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Retail Space Available at Calgary’s East Village ‘VERVE’

By
Retail Insider
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VERVE is a 25-storey mixed-use building by FRAM + Slokker

Retail Insider has partnered with leasing newsletter Locations! and we’ll provide periodic updates on retailers’ expansions.

VERVE is a 25-storey mixed-use building by FRAM + Slokker with a tall, six-storey podium, main floor shops and restaurants. This mixed-use retail / residential condo project features main floor retail and restaurant space with 288 condos above. VERVE Q1 is located on ‘The Riff‘, a pedestrian walkway that connects the East Village with Downtown Calgary and the adjacent St. Patrick’s Island and Fort Calgary.

The commercial space will be available late summer 2018. The listing agent has retail and restaurant leasing opportunities starting at 850 square feet. However, one opportunity should be on everyone’s list. It is a restaurant space of almost 2,600 square feet plus a patio — unit 129 on the lease plan below. 

VERVE is a 25-storey mixed-use building by FRAM + Slokker
VERVE is a 25-storey mixed-use building by FRAM + Slokker

The VERVE restaurant leasing opportunity is situated on the Riff. Like a guitar string ready to reverberate, the Riff runs through the heart of East Village. A pedestrian walkway that runs at an angle and the VERVE condominium tower plays a smart tune off that Riff. Riff is a word which means musical improvisation and VERVE is the name of an edgy kind of record label for jazz artists, which of course ties in with ‘riff.’ The Riff is pedestrian only and lined with shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Adjacent to VERVE will be the upcoming Vibe mixed-use mid-rise project also by FRAM + Slokker.  

The East Village district has gone through many improvements since 2007 as part of the Rivers District Revitalization Plan carried out by Calgary Municipal Land Corp. (CMLC). This includes $357 million of new infrastructure and development programs which CMLC says has helped bring in about $2.7 billon of new development. The revamped Simmons Building, The National Music Centre and the $245 million New Central Library also brings life to the East Village.

Contact: Michael Kehoe, Fairfield Commercial Real Estate. 403-263-4100.

Email: mike@fairfieldcommercial.com. 

BRIEF: Deciem Secures 3rd Vancouver Store, Party Expert to Open 10th Store in Quebec

By
Helen Siwak
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BRIEF: Deciem Secures 3rd Vancouver Store, Party Expert to Open 10th Store in Quebec

Deciem Secures 3rd Vancouver Location for Summer Opening

Super-popular self-proclaimed “Abnormal Beauty Company” Deciem is opening stores worldwide to enhance brand awareness, and part of the strategy is to open multiple locations in each city it enters in order to be seen by a wider variety of potential consumers. 

The company has already opened two stores in the Vancouver area — one at 408 Howe Street in downtown Vancouver, as well as a second location at Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby. Signage is now up for a third store at 2985 Granville Street in the tony ‘South Granville’ shopping area located just north of super-wealthy Shaughnessy on Vancouver’s West Side. CBRE’s Mario Negris and Martin Moriarty negotiated the Granville Street deal. 

Deciem is gaining a cult following in cities like Toronto, where it launched its first store in the summer of 2016. Deciem now has seven stores in the Greater Toronto Area, including urban street front, in a mall (Square One), in the Financial District, and even a massive space in Toronto’s Distillery District. Stan Vyriotes and David Wedermire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc. represented Deciem in five of its Toronto lease deals, as well as for a handful of international deals. 

Deciem’s popularity continues to grow in leaps and bounds, propelled by affordably-priced products that are known for their high-quality ingredients. 

Downtown Oakville Sees 2 New Pop-Ups, courtesy of pop-up go

Temporary retail space connector popup-go, in partnership with Bentall Kennedy, announced the openings of two innovative new pop-up spaces in fashionable downtown Oakville. From April 1 to June 16, fashion designer Tara Rivas has opened at unit 103, 125 Lakeshore Road East. Ms. Rivas is a well-known Canadian fashion designer and for the Oakville pop-up, she partnered with mother/baby brand Poppys Collection, which is a Canadian online boutique with a unique twist — all pieces of their collections are designed or made by mothers, and quality is so exceptional that items are meant to be passed down. An organic food company will be joining them soon. 

