LCBO has been at the forefront of a collaborative effort with law enforcement to combat a large-scale organized retail theft operation in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Th partnership has led to the arrest of 16 individuals allegedly involved in stealing over $600,000 worth of high-value merchandise.
GTA Retail Theft Operation Uncovered by Project Spartan
York Regional Police spearheaded a year-long investigation dubbed Project Spartan, targeting organized groups systematically pilfering from retailers across the GTA between October 2023 and July 2024.
Retailers Join Forces to Combat Organized Crime
The investigation’s success hinged on close collaboration between police and major retailers. The Home Depot of Canada also played a pivotal role in providing crucial intelligence and evidence.
“Our partnership with law enforcement is critical in holding criminals accountable – even after they have left the store,” an LCBO spokesperson stated. This sentiment was echoed by The Home Depot, emphasizing the importance of joint efforts in combating organized retail crime.
The suspects, often working in groups, would enter stores and brazenly walk out with armloads of expensive goods. In some instances, they resorted to threats and intimidation to ward off intervention.
Investigators laid a staggering 1,538 charges, with over half related to failing to comply with release orders. One suspect, a 46-year-old Toronto man, faces 154 criminal charges alone, including 133 counts of violating release conditions.
Shopify‘s latest report reveals a seismic shift in wholesale practices, with B2B ecommerce strategy 2024 driving unprecedented growth.
Adapting B2B Ecommerce Strategy to Millennial Buyers
By 2025, millennials will dominate B2B purchasing, accounting for 70% of buyers. This tech-savvy generation expects seamless, personalized experiences. Consequently, 85% of B2B companies now prioritize centralized commerce platforms.
The Rise of Digital Wholesale
The B2B ecommerce market, valued at $7.7 trillion, dwarfs its B2C counterpart. This staggering figure underscores the potential for businesses embracing digital transformation. Moreover, online B2B sales are projected to reach 80% by 2025, up from the current 50%.
Successful B2B ecommerce strategies in 2024 will focus on creating intuitive interfaces and offering personalized recommendations. Additionally, businesses are exploring hybrid models, combining wholesale, B2B2C, and B2C2B approaches to maximize reach.
Brooklinen, a popular bedding brand, exemplifies this trend. The company leverages Shopify’s platform to offer a streamlined wholesale experience, benefiting from higher order volumes and lower customer acquisition costs.
Canadian retailers must prioritize their online presence to remain competitive. This includes optimizing for mobile devices and investing in robust ecommerce platforms. Furthermore, offering features like same-day delivery and flexible payment options can attract and retain customers.
As B2B commerce evolves, the line between business and consumer experiences blurs. Brands like Dermalogica are leading the way, creating engaging B2B sites that offer more than just transactions. The company’s approach includes interactive product testing and educational workshops, catering to the hands-on preferences of modern buyers.
CF Polo Park in Winnipeg. Image: Cadillac Fairview
CF Polo Park, a popular shopping destination in Winnipeg, celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. The mall will showcase its history with a visual timeline featuring photographs and highlights from the past six decades. The mall is opening Winnipeg’s second London Drugs store next Fall and will be focusing on bringing more retailers going forward.
“We have held on to a great collection of photos and memories over the years, and we want to use this celebration to take our visitors on a journey through Polo Park’s evolution. It is incredible to look back at how much the mall has transformed, from its early days as an outdoor strip centre to the major retail hub it is okay,” says Peter Havens, general manager at Polo Park.
The official anniversary of Polo Park was in August; however, Havens says they will delay celebrations for the opening of London Drugs.
London Drugs coming soon!
Image: London Drugs
London Drugs is set to open at Polo Park in October 2025. The mall will begin work on the space in October of this year. The new location will be 30,000 square feet and will occupy a large portion of the upper level.
“London Drugs is coming to Polo Park. That will be a 30,000 square-foot London Drugs on the upper level. It is taking over some space in an underperforming part of the wing, and we are very excited to have the second London Drugs in Winnipeg. They have wanted to expand into the Winnipeg market for quite some time.”
Tenant expansion at Polo Park
Since Polo Park’s 60th anniversary five years ago, the mall has brought in new tenants.
