Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University, says new Consumer Price Index data from Statistics Canada shows food inflation in Canada slowed in February, falling to 5.4 per cent from 7.3 per cent, largely in line with expectations following last year’s temporary GST relief. However, he explains that grocery costs remain elevated, particularly in protein categories, with beef, pork, and chicken all posting significant year-over-year increases. Charlebois also notes rising prices for vegetables, coffee, and even typically stable items such as bananas.
He suggests the recent cooling trend may be short-lived due to geopolitical tensions that could drive higher energy costs and push food prices upward as early as April. While general inflation and wage growth have improved, he says many households still feel financial pressure at the grocery store because food inflation continues to outpace income gains, eroding purchasing power since the pandemic.
Comparatively, Charlebois indicates Canada has recorded higher food inflation than other G7 countries in recent months, attributing this to supply chain limitations, reliance on single-source inputs, trade barriers, and policy-related cost pressures affecting industry competitiveness. He adds that products dependent on cold-chain logistics, including meat, dairy, and fresh produce, are particularly vulnerable to price shocks.
On food labeling enforcement, he says regulatory fines signal growing intolerance for misleading “Made in Canada” claims as consumers remain cost-conscious but selectively supportive of domestic products.
Canada’s retail real estate sector has entered a new phase of the cycle. Leasing activity remains strong, vacancy levels are tight in many markets, and rent spreads have widened across the country. At the same time, retailers and landlords alike are navigating rising costs, demographic shifts, and evolving consumer expectations.
Those themes were explored in depth during an online panel discussion hosted by Retail Insider Publisher Craig Patterson for an ICSC webinar on February 27, 2026. The conversation brought together leaders across the retail ecosystem, including Sophie Marai, Vice President of Client Strategy at Environics Analytics; Kate Camenzuli, Vice President of Retail at CBRE Toronto; Ali Baker, Principal and Vice President of the Retail Services Group at Avison Young; Pria Rajput, Founder of Black Label Designs; and Petr Kafka, Principal at Salthill Capital.
The panel examined the evolving Canadian retail leasing market from multiple perspectives, including consumer data, tenant representation, landlord strategy, design trends, and capital markets.
Throughout the discussion, a recurring question emerged: has retail already recovered, and if so, what comes next?
Retail Has Stabilized, But It Has Also Changed
Retail recovery has been widely discussed since the pandemic years, yet panelists suggested the narrative may now need updating.
Kate Camenzuli said the concept of recovery may no longer fully describe the current landscape.
“We’ve been talking about retail recovery for years. The reality is that retail has changed, and that change is showing up in where traffic and growth are happening,” she said.
Population movement has played a major role in reshaping retail demand across Canada. Interprovincial migration and housing affordability pressures have driven consumers out of traditional urban cores and into secondary markets.
According to Camenzuli, cities such as Oshawa, Hamilton, Barrie, and Kitchener-Waterloo are benefiting from these shifts as families seek larger homes and more affordable living.
“Traffic isn’t just about downtown anymore. It’s about where people live, where they move, and how those demographic shifts reshape demand,” she said.
Sophie Marai reinforced that demographic dynamics are increasingly shaping retail performance.
“We’re seeing traffic stabilize overall, but the pattern is highly dependent on demographics and location,” she said.
She noted that population growth and travel activity have helped support retail activity in major urban centres, while regional population shifts have strengthened retail demand in secondary markets.
Yonge Street in Toronto. Photo: Illan Kelman
A Landlord’s Market Emerges
Despite macroeconomic concerns, the supply-demand balance currently favors landlords.
Petr Kafka explained that limited development over the past two decades has created a structural shortage of retail space in many Canadian markets.
“For the first time in my career, this feels like a true landlord’s market,” he said.
Several factors contribute to this dynamic. Canada has experienced substantial population growth while very little new retail space has been constructed. At the same time, many weaker tenants exited the market during the pandemic, leaving behind more resilient operators.
Those surviving retailers have also become more digitally sophisticated, improving their ability to connect with customers and drive sales.