Nearby, Pink Frog has unveiled a pop-up at unit 137, 131-139 Lakeshore Road East. Founded by Renée Gratton-Veaudry, Pink Frog is known for its fun pet accessories and for the Oakville pop-up, the company partnered with Baie Run, which sells care products and a number of treat brands like True Raw Choice. Watch for the space to be activated with all kinds of pet-related activities in the pop-up that will operate from May 1 to May 31. 

pop-up go is an online platform that helps pair retailers with available temporary retail spaces, which also features a curated pop-up match service that provides access to the ever-growing pipeline of pop-up seekers looking for space. 

Miniso Opens 1st Store in Downtown Toronto

Value-priced Chinese variety retailer Miniso is rapidly expanding its Canadian operation with new stores. This week, the company revealed its first location in downtown Toronto at CF Toronto Eaton Centre and as expected, the store is already very busy. 

Downtown Toronto is growing rapidly and it already contains more than 250,000 residents in a relatively small area. It’s also Canada’s biggest employment centre, featuring a mix of head offices, financial and other business services, universities and hospitals — no doubt more Miniso stores will open as downtown Toronto sees a population explosion with new condominium buildings sprouting up throughout. 

CF Toronto Eaton Centre is North America’s busiest mall, with more than 50-million annual visitors, according to Retail Council of Canada’s latest Shopping Centre Study. 

Miniso opened its first Canadian stores in the spring of 2017 in Vancouver, where it continues to expand rapidly. The company says that it plans to open as many as 500 locations in Canada in the coming years. Miniso’s product offerings are also extensive, including home goods, kitchenware, underwear, cosmetics, toys and even electronics. Products are branded by name and are considered to be of exceptional quality for the price. The company was co-founded in 2013 by Japanese designer Miyake Junya and Chinese entrepreneur Ye Guo Fu, and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. MINSO’s goal is to open 6,000 stores globally by 2020, averaging 80 to 100 store openings per month. 

Party Expert Bringing the PARTYYYYY to Quebec City with Espace Bouvier

On June 16th, store owner and CEO Lynda Bouvier will throw open the doors and release the clowns at the launch of Party Expert’s Espace Bouvier in Quebec City. The colossal event will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 am at 4825 Boulevard Pierre-Bertrand, followed by photo ops with pop-culture action hero HULK and his family of Super Hero Avengers, face-painting, and entertainment. The first 50 people to arrive will receive Party Expert Gift Cards between $10 and $100, the first 200 people to receive toys from Hasbro®, access to show-stopping cake fountains, balloons, and a 25% discount on everything except balloons.  

The Espace Bouvier is the 10th store province-wide owned by the Bouvier family and by far the most innovative. Bouvier has taken a different approach by designing it as a boutique-style shopping experience in an expansive 10,000-square-feet of retail space. 

The chain features an unbelievable selection of themed party supplies, personalized and super shape balloons, extraordinary costumes and accessories that are sold all year round, toys by Hasbro® and so much more, as well as its own private label French-language collection that debuts with this launch. 

The company is locally focused, leads the global trend in creating ‘personalized’ items, offers a wide range of French-language product which includes a private label exclusively designed by Bouvier, and offers the accessories to customize events to make celebrating special days even more memorable.

Fast facts collection website about Party Expert – they have 50,000 products, 3,308 costumes, 15,466 costume accessories, 30,000 latex balloons, 5,000 metallic Mylar balloons, 300 latex balloon models, 43 licensed party collections for children, more than 2,000 units of candy, 305 oz of slime, more than 1,200 Hawaiian leis, 20 colors of disposable tableware, and over 60 party themes!  

Sweet Jesus Bringing Finger-Licking Salvation to Vancouver

Known for their irreverent style, controversial marketing, and outrageous ice cream treats, Toronto-based Sweet Jesus will finally open up a shop in Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby this July.

Sweet Jesus is known for their eye-catching over-the-top decked out cones like the Birthday Cake (vanilla soft serve, cream cheese icing, birthday cake bits, rainbow sprinkles) and the Hella Nutella (chocolate and vanilla twist soft serve, Nutella, wafer cookies, Corn Flakes, toasted pistachios). Also offered are extremely loaded shakes, Cake Batter Hot Chocolate, bottled Holy Water, and take-out pints.