“We don’t want to sit back and let the mall stagnate. We are continually trying to drive new and impressive tenants to Winniepg,” says Havens. “Sometimes that is a challenge, but when international retailers do come, they often surprise us by how well they perform here.”
Havens says Polo Park has made an impressive recovery following the challenges from the pandemic. Today, the mall is seeing an increase in sales and foot traffic.
According to ICSC rankings, Polo Park placed 14th for productivity last year, generating $1,062 per square foot in sales. Despite some ongoing vacancy as preparations for the new London Drugs store, Havens says the mall occupancy remains strong.
Havens says beyond sales, Polo Park has seen visitors increase, welcoming nine million visitors annually – a four per cent increase from last year.
“The rebound from Covid for us has been phenomenal. The level of responsibility in the market to support the shipping centre in our community has been incredible. Foot traffic is still a while from pre-Covid levels, but over the past three years, we are up to nine million, which is a solid number for us. Year over year, we are up four per cent, so we are quite happy about that.”
As a central hub in Winnipeg, Polo Park is engaging with the community and addressing social challenges that have increased in recent years.
Havens says the mall has had increased concerns relating to safety, homelessness, and security.
“Because we are a large destination with access to transit, we get more than our fair share of challenges with that, and it can create a perception of safety and security concerns. So to address that, we have increased security staffing and are having regular meetings. We are trying to meet people where they are at, and not just boot them out. We recognize these individuals are part of society, and they are people, so we want to build a relationship and find solutions.”
In response, Polo Park has taken proactive steps to improve safety while also partnering with local organizations, such as the Resource Assistance for Youth, to find solutions for vulnerable people while ensuring the shopping centre remains a safe environment for everyone.
“We have taken a partnership with Resource Assistance for Youth, which is a local charity here that reaches out to street-endangered people and helps those transitioning out of Child and Family Services care. We leverage that relationship to support them. It is not just about moving them along, but building a relationship. We have also increased security and have more visibility, so customers feel safe.”
Focusing on food, beverage, and entertainment
Besides the opening of London Drugs, which will be opening in October 2025, Havens does not specify any additional retailers coming to Polo Park. Havens says going forward, the mall is focusing on bringing in interesting and international brands to the mall with goals to evolve the shopping centre with new food, beverage, and entertainment options for the next five to seven years.
“We want to continue to impress and wow our customers, one of our goals is to make it a fun place to come to. So, we are focusing on our core business of retail, but also looking for new food, beverage, and entertainment options. These are the kind of things that I think we are going to see evolve over the next five to seven years. We want to continue to wow our customers, because we have been around for 65 years, and our goal is to continue to do that.”
Canadian grocery vs. foodservice spending. Image generated
In recent years, the way Canadians consume food has dramatically transformed. Data from Statistics Canada indicates that while food retail sales have been waning, food service sales have displayed remarkable resilience. Currently, the average Canadian spends approximately $246.19 per month on groceries, only slightly above the historical low of $241.19 recorded in May of this year. Despite these modest numbers, the broader narrative reveals a food retail sector that remains sluggish, with consumers increasingly opting for lower-priced alternatives such as discount brands and dollar stores. Concurrently, there has been a significant rise in food bank utilization, underscoring a shift in consumer behavior and highlighting economic strains.
This shift becomes even more pronounced against the backdrop of inflationary pressures that began in 2022. Contrary to the generally negative headlines, the restaurant industry has been reporting strong sales figures since mid-2021. Canadians now spend an average of $186.95 per month at restaurants, which includes expenditures on food delivery services but excludes venues primarily serving alcohol.
As of now, Canadians allocate 43% of their food budget to food services, up from 37% in 2019, the year before the pandemic. With a record high in restaurant spending of $188.41 noted in December 2023, we anticipate this record may be surpassed by the end of this year. Despite numerous closures in recent years, the restaurant sector seems to be adeptly adapting to a rapidly evolving marketplace.
According to Restaurants Canada, the nation boasts over 97,000 restaurants, employing approximately 1.2 million people—figures nearly mirroring those from 2019, before the pandemic. This equates to about 2.93 restaurants per 1,000 Canadians, a ratio that has remained relatively stable despite the challenges of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Notably, British Columbia leads with the highest per capita ratio at 3.2 restaurants per 1,000 residents, while Ontario and Quebec are among the lowest with 2.9 and 2.8 respectively.
