 cups of espresso when prepared as directed).

Kelly Jessop West named new CEO of Chatters Hair Salon

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Chatters has over 115 salons in Canada with more than 1,200 stylists.

Frank And Oak Files for Bankruptcy Protection Amid $71M Debt

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Frank And Oak seeks creditor protection again, citing $71M in debt, competitive pressures, and pandemic-related financial challenges.

Happy Belly appoints John Grieve to executive role

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands.

Chick-fil-A beginning 2025 with 2 new locations in Ontario

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Since 2020, Chick-fil-A said it has donated about C$2 million (US$1.46 million) to Second Harvest to support local hunger-relief organizations

Folio.YVR Partners with Public News Korea to Expand Global Reach

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Folio.YVR partners with Public News Korea to share Canada's luxury lifestyle with readers across Asia.

Subaru Canada Sets New Sales Record Over 12 Months

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
Subaru Canada achieves a record-breaking 68,043 units sold in 2024, driven by strong sales in the Forester, Crosstrek, and Solterra models.

Primaris REIT releases its 2nd ESG Report

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Primaris is Canada’s only enclosed shopping centre focused REIT, with ownership interests primarily in leading enclosed shopping centres located in growing mid-sized markets. The current portfolio totals 13.4 million square feet valued at approximately $4.1 billion at Primaris’ share

Happy Belly’s Smash Burger brand Rosie’s Burgers secures location in Toronto’s Avenue & Lawrence neighbourhood

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Rosie's Burgers is a boutique quick serve restaurant brand serving original recipe smash burgers, poutine, onion rings, milkshakes and more.

Baskin-Robbins celebrates official return to Alberta at Calgary’s Southcentre Mall

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Baskin-Robbins, founded in the United States in 1945, is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, with more than 7,700 retail shops in 33 global markets.

METRO presents its corporate responsibility achievements for 2024

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
METRO says sesponsible procurement and the fight against climate change remain at the heart of its priorities.

St. Louis Bar & Grill expands with 3 new locations across GTA

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
St. Louis Bar & Grill is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated casual dining restaurant with 82 locations across Canada. It opened its first location in 1992.

Walmart Canada partners with Salvation Army

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
During Fill the Kettle Day on Saturday, December 21, Walmart Canada will match donations made by individuals to Salvation Army Christmas kettles in participating Walmart Canada stores nationwide, up to a maximum of $100,000.

Bell Media and Shopsense AI bring curated shoppable TV to Canadian viewers

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Shopsense AI unlocks new revenues for media companies, like linear and streaming TV platforms, by making their original content instantly shoppable within their own e-commerce sites and mobile apps.

Fleischmann’s® Introduces Baking Soda for Perfect Holiday Baking

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Fleischmann’s® introduces its first-ever gluten-free Baking Soda, delivering reliable results for home bakers and professionals ahead of the busy holiday season.

Best Buy Ads Canada Partners with Rokt

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Rokt is a leading ecommerce technology company using machine learning and AI to make transactions more relevant to each shopper.

Food prices continue to climb: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Compared with November 2021, grocery prices rose 19.6%, says Statistics Canada.

BMO survey: One-Third of Canadians expect to curtail their spending in 2025

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
BMO says Canadians have increased concerns about the cost of living (54%), inflation (50%) and a possible economic recession (42%).

Canada Post Strike Ends, but Mail Delays Expected Into 2025

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Canada Post resumes operations after a month-long strike, but Canadians should expect mail delays into January 2025 amid ongoing negotiations.

Job vacancies falling with sales and service leading the way: Statistics Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Statistics Canada says job vacancies in the sales and service occupations have declined for 8 consecutive quarters.

Starbucks launching new paid parental leave initiative for employees

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Starbucks Canada says wants to provide both the flexibility and support that many are seeking as they decide whether to have or grow a family.

Mountain Warehouse opens biggest store outside UK at Saskatoon’s Midtown Plaza

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Mountain Warehouse is the largest outdoor retailer in the UK with over 250 stores nationwide, and more than 350 stores globally.

Pet Valu Expands Canadian Pawprint on Instacart

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Pet Valu is Canada's leading retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies with over 800 corporate-owned or franchised locations across the country.

Canadians shifting car shopping focus away from aspirational luxury to practicality and affordability

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
AutoTrader says economic pressures may well be weighing on Canadian consumers when it comes to the type of car they are shopping for.

RONA+ expands its presence in Quebec

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The company continues to reposition the RONA brand, which is now its sole retail brand in Canada.

Everyday influencers driving the decisions of Canadian consumers

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
27% of Canadians think that being an influencer requires a large audience.

The Original Hot Chicken debuts in Canada (Photos)

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The Original Hot Chicken's Toronto opening signals a broader call for licensing partners ready to capitalize on the growing demand for premium fast-casual offerings which feature compelling unit economics including lower capital costs and operational simplicity.

INDOCHINO Appoints Ryane Askew as VP to Drive 2025 Growth

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Maya Johnson -
INDOCHINO appoints Ryane Askew as VP of Marketing to enhance brand development, customer engagement, and growth initiatives for 2025.

Jay Nok Modern Thai to Open in Vancouver’s Olympic Village

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The Kongsilp family, formerly of SalaThai, introduces Jay Nok Modern Thai in Vancouver's Olympic Village, blending traditional Thai flavours with a modern twist.

aaniin CF Eaton Centre pop-up hits one-month sales goal in 10 days

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Since its launch on November 29, the aaniin pop-up has transformed retail at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre.

MEI forecasts moderate economic growth in 2025 for Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
MEI forecasts Canada’s real GDP growth to increase modestly to 1.8% in 2025, up from 1.6% in 2024

McDonald’s Canada and Uber Eats join forces 

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
Co-founded by Calgary entrepreneur Garrett Camp, Uber started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button?

bb.q Chicken celebrates over 50 locations across Canada

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
bb.q Chicken, short for Best of the Best Quality Chicken, is the world's largest Korean fried chicken franchise with over 3,800 globally, including 250+ in the U.S. 

CFIB calls on customers for patience over GST/HST administrative nightmare before Christmas

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
A recent CFIB survey found that only 4% of small businesses expect to see stronger sales as a result of the temporary GST/HST holiday.

Canadian apparel sales forecast to decline in 2025: Trendex

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Mario Toneguzzi -
The recent Canadian Apparel Insights report, by Trendex North America, forecasts that apparel sales in Canada will decrease by 1.5% in 2024 but increase by 1.0% in 2025.
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