“Retailers came out of the pandemic more resilient, more efficient, and more connected to their customers,” Kafka said.
The result has been significant rent growth in many markets, particularly for high-quality locations and grocery-anchored shopping centres.
“In some cases, landlords are running RFPs for a very limited number of vacancies. That tells you how tight supply has become,” he said.
Rising Rents Create New Tensions
While demand remains strong, rising rents are beginning to test tenant economics.
Camenzuli said many retailers are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of escalating lease costs.
“We’re less worried about weak demand than we are about continued rent escalation. At some point, the market reaches its ceiling,” she said.
As rents increase, some traditional tenant categories are being priced out of certain locations.
“We’re starting to see some food users replaced by other types of tenants,” she said.
Ali Baker said her team continues to see strong demand from retailers looking to expand. However, the shortage of available space has forced brokers to become more creative in securing deals.
“Our biggest challenge is supply. Retailers still want to grow, but there just isn’t much space to choose from,” she said.
Many transactions now involve repositioning existing spaces rather than leasing newly developed ones.
“We’re finding opportunities where landlords want to upgrade a category or replace an underperforming tenant with a stronger concept,” Baker said.
In urban markets, some deals are also occurring off-market through unsolicited proposals or creative leasing strategies.
Gentle Monster at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. Photo: Caroline Mahoney
Retail Categories Continue to Evolve
Another key theme discussed during the panel was the changing mix of retail tenants.
Traditional retail categories remain important, but new types of tenants are increasingly shaping shopping centres.
Experiential uses such as entertainment venues, wellness clinics, and fitness concepts are expanding in both urban and suburban markets.
Pria Rajput said this shift reflects changing consumer priorities.
“Consumers are more selective now, and spending on experiences has been growing faster than spending on goods,” she said.
Retail environments must now communicate value immediately and align with evolving lifestyles.
“The real question is whether a brand is convenience-driven, lifestyle-led, or wellness-focused,” Rajput said.
Wellness-related businesses in particular are generating consistent foot traffic because they encourage repeat visits.
“A fitness operator can drive multiple visits a week, while a longevity clinic brings in scheduled appointments. That creates predictable traffic,” she said.
When combined with complementary food and beverage uses, those businesses can increase dwell time and stabilize shopping centre ecosystems.
Consumer Spending Patterns Are Shifting
Panelists also discussed how evolving consumer behaviour is influencing retail performance.
Marai noted that consumer spending patterns increasingly reflect behavioural and demographic factors.
“Gen X households are driving a lot of spending because they have families and broader household needs,” she said.
At the same time, spending in certain categories has softened. Restaurant spending, for example, has declined in some markets as consumers look for ways to control costs.
Discount retail has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this shift.
“We’re seeing strong growth in discount categories,” Marai said.
She described a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the “Range Rover in the no-frills parking lot,” where higher-income consumers are increasingly comfortable shopping at discount retailers.
Consumers are also adjusting spending to align with values such as buying Canadian products, which has influenced retail traffic patterns.
Design and Experience Play a Larger Role
As rents rise and competition intensifies, the physical retail environment has become more important than ever.
Rajput explained that design strategies are evolving to support brand identity and consumer engagement.
“Luxury today is less about materials and more about experience,” she said.
Retail environments are increasingly designed to create emotional connections and encourage social sharing online.
Hybrid retail formats are also gaining traction. These combine multiple uses such as retail, hospitality, and services within a single space.
“The goal is to create spaces where people want to spend time,” Rajput said.
Retailers are investing more heavily in store design because the space itself can serve as a marketing tool.
When visually distinctive environments are shared on social media, they can generate organic promotion and drive additional traffic.
Limited New Development Ahead
Looking ahead, panelists expect the Canadian retail leasing market to remain supply-constrained.
Kafka noted that construction costs and development levies have made new retail development financially challenging.
“Without policy changes around development costs and taxation, it’s hard to see a wave of new retail construction,” he said.
Instead, much of the industry’s focus will likely shift toward repositioning existing assets.