These data indicate a gradual shift towards a market increasingly oriented towards food services in Canada, a surprising development given the predominantly negative media coverage, including reports of tipping fatigue. However, the situation in Canada still markedly differs from that in the United States, where nearly 54% of the food budget is spent in restaurants, though Canada is slowly closing that gap.
Travel is a significant driver of this trend; airports are bustling, and cruise ships traverse the globe. Interestingly, the shift to working from home does not appear to have dampened food service sales. In fact, more Canadians are opting to dine in more frequently, spurring a surge in demand for food delivery services.
Despite persistent media narratives forecasting the demise of the food service industry, the statistical evidence contradicts these claims. While inflation and demographic changes have forced consumers to curtail or adjust their grocery spending, many Canadians remain devoted to dining establishments, even as menu prices have outpaced food inflation at grocery stores for more than six months.
This scenario suggests that inflation impacts Canadians unevenly: while some barely feel the pinch, others are quietly struggling. Our growing population has not enriched us as a nation; rather, it has led to increased financial and economic fragmentation, with Canada’s GDP per capita reaching perilously low levels.
Food prices seem to be stabilizing, and most analysts predict that consumers will soon experience some relief. The extent to which food services will play a role in the lives of Canadians in the future remains to be seen. As we navigate these shifts, the landscape of food consumption in Canada continues to evolve dynamically.
LOJEL, the globally-renowned brand for carry essentials, has made its highly anticipated North American debut with the opening of its flagship store in Vancouver’s vibrant Kitsilano neighborhood.
In a news release, the retailer said the milestone marks the brand’s entry into North America, as it furthers its mission to deliver innovative, sustainable products that simplify everyday movement and inspire travel connections worldwide.
Rachel Draper
“Vancouver was a natural choice for LOJEL as we embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Rachel Draper, General Manager, North America. “The city’s diversity, environmental commitment, and dynamic community align perfectly with our values, and we’re excited to establish LOJEL as a central hub for travelers and locals alike who value sustainability and thoughtful design.”
The retailer said the new 1,800-square-foot flagship features the brand’s full range of products, including its signature luggage collections, versatile bags, and accessories, all crafted with durability, simplicity, and the environment top of mind. Developed as a community retail space for everyday inspiration, the store also embraces its local surroundings, with immersive design and experiential elements that celebrate local culture and bring real value to the community, it said.
“Shoppers are treated to a striking exterior mural by local artist Amy Flak. Inside, a community cork board serves as a visual way to inspire and educate, and custom display plinths have been fashioned by Barter Design out of locally-sourced, second growth Western Hemlock from the nearby Sunshine Coast. These thoughtful touches, among many more, are emblematic of the brand’s commitment to connecting with vibrant communities across the North American market,” said the brand in the news release.
Photo courtesy of LOJEL
LOJEL was founded in Japan in 1989 by young entrepreneur Chih Chang Chiang as a user-centric alternative to traditional luggage.
“Over three decades later, the brand has honed its expertise in creating high-quality, durable essentials that are designed to last. This focus on longevity not only contributes to reducing waste but also ensures that LOJEL products are reliable and resilient, perfect for those who value sustainability without compromising on style or functionality. LOJEL’s unwavering commitment to producing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern movement has allowed the brand to transcend its roots in travel and seamlessly integrate into the fabric of daily routines worldwide,” it said.
“The Vancouver store opening represents the brand’s commitment to becoming increasingly global by continuing to establish a deeper presence in the North American market, while maintaining an ethical approach to design, technology, and business. With plans to open more flagship stores in different cities, LOJEL’s dedicated team wants to connect with different communities and inspire meaningful journeys, whatever they may look like.”
Kenzo Yoneno
“The LOJEL store is a place to get inspiration for how to simplify movement in your life,” said Chief Product Officer, Kenzo Yoneno. “Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, a weekend away in Tofino, or a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list trip, our ultimate goal is to inspire movement within communities and across the globe. As we open our doors in Vancouver and look to the future, we are excited to continue inspiring thoughtful movement through products that are built to last, designed for ease, and rooted in a deep respect for the world we move through.”
