But Club PKL is more than just pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports and fitness activities in Canada. It’s also a fitness complex.
Samberg said Club PKL is on a mission to elevate pickleball as a premier sport and the bar has been raised to deliver an exceptional experience for pickleball enthusiasts right in the heart of downtown Montreal.
Barry Samberg
“As pioneers, we’ve introduced the city’s first dedicated and meticulously designed pickleball facility, featuring seven regulation and tournament-approved courts. Additionally, we offer fitness and yoga space to complement your sporting experience. With early morning to late-night hours, we ensure ample playing time, recognizing pickleball’s rightful place in the sports world,” said Samberg, CEO and President of Club PKL.
“We’re more than pickleball. We’re a full premium club. But pickleball definitely drives our business.”
The 24,000-square-foot facility opened in the middle of June in the Griffintown neighbourhood which has been re-gentrified. Samberg took over an existing building, gutted it to the bones, and rebuilt.
“To get this type of location in Montreal is almost impossible. We were very lucky. I’ve been working on the project for three years. I had two places that I thought were pretty good opportunities but didn’t work out for whatever the reason. I happened to be going to Costco with my wife, all of a sudden there’s a sign on the window as we’re driving by this place, I called the landlord and they had just put the sign up two hours before,” recalled Samberg.
The facility has two fitness studios – one a full gym and a room for activities such as yoga and Pilates.
Photo courtesy of Club PKL
There is also a lounge for corporate events and member events.
“Pickleball was always at the foundation of what we wanted to do. I had actually been in Florida during COVID for the most part during the winters. I’m a very high level tennis player and a buddy of mine kept pushing me to come play pickleball with him in Pompano in a park,” said Samberg. “And I went to the park. I saw from seven o’clock to 12 o’clock, the place was full – 16 courts. It was insane and the amounts of people.
“I came back from that and I came to my wife and said to her okay I know what my next act is. That’s when I started to work on the project. My wife is a trainer and prior to COVID we worked on a project called Intensity. We were about to open two locations and the goal was to open multiple locations to franchise and then COVID hit. So we were actually very lucky because we were about to sign a lease literally one week before COVID started. So we pivoted, shut that down basically to see what happens after COVID and during COVID the pickleball thing came up. The craze for pickleball came up.”
Photo courtesy of Club PKL
The idea came to them to combine pickleball with a fitness facility.
Samberg said there are plans to open more similar facilities. Currently, he is looking for four other locations – one is in the Ottawa area and the others in Montreal.
The company is working with the team at Think Retail for its real estate needs.
“We’re looking at some other locations throughout Canada,” added Samberg. “That will probably be a phase three for us because phase two will be opening closer to home.”
More and more Canadian small businesses are being hit by fraud, with half (50 per cent) of them experiencing either attempted or successful fraud in the past 12 months, and more than one-third (36 per cent) of those who fell victim to fraud suffering financial losses, according to new data by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released in collaboration with Interac Corp. (Interac).
The report said impacted business owners have lost $7,800 on average in the past year. Beyond financial losses, small businesses dealt with lost time (76 per cent), negative emotional impact (51 per cent), and decreased staff morale (23 per cent).
Corinne Pohlmann
“Whether you’re a consumer, a mom-and-pop shop or a big industry player, we’ve all been impacted by fraud in some shape or form. Dealing with their consequences can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially for small business owners who often don’t have enough time or resources to address this growing issue,” said Corinne Pohlmann, Executive Vice-President of Advocacy at CFIB.
“Fraud is here to stay, and unfortunately, the rise in various AI tools is only exacerbating the issue. While October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Canada, it’s important to stay vigilant year-round.”
In a news release, the CFIB said the bigger the business, the likelier it is to experience fraud attempts.
“The most common types of fraud attempts include email scams and phishing (85 per cent), text (77 per cent) and phone call scams (76 per cent). Though less common, fraudulent payments and chargebacks (when a customer falsely disputes legitimate transactions) are more likely to result in business losses, for 19 per cent and 16 per cent of businesses respectively. Businesses in the hospitality, retail, transportation, personal services, and arts, recreation and information sectors were found to be particularly vulnerable to these two types of fraud,” explained the CFIB.
It said nine in 10 (90 per cent) business owners are also worried that the rise in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will make fraud more sophisticated and harder to detect.
Joanna Schoneveld
“This research drives home how important it is for the ecosystem to prioritize fraud prevention and detection. We are investing in solutions that help business owners stay ahead of an ever-evolving fraud landscape so their focus can remain on operational growth and customer trust,” said Joanna Schoneveld, Fraud Management Leader at Interac.
CFIB’s recommendations to governments include:
Enhancing the Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada ensuring accountability to merchants through a fair, transparent and competitive payment landscape in Canada. This includes implementing improvements to complaint handling processes for merchants, such as the process of challenging chargebacks.
Making sure resources are allocated adequately to “cyber policing” and reporting yearly outcomes with specific numbers for small businesses.
Providing small businesses with financial assistance (such as tax credits, low-interest loans or grants) to help them invest in IT security.
Proactively sharing information on existing resources and best practices with businesses and associations.