Sweet Jesus’ creamy treats are currently dispensed at 17 locations (permanent, pop-up, and food court) in Canada primarily in Ontario, with one 394-square-foot shop in the Southgate Centre food court in Edmonton.  

Parent company Monarch & Misfits itself started as a pop-up and now has four food-based brands – Sweet Jesus (Soft Serve, Espresso, and Dessert), La Carnita (Mexican Street Food), Home of the Brave (Southern Cooking with Northern Hospitality, and Good Fortune (Late night cocktail and snack bar).

The chain is also confirmed to open several more locations including a second Edmonton location in the West Edmonton Mall and continues to target high profile street front units and kiosk sites (700 to 1,200-square-feet) in enclosed malls as well as some select markets including Yonge and Dundas in Toronto, Robson in downtown Vancouver, Whistler, and Banff. 

Plans are in the works for expansion in the United States, and oversea’s in Dubai, India and Bangladesh which will have them scooping up under the ‘Sweet Salvation’ banner.

Chanel Recreates Coco’s Deauville Promenade with Beachy Pop-Up

Chanel is popping up with ‘Les Beiges à la Plage’ in downtown Vancouver within the skybridge connecting Holt Renfrew with CF Pacific Centre. Created to celebrate the release of Chanel’s new ‘Les Beiges’ collection, the temp beauty boutique has been designed to recreate the sentimentality of Deauville, a seaside resort on France’s northern coast where Coco Chanel, then known by her given-name of Gabrielle, opened her first boutique in 1913.  

The skybridge contains individual cabanas for personalized make-up consults and make-overs, sea-side canvas lounge chairs, and a tableau with umbrella’s, Chanel surfboard and white fencing which gives it the air of exclusivity and is a perfect background for faux-beach selfies.

Until June 3rd visitors to the Chanel pop-up will enjoy complimentary services such as flash lip application, micro hand-massage with camellia micro-droplets from Hydra Beauty, and CHANCE fragrance consultation. There are two services that require appointments – Express Nail Art Application with Chanel technician and small groups of 2-4 persons can create their own personalized MakeUp Master Class to experience an immersive journey into Chanel’s summer palettes with friends. 

The Holt Renfrew skybridge is becoming a hotspot for pop-ups with Tiffany & Co’s seasonal market with giftwares and accessories and Prada’s 1950s style accessories cafe complete with human-sized robot keychains.

The Increasingly Bleak Outlook for Canadian Grocery Stores

By
Sylvain Charlebois
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EMPTY GROCERY STORES COULD BE A SIGN OF THE FUTURE AS GROCERY STORES STRUGGLE TO MAKE PROFITS AND CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR MORE CHOICE AND SERVICES, INCLUDING ONLINE SHOPPING, EVOLVE. PHOTO: CLARK YOUNG/UNSPLASH

Retail food prices are not moving much these days. They are barely higher than last year, with a modest increase of 0.5 per cent.

In fact, according to Statistics Canada, prices dropped over all by 0.7 per cent over the winter months. South of the border, U.S. grocers are dealing with the same issue. Since our economy has some momentum, you would expect food retail prices to inch higher. But they are not moving, and for several reasons.

Grocers will always pick the right time to raise prices. Unemployment is near historic lows, consumer confidence is relatively high and inflation is inching upward — normally, these are perfect market conditions. Not so at the moment.

For one thing, both Walmart and Amazon are at war trying to attract customer loyalty through online strategies. Walmart’s online food sales were disappointing in the last quarter, but sales are growing nonetheless.

And generic brands are becoming increasingly popular as consumers trade down. Brands are becoming less important to a growing number of consumers, so trading down has become less embarrassing and more of a statement consumers want to make while shopping.

Loyalty — the most powerful tool a grocer needs to increase sales — is almost non-existent nowadays. The power has now firmly shifted into the hands of consumers, and grocers know it. With interesting tweaks to their strategy, profits are still there, but market shares are not.

Cutting costs

Walmart vs Amazon

For the past few years, grocers have been cutting costs and passing the savings onto consumers, all the while hoping that the perfect inflationary environment would return so that they could raise prices again. The return of food inflation was exactly what the grocery industry was hoping for, but so far, results have been disappointing.

What they did not expect was to lose the ability to increase retail prices. With higher general inflation, costs are increasing and grocers are now getting hit in more ways than one.