The store was built by The Design Collective/Elevation Vancouver in collaboration with LOJEL’s internal design team.
LOJEL, which stands for Let Our Journeys Enrich Life, is a global carry essentials brand that “aims to empower life’s journeys with innovative, sustainable products that offer transformative experiences, inspiring mindful travel and connections worldwide.”
The company said its durable and user-centric products are designed to simplify movement—because simplifying how we move frees us up to focus on what matters. All products are designed to empower life’s journeys, encourage mindful movement, and promote sustainable lifestyles. The brand is now headquartered in Hong Kong, and is currently sold in 15 countries through LOJEL’s physical stores and ecommerce platform.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CNW Group/Molson Coors Beverage Company)
Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced its official partnership with Canucks Sports & Entertainment (CSE) as the official beer sponsor of the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford Canucks, and Vancouver Warriors and as the new partner at Rogers Arena and Abbotsford Centre.
Chantalle Butler
“We’re thrilled to reunite Molson Coors with Canucks Sports & Entertainment,” said Chantalle Butler, President, Molson Coors Canada in a news release. “This new partnership unites CSE and our Molson Coors family of beverages, which includes Molson Canadian, an iconic beer first brewed in 1959, and Coors Light, Canada’s leading light beer. It’s an exciting opportunity to align with an organization and teams that mean so much to hockey fans.”
The company said the agreement brings together three major players: one of Canada’s largest and busiest sports arenas, a premier Canadian sports brand, and one of the world’s top beverage companies. Molson Canadian and Coors Light will be available throughout Rogers Arena and Abbotsford Centre, Granville Island will be featured as the official craft beer and other selections from Molson Coors Beverage Company’s diverse portfolio of offerings will be on site, such as Coors Seltzer and Vizzy, it added.
Michael Doyle
“We are proud to announce our partnership with Molson Coors as the official partner at Rogers Arena and Abbotsford Centre,” said Michael Doyle, President, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, Business Operations. “This partnership brings together two iconic companies, both deeply passionate about Canadian sports and the communities they serve, and we are excited to move forward together with this partnership.
Through this new partnership, Molson Coors will transform Club 500 at Rogers Arena into the Madrí Excepcional Lounge, featuring the newest addition to Molson Coors’ portfolio, a crisp and smooth Spanish style lager; and Section 119 on L100’s bar will become the Molson Hockey House, it added.
At only six months old, Boston became very ill and after spending countless hours at animal hospitals and drawers full of medications that didn’t work, Bevilacqua said she decided she needed to take matters into her own hands.
She’s a self-proclaimed health nut and knew that what she fueled her own body with had a direct correlation on her health.
Thinking the same for her dog, she began researching different diets for dogs. Then she began cooking for Boston at home, and “in under a month he was a completely different dog.”
“No more constant itching, zero gas, silky fur, regular poops, so much energy and finally sleeping through the night,” she said.
Jessica Bevilacqua
Bevilacqua developed a recipe with the help of a veterinary nutritionist and with Boston’s improved health, she launched Dog Standards with a mission to make dogs healthier and happier by providing a convenient fresh dog food subscription service.
“Food is medicine for us and the same is true for our pets. Countless customers share stories of weight management, elimination of skin conditions and allergies, improved behaviour . . . the list goes on,” said Bevilacqua, who has experienced 30 per cent month-over-month sales increases and a nearly 100 per cent rise in revenue since last year.
“I was inspired to create Dog Standards after I saw how fresh food extended and improved my own dogs’ life. My mission is to empower pet parents to provide healthier feeding options, and have it be convenient and properly balanced.
“Dog Standards was founded out of desperation to save my dog who was suffering from daily seizures. Despite consulting multiple vets, nothing worked, so I started researching and discovered that most dog food is highly processed and unfit for human consumption. That’s when I started preparing fresh meals for him in my kitchen.
“The results were astounding—his seizures dropped from daily to just once every four months. Seeing the transformation, I realized how powerful food can be as medicine, and I wanted to help other pet parents achieve the same results by switching to fresh, gently cooked meals enhanced with superfoods.