Vacancies created by large retailer closures may also present opportunities for redevelopment.
Camenzuli suggested that Canada may be entering a transitional moment in retail real estate.
“We’re likely to see more recycling of space and more focus on finding the highest and best use for existing assets,” she said.
At the same time, new retail concepts and emerging brands could reshape the industry in ways that are not yet fully visible.
“We may not yet know what the next generation of retail businesses will look like, but that innovation is coming,” she said.
Purposeful Shopping and Omnichannel Growth
Finally, the panel addressed the relationship between physical retail and e-commerce.
While online shopping remains important, brick-and-mortar stores continue to play a critical role in the customer journey.
Marai explained that consumers increasingly conduct research online before visiting physical stores.
“We’re seeing more purposeful shopping. Consumers often research online first, then come into store ready to buy,” she said.
This dynamic means foot traffic may not always appear as high as in previous years, but conversion rates can be stronger.
Retailers that effectively integrate digital and physical channels are best positioned to succeed in this environment.
A Complex but Resilient Market
Overall, panelists agreed that the Canadian retail leasing market remains strong, though increasingly complex.
Tight supply, population shifts, changing consumer behaviour, and evolving tenant mixes are all reshaping the industry.
Despite rising rents and economic uncertainty, demand for well-located retail space remains robust.
AI technology is being integrated into retailers. Photo: RI/Google
Artificial intelligence is increasingly moving from experimentation to operational use among Canadian small business owners, including retailers and restaurateurs. New data released by payment and commerce technology company Square suggests that many entrepreneurs are already experimenting with AI tools, while technology platforms are beginning to embed AI capabilities directly into the software merchants use to run their businesses.
The findings highlight how AI tools are beginning to influence decision-making across multiple industries. For retailers and restaurants in particular, the technology is becoming accessible through platforms already used to manage payments, sales data, and day-to-day operations.
According to Square, a 2026 survey of Canadian business owners commissioned by the company found that 60 percent of respondents said they currently use artificial intelligence tools in their businesses. The same survey found that 74 percent reported being familiar with AI technologies that could support their operations. The research covers entrepreneurs across sectors, including but not limited to retail and hospitality.
While the survey results reflect broader small business adoption, they suggest that AI tools are becoming increasingly visible to Canadian merchants as platforms begin integrating these capabilities directly into their systems.
Commerce Platforms Begin Embedding AI
The trend is becoming particularly visible in commerce platforms that are embedding artificial intelligence into their existing software environments. In 2026, Square introduced Square AI, a natural-language AI assistant launched in Canada that is designed to help merchants access insights about their businesses using conversational prompts.
Square says merchants can ask questions such as which items sell best on weekends or how sales performance compares with previous periods. The system then generates responses based on transaction and operational data captured within the Square platform.
For many operators, particularly independent retailers and restaurant owners, extracting insights from sales data has traditionally involved reviewing dashboards or generating reports manually. AI tools integrated directly into commerce platforms are positioned as a way to simplify that process.
As these technologies become more widely available, platforms are increasingly presenting AI as a way that may help small businesses access analytical insights that were once more commonly associated with larger organizations.
Small Businesses Seek Efficiency and Insight
The appeal of AI tools among retailers and restaurant operators often centres on operational efficiency. Running a small business involves managing inventory, staffing, marketing, and customer demand. AI systems that can quickly surface relevant insights may help operators make faster decisions based on available data.
Square’s research suggests that entrepreneurs are particularly interested in AI tools that streamline tasks or provide operational insights. Survey respondents cited potential benefits such as marketing assistance, administrative efficiencies, and improved access to business insights.
Retailers, for example, may use AI tools to better understand purchasing patterns, identify seasonal trends, or evaluate which products perform best at different times of the week. Restaurants may apply similar insights to menu performance or staffing decisions.
The ability to ask software platforms direct questions about business data reflects a broader shift toward conversational interfaces. As AI tools evolve, merchants may increasingly interact with operational software through natural-language prompts rather than traditional reporting dashboards.