Grocers can try to justify their poor financial performance, citing higher minimum wages and how much pressure they are under, but top-line growth revenues are painfully idle for most of them. All grocers are moving aggressively on their online strategy, and all are also looking at home delivery, as soon as possible.

In many markets — Toronto, Guelph, Ont., Halifax, Vancouver, among others — the number of stores is increasing. There are almost 39,000 food and beverage stores in Canada, which is up more than five per cent from about two years ago.

It seems some grocers are remaining in this funk of building new stores just for the sake of it. Bricks-and-mortar stores may remain a sign of business success from the perspective of some executives, but this just isn’t true anymore.

Pressures are also coming from the online market, as more small- and medium-sized companies are chipping away at market shares in some specific food categories. It’s not just Amazon, but a portfolio of intriguing small companies using virtual platforms to brand and commercialize high-value products that cannot be found elsewhere, like Bonduelle or Naak.

Innovation could lead to growth

Innovation is always seen as a logical path to growth in the grocery business, but how we define innovation in food is also changing.

Many innovative products are becoming known in Canada, like the cricket-protein bars sold by Naak, but most are not sold by major grocers. They are sold online or through independent shops.

This is another major problem that grocers in this country will need to fix and quickly. If grocers’ capacity to increase revenues is hampered by more competition, the consequences of these pressures will be shared with food processors and others in the supply chain. To make matters worse, relationships within the food value chain have not been great in recent years.

Despite the food retailing woes we are seeing in North America, food services is a different story entirely.

Prices have gone up by more than four per cent since the beginning of the year, and the sector is not showing signs of slowing down.

The convergence between retailing and service will be a definite attraction for a food-retailing sector desperate for growth.

2018 Global Retail Trends and Innovation: Winner Announcement [Video]

By
Retail Insider
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2018 Global Retail Trends and Innovation: Winner Announcement [Video]

This is the first of five videos describing some of the world’s top retail trends, as presented by John Williams and Maureen Atkinson, Senior Partners at J.C. Williams Group. 

The consultancy is part of the bigger Ebeltoft Group, which has released its 2018 Global Retail Trends & Innovations Report. This book highlights some key insights into what innovative retailers are doing around the world. The release includes these five video discussions as well as a free downloadable version of the book, available here. 

This video provides an overview of the 2018 Global Retail Trends & Innovations Report’s first section, including naming the ‘Retail Innovation of the Year’ — San Francisco-based b8ta, including an overview of why the retailer is a shining example of retail leadership. With just nine stores in the United States, b8ta could become a terrific addition to Canada’s retail scene if the retailer finds the opportunity to move north of the border. 

Feel free to comment below the video, and next week we’ll showcase the 2018 Global Retail Trends & Innovations Report’s first of four ‘hot trends’ for 2018 that will include a discussion of ’Smart Shopping’. 

[Download the full report]

Ermenegildo Zegna Launches Canadian Store Expansion in Unique Partnership

By
Craig Patterson
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Iconic Italian luxury brand Ermenegildo Zegna is expanding its Canadian operations this year with a new standalone flagship in Toronto, as well as a renovation to its Vancouver store. More standalone stores could be on the way in a unique partnership with menswear retailer Harry Rosen. 

Construction signage is now up on the one-level space that will feature a two-level branded Zegna facade.

Harry Rosen has had a partnership with Zegna brand for decades and the boutique expansion is a natural progression, according to Harry Rosen CEO Larry Rosen. “My father was the first retailer to introduce Ermenegildo Zegna to North America in the early 1970s,” said Larry Rosen. “He recognized the inherent quality and craftsmanship that the Zegna family offered. Our families have been in business ever since. We’re so honoured that the world’s most prestigious menswear brand has the confidence in our organization to execute their vision for global retail in Canada on their behalf.”

The 3,000 square foot Toronto flagship will be located at 100 Bloor Street West, in a retail space next to the Hermès flagship which opened in November of 2017. Zegna’s retail space will occupy an eastern portion of a retail space formerly occupied by Pottery Barn, which occupied a landmark site featuring a reproduction of the former University Theatre facade characterized by an undulating cut-marble base, cantilevered canopies, and two-story granite framed windows. CBRE Toronto negotiated the Toronto Zegna deal under the direction of Arlin Markowitz. 