“This was about 10 years ago when fresh dog food was a niche concept—there weren’t even fridges in pet stores. Now, it’s become a movement, and I’m proud to have been at the forefront of pioneering this new category in dog nutrition. Now business is really taking off and we’re rapidly expanding into new markets with new offerings.”
Photo courtesy of Dog Standards
She said the company primarily operates as a subscription-based, freshly cooked dog food company, and it’s unique in offering vet-led meal planning with every subscription. It’s an important offering that ensures every dog is on a plan unique to their nutritional needs.
“I believe there’s strength in having both a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model and a physical presence. It allows customers to see the product in person, enhances brand visibility, and aligns us with trusted pet retailers. Currently, Dog Standards is available at a handful of boutique pet stores that prioritize high-quality and natural food solutions such as Good Boy Collective in Vancouver, and in Toronto: Treat Bar, Shop Juju, and Juju Grooms. We plan on expanding into other doors. We’re also gearing up to launch online in the U.S., and we have a new product innovation set to debut at select retailers across Canada and online across North America,” said Bevilacqua.
“We’ve seen word-of-mouth as a major driver of our growth, with many customers noticing improvements in their dogs’ health within just 28 days. Additionally, millennials make up a large portion of today’s pet parents, and they tend to treat their pets like family members. Just as they are health-conscious about their own diets, they’re equally mindful of what their pets consume. They’ve seen firsthand how Dog Standards’ high-quality, freshly cooked food can drastically improve their dogs’ quality of life.”
Dog Standards is the only company of its kind in Canada providing vet-led meal planning and a tailored feeding guide with every subscription. This includes a 20-minute phone call with one of Canada’s leading experts in dog nutrition and ensures every delivery has just the right amount of food—down to the gram.
Photo courtesy of Dog Standards
With 59 per centof dogs now overweight or obese—a condition linked to diseases like cancer—the need for healthier feeding practices has never been more urgent, said the company.
It said managing weight is the number one way pet parents can extend lives as Canadian veterinarians have identified weight control/management as the number-one thing a pet owner can do to increase the length of their pet’s life. Also, a Purdue University Study found that switching dog food with just 25 per cent real food, may decrease the risk of cancerby up to 90 per cent.
Dr. Suzee Camilleri
“In my expert opinion, research shows about half of all senior pets get cancer and nearly 60 per cent of all dogs are overweight,” said Dr. Suzee Camilleri, DVSc, and veterinary pathologist. “I have seen first-hand with my own dogs how a fresh diet can eliminate skin conditions and improve health to help increase their lifespans. The good news is diet is within pet parents’ control.”
Calgary-based Sip Social Co. keeps rolling out its unique Piaggio Ape truck across North America as the mobile rental bar concept gains popularity for a wide variety of events like weddings and birthday parties.
Kendall Pupp
“Our mobile bars are magnets at events and always draw a crowd, making them natural party-starters,” said Kendall Pupp, Director of Business Operations and Development. “At Sip, we’ve taken the beer and champagne cart model and scaled it up, creating a new opportunity for clients to market their products and services with consistency and style.”
The concept has rolled out to close to 90 Piaggio mobile bars, with locations stretching from Vancouver to Miami. Traditionally rented out at weddings and backyard parties, the roaming bar format is now catching the attention of big brands and marketing firms looking to turn heads.
“In 2017 was when the whole bar cart and doing events happened. The licensing program where we’ve got multiple locations and we’re putting trucks into all the different markets, that was more like 2022,” said Pupp.
“We’re in more than 60 different markets in Canada and the U.S. (with the three-wheeled Piaggio Ape trucks) and growing.”
Photo courtesy of Sip Social
All Sip trucks are standardized and are identical in model, color, and size, then equipped with the same beverage chillers, number of taps and connections. To personalize every experience, Sip can offer countless beverage options on tap, create custom signage and décor, and even offer the opportunity to activate the trucks with full wraps. In addition, brands have the option to remove the chillers altogether and make room for retail product displays.
International brands, online retailers, and marketing and public relations firms are now working with Sip to take their brands to the streets.
“By nature, people who operate a mobile bar business are outgoing and fun, but we take it a step further by carefully selecting and training licensees who bring professionalism, enthusiasm and a natural ability to represent clients at any event,” added Pupp.