Retail Technology Firms Race to Integrate AI
Square’s launch of Square AI reflects a broader shift taking place across the retail technology sector. Companies that provide commerce platforms are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into their products as they compete to offer more advanced operational tools.
Canadian-founded platform Shopify has introduced several AI-driven tools for merchants, including Shopify Magic, which assists with content generation and product descriptions, and Sidekick, an AI assistant designed to help merchants navigate reporting, answer operational questions, and receive guidance on managing their businesses.
Similarly, Lightspeed Commerce has integrated AI-powered capabilities within its retail and hospitality platforms. These tools include features designed to support inventory management, demand forecasting, and data-driven insights for merchants operating stores and restaurants.
These developments suggest that AI functionality may increasingly become a standard component of retail platforms rather than a specialized add-on. As the technology becomes more integrated into widely used systems, retailers may rely more heavily on AI-generated insights to guide operational decisions.
AI Adoption Continues to Expand
While artificial intelligence adoption among large corporations has attracted significant attention in recent years, smaller businesses are gaining access to these technologies through the platforms they already use to manage payments and operations.
For many independent retailers and restaurateurs, AI tools are becoming available through familiar commerce systems rather than requiring separate software investments. This shift could lower barriers to experimentation with AI technologies among small business operators.
As commerce platforms continue to introduce AI-driven features, adoption among Canadian merchants may accelerate, particularly as these tools are integrated directly into everyday business workflows.
A New Layer of Intelligence for Retail Operations
The growing integration of artificial intelligence into commerce platforms reflects a broader shift in how businesses interact with operational data. Instead of manually reviewing reports or spreadsheets, merchants may increasingly rely on AI assistants that interpret sales information and provide insights through conversational prompts.
For retailers and restaurant operators navigating competitive markets, these tools are positioned as a new layer of operational intelligence. As AI capabilities continue to evolve, they could influence how merchants evaluate performance, plan inventory, and respond to changes in customer demand.
While the long-term impact of these technologies is still unfolding, the rapid pace of development suggests that AI tools embedded within commerce platforms are likely to play an expanding role in the next generation of retail technology.
A small but loyal group of repeat customers generates nearly six times more annual revenue for Canadian neighbourhood businesses than one-time visitors, according to new data released today by technology company Square.
The inaugural Square Local Economy Report combines anonymized transaction data from Canadian businesses with a national consumer survey. Findings reveal that “regulars” — defined as customers who visit four or more times within a year — are the backbone of Canada’s neighbourhood economies, generating significantly more annual value for local businesses.
In Montreal, regulars generate seven times more annual value than occasional customers. Nationally, these repeat customers return at least nine or 10 times per year, creating steady revenue streams that help businesses withstand rising costs and economic uncertainty, said Square.
“We love all of our customers, but our regulars are truly the foundation of our business,” said Lucas Spinosa, owner of Black Sheep Coffee Roasters in Ontario’s Niagara region. “They’re part of our daily rhythm. With our loyalty program, we can recognize them, remember their orders, and make sure they feel valued every time they walk in. That consistency builds trust — and trust keeps people coming back.”
Despite Financial Pressures, Canadians Want Local
While many Canadians anticipate tightening household budgets in 2026, local loyalty remains strong, added Square: ● 81% of Canadians plan to shop in their local neighbourhoods as much or more than last year ● 61% would continue supporting local businesses even if prices increase, provided value improves ● 74% visit multiple local businesses in a single trip at least occasionally
The report said proximity to home now ranks as the top driver of local spending decisions, ahead of price alone, followed by word-of-mouth recommendations and perceived value. Rather than retreating from local businesses, consumers are consolidating errands and favouring convenience, familiarity, and trusted experiences.
The Neighbourhood Network Effect
The report also shows that local success is increasingly driven by a “Neighbourhood Network Effect” created by shared customers and connections between nearby businesses. In Toronto, 49% of businesses share regular customers with at least one other nearby business. In Vancouver, that figure rises to 55%, illustrating how everyday errands such as coffee, food, and quick purchases can link independent businesses. In fact, these connections have real economic impact: in Toronto, each additional local business connection is associated with an average $2,067 increase in annual revenue.