Zegna, at the left in this photo circled in red, is only about 180 feet west of Harry Rosen’s Blooor Street West flagship.

Harry Rosen’s 55,000 square foot multi-level flagship, located at the northeast corner of Bloor Street West and Bellair Street, is about 180 feet east of the new Zegna boutique. Harry Rosen’s second-level includes a recently renovated roster of some of the world’s top luxury brands for men, including an impressive Zegna boutique that will continue to operate after the standalone store opens. The shop-in-store was the first in the world to feature Zegna’s updated design and according to Larry Rosen, the new Bloor Street Zegna flagship will take the design “to the next level”. 

Part of the strategy is to attract shoppers seeking the “pure” Zegna experience and the company is seeking to operate standalone stores in the world’s major cities — there are plenty of fans for Zegna, which is considered to be one of the world’s leading luxury brands for men. Rosen’s shop-in-stores offer “the Harry Rosen experience” which includes its exceptional customer service and Mr. Rosen says that in the case of Zegna, which is one of the world’s most popular men’s luxury brands, there’s room for both on the Mink Mile. Not to mention, Zegna is also the top selling brand in the Harry Rosen chain, which boasts seven Zegna shop-in-shops across the country. 

Harry Rosen also operates a standalone Zegna boutique at Vancouver’s CF Pacific Centre. The 4,500 square foot store, which is located across the hall from Harry Rosen’s CF Pacific Centre flagship, will see an overhaul that will bring it in line with Zegna’s newest global flagships. Interiors of both the Vancouver and Toronto Zegna boutiques will be designed by Zegna, based on a design concept by internationally-acclaimed architect Peter Marino, who has designed some of the world’s most spectacular stores and is considered by many to be a genius. 

The Bloor Street Zegna is now under construction, with completion expected late summer/early fall. The Vancouver renovation will be completed some time in the fall of 2018.  

The partnership makes sense, according to Mr. Rosen. Harry Rosen has sold Zegna for years and given its knowledge of the brand as well as its established distribution channels makes the arrangement strategic. 

More standalone Zegna boutiques could open in Canada, according to Mr. Rosen, though nothing is confirmed as of yet. Harry Rosen is also considering opening standalone boutiques for some of its other leading brands (including Dutch custom menswear brand Atelier Munro). Harry Rosen is considered to be one of the world’s top multi-brand menswear stores and some of its brands do very well — the Tom Ford boutique at its Bloor Street store competes for top sales globally with shop-in-stores at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City and at Harrod’s in London, according to Mr. Rosen. 

We’ll update this article with new ones when both Zegna stores are completed, including showcasing photos of the new Peter Marino-designed retail spaces. 

Rotisserie Chicken Hotspot Flock Continues to Expand

By
Megan Harman
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exc-5af24dba352f53d30463e3ce

Gourmet chicken and salad chain Flock Rotisserie + Greens is spreading its wings and embarking on expansion as demand for its high-end fast food offerings continues to soar.

Flock, which operates five restaurants in Toronto, is preparing to open its sixth location in the months to come at the Yonge Sheppard Centre in North York.  A seventh location is planned for Yonge and Eglinton next year, followed by one at Bayview and Eglinton in 2020 or 2021.

The chain specializes in healthy and fresh quick serve meals, including rotisserie chicken, pulled chicken sandwiches and soups, along with gourmet salads that boast high quality ingredients such as kale, pomegranate, roasted cauliflower, goji berries, mango, cashews and coconut.

“There’s really nothing like it, in terms of very sophisticated, intricate salads,” says Mustafa Yusuf, president and co-founder of Flock. “They’re not your average salads.”

Although Flock has had success with a broad and diverse customer base, its core target market consists of millennials in the 25-35 age range – and particularly women, according to Yusuf. He says Canadian consumers have become increasingly health-conscious in recent years, and so healthy food options have growing appeal in the market.

“The average Canadian now is more educated about what they put in their body,” he says. “People are watching how many calories they eat, and they’re really keeping an eye on their diets.”

Although there are a growing number of restaurant chains focused on providing a similar healthy-eating experience, Yusuf says he’s not concerned, since Flock established itself early in the game and continues to grow each year.

“We don’t worry about the competition,” he says. “We try to just focus on putting out a good product, and make sure we have more people coming through the door than the year before.”