“We know that wherever we put the truck, park the truck or operate the truck. It’s a magnet. People just come. People just come and they want to know what this is, why is this so cool . . . We can get them inside buildings, we can do outdoor events, because of the size of the truck. It’s small, it’s cute.”
Sip collaborations have included major alcohol corporations like Diageo, Anheuser-Busch, and Adam Levine’s Calirosa Tequila, along with coffee, sports, and fitness companies (to name a few). To view the full list of Sip locations, visit here.
Photo courtesy of Sip Social
“The truck is a rental. It is an event rental business. We rent our trucks out for events, promotional things, weddings here and all of our licensees across all of these markets and the U.S. we sell them trucks as a licensed unit and they rent them out with our assistance for events. We do the marketing,” said Pupp.
The trucks are Italian designed and manufactured in India. Sip Social manufacture and turn them into the the mobile bar carts both in Calgary as well as a facility in New Jersey.
“We design and build the bar unit – the seven draught tap systems that we use to serve everything from cocktails to mocktails to beer, wine, cider, prosecco. And you can serve through a keg which is everything that you can put in a keg,” added Pupp.
He said the trucks are popular because of their look and feel.
“People just think they have a certain style. Everything from ‘oh my God that’s cute’. We can really make something. People like to decorate up around them. We make them look nice. Flowers. Balloons. Whatever the event calls for,” said Pupp.
“One of the key things is you can brand the truck. We’ll let you put signage on it. We’ll let you put your logos on the truck either vinyl wrap or magnet stickers. So for a brand execution, for an activation, for a marketing plan, it just looks so cool and funky and it’s so much better than walking up to a portable bar or a table with a cloth draped over it and somebody trying to pour you a sample or pour you a beverage at your event. Our staff will be there. It’s very fast. We’re fast, we’re clean, we’re organized. From an operations and customer service perspective we’re way better pouring everything off of the taps than waiting for somebody to mix a drink.”
Retail Insider is streamlining its Canadian retail news from around the web to include a handful of top news stories that can be viewed quickly during the day. Here are the top stories from the past several days.
The Canadian retail market showed mixed results in July 2024, with overall sales up 2.0% YOY. However, when excluding automotive, food, and pharmacies, there was a slight decline of 0.5% YOY in discretionary spending. This indicates a continued cautious consumer sentiment and shifting spending patterns across various retail categories.
A significant factor influencing the retail landscape was the LCBO strike, which had a notable impact on alcohol sales in Ontario. Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores experienced a substantial decrease of 6.6% YOY, with YTD figures also down by 3.8%. This decline not only reflects the immediate impact of the strike but also suggests a broader trend of changing consumer preferences regarding alcohol consumption. Interestingly, the impact on Supermarkets and Other Grocery Stores was less pronounced, with only a 1.0% YOY decrease, indicating a potential shift in where consumers are purchasing their alcoholic beverages.
In contrast to the challenges faced by the alcohol sector, General Merchandise Stores demonstrated strong performance with a 3.1% YOY increase. This growth can be attributed in part to the success of promotional events such as Amazon Prime Day in July. Many Canadian brands strategically offered competitive sales and discounts around this period, contributing to the category’s robust growth, with YTD figures up 4.7%. However, Prime Day still impacted e-commerce sales, with an increase of 6.9% YOY.
For likely the first time since its legalization, the Cannabis retail sector faced headwinds, reporting negative growth with sales down 3.9% YOY and 1.0% YTD. This unexpected downturn came despite anticipations of a strong July performance due to the LCBO strike, which was expected to drive consumers towards cannabis products. The sector’s challenges were further highlighted by the announcement that Tokyo Smoke would be closing 29 stores and filing for creditor protection, signaling potential oversaturation and regulatory challenges in the cannabis retail market.
As we move into the fall season, several factors are likely to influence retail performance:
How will smaller basket sizes/spend during the back-to-school shopping period impact overall retail performance?
What is the anticipated impact of having multiple Prime Day events (Summer and Fall) on the overall holiday retail performance?
What effect will the reduced occurrence of wildfires compared to past years have on retail markets, especially in areas previously impacted by such events?
How can retailers mitigate the impact of unexpected weather-related disruptions?
How are YOU strategizing your marketing efforts given that holiday promotions are starting earlier each year?