Coffee shops, in particular, act as neighbourhood anchors, frequently serving as the bridge between retail, food, and service businesses. Although regular customers may spend slightly less per visit than one-time shoppers, their frequency and consistency have an outsized impact. The data found that 84% of regulars spend the same or more per visit once a relationship is established, helping businesses weather economic volatility, added Square.
Karisa Marra
“When Canadians build local routines — a coffee, a haircut, a quick stop at a shop — they’re doing more than running errands. They’re strengthening a connected network of neighbourhood businesses,” said Karisa Marra, Head of Sales at Square Canada. “Square is helping build that neighbourhood network by giving small businesses the freedom to focus, the tools to grow, and a trusted partner in their corner so they can recognize regulars, deepen loyalty, and strengthen local connections that power vibrant economies.”
The Path Forward for Local Businesses
Square said the path forward for local businesses is clear: loyalty doesn’t happen by accident. As local shopping habits continue to shape how Canadians spend, sellers who invest in turning customers into regulars — and in building intentional neighbourhood connections — will be best positioned to thrive. In today’s local economy, growth isn’t just about attracting customers. It’s about building the relationships and network effects that strengthen entire neighbourhoods.
RBC Canadian cardholder spending showed modest improvement in February despite consumers continuing to cut back on discretionary goods spending, according to a recent report by the bank.
“Our core retail sales measure on a three-month average remained negative at -0.1%, but marked an improvement from -0.3% (seasonally adjusted), indicating the decline eased in February after weather-related disruptions and post-holiday fatigue weighed on spending in January,” said the report.
“We expect higher oil prices will drive up purchases at gas stations. The impact on other essentials and discretionary spending is less clear as it will depend on how consumers allocate their remaining income, and the extent to which they tap into their savings.”
The report highlights:
February’s contraction came entirely from discretionary goods—clothing and related retail segments were among the weakest performers.
Weakness in discretionary goods spending was partially offset by spending growth in discretionary services and essentials. Travel, entertainment and art posted the strongest gains on a three-month average, pointing to continued resilience in experience-related spending.
Spending grew in most provinces on a three-month average following the January slowdown. Ontario, hit particularly hard by winter storms, showed notable recovery in February as conditions moderated.
Job vacancies were little changed in the fourth quarter of 2025 at 495,100, following three straight quarters of decline beginning with the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent report by Statistics Canada.
Year over year, job vacancies were down by 8.9% (-48,100) in the fourth quarter. This was the smallest proportional year-over-year decline since the fourth quarter of 2022 (-6.4%), said the federal agency.
“Job vacancies rose for full-time occupations (+5,100; +1.4%) and fell for part-time occupations (-4,300; -3.4%) in the fourth quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, job vacancies held steady for both permanent and temporary positions. Despite little variation in the number of vacancies, total labour demand (the sum of filled and vacant positions) rose in the fourth quarter (+26,500; +0.1%), as payroll employment increased (+25,700; +0.1%),” it said.
“The job vacancy rate—which corresponds to the number of vacant positions as a proportion of total labour demand—held steady at 2.8% for the third straight quarter. The job vacancy rate had previously declined steadily from the record high of 5.6% reached in the second quarter of 2022.
“The proportion of long-term vacancies—vacancies for which recruitment efforts have been ongoing for 90 days or more—across Canada was 28.5% in the fourth quarter of 2025, a 4.1 percentage point decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024 (32.6%) (not seasonally adjusted). This indicates that employers had fewer difficulties filling available positions compared with a year earlier.”
Statistics Canada said the unemployment-to-job vacancy ratio—the number of unemployed persons per job vacancy—fell from 3.2 to 3.1 in the fourth quarter of 2025, the first quarterly decline since the second quarter of 2022. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 6.8%, down from 7.0% in the third quarter of 2025.