In addition to its quick service locations, Flock operates one full-service restaurant at Harbord and Spadina, which features a full bar and a more extensive menu compared to the other locations. The new Bayview and Eglinton location will be the chain’s second full-service restaurant of that kind, however the brand’s main focus remains the quick-serve concept, according to Yusuf.

“Our bread and butter is the QSRs,” he says.

Yusuf notes that the cost of operating restaurants continues to increase, thanks to steadily rising rents and Ontario’s growing minimum wage. That presents a challenge as the chain expands.

“We’re trying to be creative in terms of finding spaces that are still prime,” Yusuf says, “but not paying the crazy rents that landlords are asking these days.” The new Yonge and Eglinton location, for example, will be located on the second storey of the E Condo development on the northeast corner of the busy intersection. The second-level unit presents a less expensive alternative to ground-floor real estate.

Flock’s QSR locations are an average of 1,200-1,500 square feet in size, while its full-service restaurants are 3,000 square feet.

The restaurants are designed to showcase the food against a modern backdrop of earthy and neutral tones. “We present the food so you’re able to see it,” Yusuf says. “The salads are made in front of you, so you’re able to see all of the ingredients.”

Each location has slightly different design features to reflect the surrounding area and local demographics.

Once Flock has developed a more established presence in the Toronto market, the brand will look to expand to other cities such as Vancouver and Ottawa, and eventually the U.S. market, according to Yusuf.  Flock is working with Stan Vyriotes and David Wedemire of DWSV Remax Ultimate Realty Inc.  as it continues to seek out new locations.

Multi-Vendor ’RAAS Eats’ Launches Innovative Mall Culinary Incubator

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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RAAS at West Edmonton Mall (PHOTO: DANIEL HASSAN

Edmonton’s micro-mall RAAS Market, in the West Edmonton Mall, has expanded to include RAAS Eats, an incubator of up-and-coming Alberta culinary brands.

“Part of the big vision for RAAS is of creating a community of local and emerging brands. Part of community isn’t just retail but it’s also food,” said Mark Ghermezian, RAAS founder and CEO, and part of the family that developed the West Edmonton Mall and other big international shopping centres.

“We had a lot of interest from local and emerging food vendors and brands so we took time to really double down and invest in the space that we could make it turnkey the same way we did for the upcoming brands that offer retail and services. We wanted to make food as turnkey as possible as well.”

Image: West Edmonton Mall
RAAS at West Edmonton Mall (PHOTO: DANIEL HASSAN

The Retail as a Service (RAAS) concept was launched at WEM last fall. It has just over 5,000 square feet and the site can have a minimum of 20 local retailers to as high as 30.

The new dining hub spins the foodcourt model on its head, with emerging food brands spotlighted in a lounge-worthy atmosphere for people to connect and discover, said RAAS in a news release.

Food vendors include Edmonton’s newest vegan hot spot Moth Cafe and Calgary’s Blackbird Cold Brew Coffee. Other brands include Family Squeezed Lemonade; local favourite Moonshine Doughnuts; and world-renowned Duchess Bakeshop. RAAS Eats has also been designed as a multi-use space, and will be a gathering place for DIY workshops hosted by Makers & Mentors and other events.

RAAS AT WEST EDMONTON MALL (PHOTO VIA PUBLICITY ROOM)

“For us it’s kind of moving forward with the original vision that we’ve always had of creating this platform that makes spaces turnkey” and provides an opportunity for local brands to set up shop in a major shopping centre like WEM, said Ghermezian.

“Now we’re able to support food, retail and services. What we’re also doing is creating a space for workshops which I think also expands on the concept of community. So you’re not just coming into a retail space and just buying and purchasing items but you’re now able to eat and you’re now able to participate in a workshop and learn how to do something. It also allows you to connect with a brand. We’re also making the workshop space available to all the brands that open with us so they can book workshops themselves and we help promote it.”

“This unique market gives us an opportunity to not only be a part of a community with other local entrepreneurs, but also to sell our macarons to customers who might not otherwise be able to come to the bakeshop,” said Duchess Bakeshop’s Giselle Courteau.

