Daily Synopsis: August 19, 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.

Subway Canada brought back its original artisan flatbread after customer demand, and Pandora expanded its Canadian footprint while reshaping its jewellery strategy to include platinum-plated pieces and reduce promotions to strengthen brand positioning.

Coach expanded its store investment targeting Gen Z consumers, and Shopify expanded cross-border ecommerce tools to support Canadian merchants’ international sales. Montreal-based RUDSAK is opening a flagship store in Toronto’s Manulife Centre. See below for more articles.

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Pandora Expands Canadian Footprint While Reshaping Jewellery Strategy

Pandora is expanding its Canadian business while reducing promotions, investing in stores and preparing a broader shift toward platinum-plated jewellery.

Coach Expands Store Investment as Gen Z Drives Global Growth

Coach is raising handbag prices, reducing promotions and investing in stores as Gen Z drives growth, with 29 locations operating across Canada.

Shopify Expands Cross-Border Ecommerce Tools for Canadian Retailers

Shopify is expanding Managed Markets to eligible Canadian merchants as Global-e reports growing adoption and strong cross-border ecommerce demand.

RUDSAK Opening Bloor Street Store at Toronto’s Manulife Centre

RUDSAK is opening a new store at Toronto’s Manulife Centre on Bloor Street, taking space that includes the former Birks Van Cleef & Arpels boutique.

Groupe Dynamite appoints new digital leader as Chief Customer Officer

Henry Spear brings more than two decades of experience across digital, E-commerce, customer experience, and omni-channel retail.

25% of New Businesses in Canada Are Started by New Canadians: CFA

There are more than 800,000 self-employed newcomers across Canada.

Why Major Retailers Are Turning Employees Into Content Creators: Billo

“Showing authentic and imperfect people on camera is a very good strategy for brands that want to create relationships with their audience and win their trust in the age of AI."

GoodLeaf Farms says all three Canadian vertical farms have reached profitability

The Canadian vertical farming operator reported revenue of $34 million in 2025, up from $6.4 million in 2023. Revenue has increased another 31 per cent in 2026.

Small business confidence hits three-year low as costs rise and cash reserves shrink: Zensurance

Confidence fell to 49 per cent this year, down from 58 per cent in 2025 and 70 per cent in 2024.

Daily Synopsis: August 18, 2026

Sport Check expanding 'destination' sport stores in department store spaces, Canada could lose 2,500 restaurants this year, David's Tea expands, Shake Shack opening new locations, and other news.

SportChek Plans More Destination Sport Stores as HBC Spaces Create Opportunities

SportChek is accelerating its Destination Sport rollout across Canada as Canadian Tire eyes former Hudson’s Bay and other department-store spaces for expansion.

Canada Could Lose 2,500 Restaurants in 2026 as Industry Pressures Mount

Canada may avoid the 4,000 restaurant losses once forecast for 2026, but Sylvain Charlebois says up to 2,500 could still disappear as industry pressures intensify.

DAVIDsTEA Opens Square One Flagship as Canadian Store Expansion Advances

DAVIDsTEA opens a flagship at Square One in Mississauga as it targets 25 Canadian stores and reports broader sales benefits from new locations.

Shake Shack Expands Canadian Footprint With New Ontario Restaurants

Shake Shack is expanding in Canada with new restaurants in Oakville, Burlington and London as it adds drive-thrus and grows beyond the GTA.

The Home Depot sees Q2 fiscal sales reach $47.9 billion

Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 were $4.8 billion, or $4.79 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $4.6 billion, or $4.58 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2025.

Squishy toy craze spilling beyond toy aisle: Faire

Stuffed and plush products were the fastest-growing kids category on Faire, rising 628% between May and June 2025 and the same period in 2026, according to the wholesale marketplace’s latest Independent Retail Pulse report. 

Brasa Peruvian Kitchen prepares to open at Toronto Pearson Airport

Brasa is treating this expansion almost like a different operating model rather than simply a restaurant with more revenue. 

Why CPG Brands Should Take a Page From Fashion’s Playbook and Embrace Mystery

Fashion has long understood that desire isn't built by answering every question.

Canadian Consumer Spending Accelerates in Q2 Despite Higher Energy Costs: RBC

Major events—like FIFA World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver and The Calgary Stampede—temporarily boosted dining and entertainment activity in specific time periods and locations, but likely had limited impact on overall Canadian spending growth.

Dr. Oetker Takes Suprema Frozen Pizza Opera on Tour in Quebec to Drive Sampling

Following a successful launch year, Suprema helped attract new shoppers to the frozen pizza category, contributed to premiumization through higher basket values and now ranks among the top-performing pizza meal items in Canada.