“In the fourth quarter of 2025, job vacancies increased in trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (+3,800; +4.3%), in business, finance and administration occupations (+3,300; +5.0%) and in occupations in manufacturing and utilities (+1,100; +6.3%). Meanwhile, decreases were recorded in sales and service occupations (-4,100; -2.8%) and in legislative and senior management occupations (-200; -27.8%),” added Statistics Canada.
“On a year-over-year basis, job vacancies were down in 8 of the 10 broad occupational groups in the fourth quarter, led by health occupations (-13,600; -17.0%), sales and service occupations (-9,500; -6.2%) and trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations (-7,200; -7.2%). Year over year, job vacancies were little changed in natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations and occupations in manufacturing and utilities.”
Tulkoff Foods has acquired Toronto-based private label manufacturer Celtrade Canada in a move the companies say will broaden their manufacturing footprint and product development capabilities across North America.
The Baltimore-based sauces and condiments manufacturer announced recently that the strategic acquisition is intended to strengthen the combined company’s ability to serve retail, foodservice and industrial customers with expanded packaging formats and culinary innovation.
The transaction brings together manufacturing operations in both Canada and the United States, along with research and development teams focused on custom flavour solutions. The companies said the integration is expected to enhance speed to market and support growth across multiple distribution channels.
In a joint announcement, the companies outlined plans to leverage complementary strengths in product development and packaging to create what they described as a broader custom solutions platform.
Mike Kagan
“We are thrilled to welcome Celtrade to the Tulkoff family,” said Mike Kagan, CEO, Tulkoff Foods. “Celtrade has built an exceptional reputation for quality and innovation and together, we’ll deliver even more value to our customers by combining expertise, expanding product offerings, and enhancing our manufacturing footprint.”
The combined enterprise will offer a wider range of packaging formats, including tubs, sachets and dip cups. The companies said this expansion is designed to support diverse applications across retail shelves, foodservice operations and industrial supply chains.
They also pointed to Celtrade’s research and development capabilities as a key factor in the transaction. The Toronto-based company’s innovation-focused culinary team is expected to contribute to product development initiatives spanning sauces, dressings, condiments and flavour systems.
Chris Bouchard
Celtrade president Chris Bouchard said the acquisition represents a significant milestone for the Canadian manufacturer and will increase capacity and flexibility for customers.
“Joining forces with Tulkoff marks an exciting next chapter for Celtrade. This move is highly complementary in the capabilities we can bring to our collective customer base. It gives our customers more- more capacity, more capability, more pack size options and more choice.”
The companies said the combined organization aims to serve a broader customer base across North America by aligning operational resources and expanding distribution reach. They also indicated that the integration process is expected to proceed without disruption to existing customer relationships.
Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Baltimore, Tulkoff manufactures custom sauces, dips and dressings for foodservice operators and consumer packaged goods brands. The company has positioned product innovation and co-development partnerships as central to its growth strategy.
Celtrade, meanwhile, produces private label and co-manufactured products including cooking sauces, infused oils, vinegars, mayonnaise-type spreads, gourmet condiments and salad dressings. The Toronto-based firm serves retail, foodservice and industrial customers across North America.
Celtrade Canada photo
The acquisition reflects a continued focus on building scale and expanding capabilities in custom flavour development and contract manufacturing, according to the companies.
Tulkoff and Celtrade said they expect the integration to create new opportunities for collaboration with customers as the combined business moves forward.
Quebec-based contract manufacturer Foliot Furniture is expanding into Canada’s community living housing sector, positioning its furnishings and design expertise to serve organizations involved in supportive, affordable and emergency housing.
The company said the move builds on more than three decades of supplying furniture to residence halls, hotels and institutional clients, as demand grows for durable solutions in high-occupancy housing environments.
Founded in 1991, Foliot said it has focused on producing contract furniture designed for intensive use. Its latest expansion targets organizations addressing housing needs across the country, including those operating supportive and modular housing projects, senior living residences, Indigenous housing initiatives and staff accommodations.