RAAS Eats Brands Include:

● Family Squeezed Brands

● Blackbird Cold Brew Coffee

● The Moth Cafe

● Moonshine Doughnuts

● Duchess Bakeshop

Other RAAS Brands Include:

● Adesso

● Pura Botanicals

● Mini Street Kidswear

● Parkshop

● Saraswati

● The Geo Collection

● Lamose

● Kelly Wolff

● Mala & Me

● Apollo Original

● Prive Revaux

● Bar 13 Soap Works

● Flip54 Mattresses

● Wildhood Clothing

● Nest In the City

● Sophia Lauren Candles

● Makers and Mentors

Mr. Pretzels Expands into New Markets as it Sees Explosive Growth in Canada

By
Mario Toneguzzi
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The expansion of Mr. Pretzels locations in Canada is taking place at an accelerated pace as the snack food brand has moved into the very populated southern Ontario region and is now also focusing its growth ambitions to unique locations with high traffic volumes.

The company currently has 40 stores opened with another 25 coming within the next six to eight months.

Carmine Di Fruscia, president of Mr. Pretzels in Canada, told Retail Insider that places like hospitals, universities, airports and subway stations are ideal locations for the company to set up shop and sell its pioneering brand of aromatic soft pretzels baked in a variety of flavours.

Recently Mr. Pretzels launched in the Glen Hospital in Montreal.

“If there’s enough traffic we’ll expand to that location,” said Di Fruscia, adding that universities too will be potential prime locations. Two subway stations in Montreal are also locations that have opened up for the company recently with potential for more growth there.

“Our primary focus is in malls. We’re fully into expansion. We’re growing,” he said. “Our product is in demand. People love it.”

The first store in Ontario was opened a few weeks ago in the Conestoga Mall in Waterloo.

“It’s going phenomenal and we have a few more coming in. We’re opening eight in Ontario in the next three to four months and continuing our growth in Calgary. In Calgary, we’re opening at CF Chinook Centre next week. We’re opening Medicine Hat. Lethbridge. The New Horizon Mall (just north of Calgary in the Balzac area). This is all coming within the next few months,” said Di Fruscia.

Toronto locations will be at Yonge and Eglinton, Dufferin Mall and Oakville.

“It’s a big move for us,” said Di Fruscia of the company’s expansion into Ontario and particularly the southern part of the province.

“It’s funny. When we did our growth we started in Quebec and then moved our way out West. We left the centre part out of it. We did Vancouver. Then we did Calgary. We did Edmonton. We did Winnipeg. This is all last year. Now this year we’re hitting hard in Ontario.”

In the last seven months, it has opened three stores in Ottawa.

In an interview last fall with Retail Insider, Di Fruscia, said “there’s no limit” as to how many locations the company will eventually operate in the country, saying it could do at least another 150 stores within the next two years.

The brand operates, along with franchise partners, in over 300 stores in close to 20 countries in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the Caribbean and North America. It opened its first location in 1994 in a kiosk in Puerto Rico.

The company’s founder is Luiz Penna.

Canada’s first location was opened in Place Vertu shopping centre in Montreal four years ago after Di Fruscia met the founder of Mr. Pretzels at that time.

Using only the finest quality natural ingredients, the pretzel dough is prepared on the spot, hand-rolled in front of customers. The pretzels are low in fat and contain no preservatives.

One of the company’s successful marketing efforts is its samples that are available to potential customers. It believes when customers get a taste of what it’s selling they are hooked.

For any landlords interested in having Mr. Pretzels as a tenant, contact Carmine Di Fruscia at: 514-349-3911 or email: carmine@ptg.ca

As well, for more information, visit: www.mrpretzels.ca

Last Chance to Register for eTail Canada Conference, May 15-17 in Toronto

By
Retail Insider
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eTail Canada Conference, May 15-17 in Toronto

The will be held May 15-17, 2018 in Toronto, and it is almost sold out. There are a few tickets left and retailers can still get a 20% discount with code ETC18RI []

The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, located at 370 King Street West in the heart of Toronto’s vibrant Entertainment District. 

eTail Canada is the country’s leading eCommerce and omnichannel conference, and this year it will be bigger and better than ever. More than 70% of eTail Canada’s 2018 speakers will be new this year in addition to the impressive alumni speakers. New to the program are talks from marketing and e-commerce professionals from companies including Amazon, Hudson’s Bay, Walmart, Starbucks, Casper, Article, Best Buy, MEC, Aldo, Sephora, and many others.. []

Prominent keynote speakers will include: 

  • Rochelle Ezekiel, Vice President, Marketing-North America for the Hudson’s Bay Company,
  • Andrew Turner, General Manager of Softlines at Amazon.ca, 
  • Daryl Porter, VP of Omni-channel and Online Grocery at Walmart Canada, and
  • Duncan Blair, Director of Marketing at Vancouver-based online furniture retailer Article, which is growing rapidly. 

The keynotes will kick off three packed days of content from the most recognized companies in retail. [] 

The presentations have been designed to encourage engagement and interactivity, even including ‘TonightShow’ style and fires chats — this will no doubt be a fun year to attend eTail Canada!

Want more?  Because there is more.  Joan Kelley Walker, fashion entrepreneur and star of ‘The Real Housewives of Toronto’ will host the second annual eTail Canada ‘Best in Class Awards’ on May 15. Serving as the official MC for the evening, she’ll be announcing the winners of the following categories:

  • Emerging eTailer
  • Omnichannel Retailer Leader
  • Retail Innovator of the Year
  • Website Redesign of the Year
  • Best Email Marketing Campaign

There will be plenty of networking opportunities as well — eTail Canada notes that there is value from the face-to-face opportunities at the conference. There’s a 75% retailer ratio that’s protected, with more than 400 retailers anticipated to attend. 

As mentioned above, eTail Canada is offering 20% off to retailers if you use discount with code ETC18RI when registering. To download the full schedule — []

For more information on this year’s eTail Canada conference, visit: 

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The Home Depot Canada’s Jeff Kinnaird named RCC’s Excellence in Retailing 2018 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year 

By
Retail Insider
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exc-5af1df0b562fa7e65c6a8ac3

Retail Council of Canada has announced that The Home Depot Canada’s President Jeff Kinnaird and his team will be presented the prestigious Excellence in Retailing Awards’ 2018 Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award. The award will be given out at the Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on the evening of May 29, 2018 at the Toronto Congress Centre. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: retailawards.ca/content/gala-tickets.

“Retail Council of Canada is excited to recognize Jeff Kinnaird and The Home Depot Canada for their continued excellence and success in home improvement, their leadership, and the amazing work they do for the communities they are involved in,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO, Retail Council of Canada.

Mr. Kinnaird is responsible for overseeing the sales and operations of 182 stores and approximately 30,000 associates. In 1996, he joined The Home Depot as a lumber associate and worked his way through various roles including store manager and district manager. He became the Regional VP of Operations in 2005 and then oversaw divisional product assortment and innovation as the VP of Merchandising for five years until he was appointed President of The Home Depot Canada in 2016. 

The Distinguished Canadian Retail of the Year Award recognizes a retail leader that has led his/her company to outstanding business success and innovation and has consistently demonstrated community commitment and support. The recipient is a role model because of his/her exceptional leadership within the corporation, in the retail industry in Canada, and in the community at large, through personal and/or corporate philanthropic activities.

Mr. Kinnaird and The Home Depot Canada are recognized by their peers in the Canadian retail industry for their continued business success, their customer focused approach to store and online operations, their ongoing commitment to the communities they serve, and living their values every day. The Home Depot Canada also has an enviable track record for taking care of its people, and for hiring and training associates who are passionate about exceeding customer expectations with about 70 per cent of their store leaders started as hourly associates.

The Home Depot Canada joins a distinguished list of past recipients from across Canada that includes Groupe Dynamite, Leon’s Furniture, Harry Rosen, Canadian Tire, Aritzia, Indigo Books & Music, Staples Canada, Costco Wholesale Canada, La Senza, and most recently, London Drugs Limited. 

The Distinguished Retailer of the Year Awards will be presented to Jeff Kinnaird and The Home Depot Canada at Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala on May 29, 2018 at the Toronto Congress Centre, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm ET. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: retailawards.ca/content/gala-tickets.

The Excellence in Retailing Awards Gala will close the first day of Canada’s biggest retail conference, STORE 2018, which will feature more than 80 speakers and attract more than 2,500 retail leaders from across North America. Media are also invited to attend STORE 2018, from May 29 to May 30, 2018. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.storeconference.ca/tickets

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