The company said it will now provide furnishings tailored to both temporary and permanent community living settings, reflecting what it described as increasingly complex operational requirements for housing providers.
Foliot’s product offerings for the sector are intended to address practical considerations such as safety, durability and accessibility. The company said its designs incorporate features including reinforced construction, bedbug-resistant elements and compliance with safety guidelines, as well as configurations aligned with accessibility standards in different Canadian jurisdictions, it explained.
Foliot Furniture photo
The manufacturer said its approach also draws on expanded experience in supportive housing environments, where physical surroundings can influence residents’ emotional well-being and sense of stability.
According to the company, its furnishings are developed using trauma-informed design principles aimed at supporting dignity and wellness in both transitional and long-term living arrangements. The focus includes creating calm, non-institutional aesthetics intended to help housing operators foster environments that promote safety and belonging.
Foliot said each community living setting presents distinct operational and emotional considerations, requiring adaptable furnishing solutions that can withstand sustained use while maintaining a residential feel.
As a vertically integrated manufacturer, Foliot said it will offer end-to-end support to clients, from furniture selection through to space optimization for private units and shared areas.
The company said all products supplied to the community living market will be backed by a 25-year warranty and a replaceable parts program designed to extend product lifespan. It added that the approach is intended to reduce disruptions for housing providers while helping them manage long-term costs, a key factor for publicly funded and community-based organizations.
Foliot described the offering as a turnkey solution that reflects its experience managing high-volume furnishing requirements in institutional settings.
Foliot Furniture photo
The expansion represents what the company characterized as a milestone in its broader strategy to support housing organizations focused on delivering stable living environments. Drawing on its history in residence and hospitality projects, Foliot said it is seeking to establish itself as a partner capable of managing furnishing needs from initial planning through to project completion.
The manufacturer said its experience with complex occupancy environments provides a foundation for serving the evolving requirements of Canada’s community living sector.
Foliot added that the initiative aligns with its stated objective of creating living spaces designed for durability and long-term use, while supporting the needs of residents and housing operators alike.
Architects and interior designers increasingly rely on digital platforms to research products, compare materials, and manage complex project specifications. In response to this evolving workflow, Montréal-based Maison Territo, located at Royalmount, has partnered with Archiproducts to introduce the Archiproducts Digital Showroom. The new platform allows design professionals to explore the brands and collections represented by Maison Territo through a centralized and efficient digital interface.
The Archiproducts Digital Showroom extends Maison Territo’s physical presence by providing an online environment dedicated to product discovery, planning, and specification. Through the platform, architects and interior designers can browse the showroom’s curated portfolio of European furniture, lighting, and surface brands while accessing detailed product information and technical specifications. Users can also download catalogs, review product imagery, and request quotations directly through the system, streamlining the process of gathering and managing project resources.
Image: Maison Territo
Maison Territo is recognized for its carefully selected portfolio of European design brands, several of which are exclusive to the Canadian market. By integrating its collections with Archiproducts, a globally recognized platform used by architects and designers to discover and compare design products, Maison Territo brings its curated offering into a digital ecosystem already familiar to many industry professionals.
While the digital showroom expands access online, Maison Territo’s Royalmount location continues to serve as an important destination for design professionals and private clients. The 11,000-square-foot showroom presents internationally recognized collections within immersive environments, allowing visitors to experience materials, finishes, and craftsmanship firsthand.
Image: Maison Territo
Grounded in the Territo family’s long-standing design legacy, Maison Territo bridges the worlds of architecture, fashion, and high-end interiors. Together, the physical showroom and the Archiproducts Digital Showroom create a complementary experience that supports design professionals who value both tactile exploration and digital research tools.
Today’s Retail Insider articles are listed below, followed by Canadian Retail News From Around the Web. Highlights include Alimentation Couche-Tard’s strong Q3 2026 financial performance, Marugame Udon’s expansion into Toronto, and Bramalea City Centre’s revamped food court. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s enforcement against mislabelled food products also made the news. These developments reflect ongoing growth, evolving consumer spaces, and the heightened attention on regulatory compliance in retail.