Providing advice specifically tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) on preventing cyberattacks.
To combat fraud, half of businesses have implemented stricter verification processes for payments, such as multi-factor authentication for online transactions, while nearly four in 10 (36 per cent) increased cybersecurity investments and one-third (32 per cent) enhanced employee training, added the CFIB.
Retail as we know it is broken. The traditional retail model is struggling to keep up with evolving consumer expectations, supply chain disruptions, and increasing demands for sustainability.
And many retailers are finding it challenging to provide a seamless omnichannel experience, manage inventory effectively, and adapt to new technological advancements. These issues have resulted in dissatisfied customers, significant financial losses, and a considerable environmental impact.
Traditional models are no longer sufficient to meet the demands of today’s consumers and the challenges posed by modern economic, social, and technological landscapes.
Photo courtesy of YDISTRI
Roland Dzogan
Roland Dzogan, CEO of YDISTRI, an innovative AI-optimized SaaS solution for retail inventory management, said consumers today have so much choice.
“This is the problem that the choice is too big,” he said, adding that this becomes a major issue for retailers in planning their inventory. Customers also expect a seamless integration of online and offline shopping experiences, which many traditional retailers struggle to provide, leading to dissatisfaction and lost sales.
“Consumers increasingly demand personalized shopping experiences. Retailers that fail to leverage data analytics and AI for customized recommendations are at a competitive disadvantage,” said Dzogan.
“The rise of e-commerce giants offering rapid delivery has set high expectations for speed and convenience, which traditional retailers must match to retain customers.
“YDISTRI leverages AI to provide retailers with insights that enable seamless omnichannel experiences and personalized shopping. This helps retailers meet the expectations of modern consumers who demand instant gratification and tailored recommendations, ultimately enhancing customer loyalty and satisfaction.”
YDISTRI, an innovative AI-optimized SaaS solution for retail inventory management, is redefining how retail chains address inventory challenges. It goes beyond forecasting to dramatically rebalance inventory across locations. By intelligently redistributing unsold inventory to real-time demand, YDISTRI empowers retailers to maximize revenue and minimize waste, going far beyond traditional forecasting methods.
Retailers worldwide are losing billions in unsold inventory but YDISTRI’s AI solution is turning this ‘deadstock’ into revenue by redistributing it based on real-time demand.
Unsold inventory, or “deadstock,” poses a massive financial drain on retailers, tying up capital in merchandise that may never sell. YDISTRI is the leader in solving this $637 billion global crisis, using cutting-edge AI to identify stagnant stock and automatically redistribute it to higher-demand locations before it goes to waste.
With YDISTRI, retailers can sell up to 90 per cent of what is deemed unsellable inventory within two months, realizing significant financial and operational benefits. YDISTRI provides innovative solutions that enable retailers to create sustainable, efficient, and customer-centric operations, ensuring they thrive in this new era: Retail 3.0.
Dzogan said inadequate inventory management leads to frequent out-of- stock situations, frustrating customers and driving them to competitors.
“Conversely, overstocking results in excess inventory that often goes unsold, leading to significant financial losses and increased waste. Retailers face a global crisis with $637 billion tied up in unsold inventory,” he said.
“Global supply chain challenges, exacerbated by recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2021 Suez Canal blockage incident, highlight the fragility of current retail systems. Retailers must adapt to more resilient and flexible supply chain models.”
Photo courtesy of YDISTRI
He said YDISTRI’s real-time demand forecasting and inventory redistribution ensure that products are always available where they are most needed, reducing out-of-stock situations.
“By dynamically rebalancing inventory, YDISTRI helps retailers minimize overstock and reduce waste, converting what is typically unsellable inventory into profitable stock. Remarkably, up to 90 per cent of redistributed deadstock is sold at full price, significantly boosting profitability,” added Dzogan.
“The retail industry is a significant contributor to environmental issues due to overproduction, excessive packaging, and unsold goods ending up in landfills. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that the fashion industry alone is responsible for 92 million tons of waste annually.
“Increasingly, consumers prioritize sustainability and expect retailers to adopt eco-friendly practices. A survey by IBM found that nearly 70 per cent of consumers consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions.
There is also a growing need for retailers to embrace circular economy principles—recycling, reusing, and reducing waste—to mitigate their environmental footprint.”
He said many retailers, and some big ones, are going into bankruptcy because they haven’t solved this issue. The ones that are in financial trouble need to optimize their digital networks.
“YDISTRI represents the future of retail inventory management – an AI-optimized paradigm shift that finally aligns overstock with real demand to maximize revenue,” added Dzogan. “We are excited to bring this game-changing solution to retailers across North America and enable them to sell what others deem as unsellable inventory — at full price.”
YDISTRI has revolutionized inventory for clients in the US, Canada, Mexico, UK, EU, and Central Europe since 2019. By predicting trends and intelligently redistributing inventory, YDISTRI empowers retailers to increase sales, lower waste, and navigate today’s landscape.
Here are some of the key benefits for retailers of using YDISTRI ’s AI solution:
Go Beyond Forecasting: Exceeds traditional forecasting methods to dynamically rebalance inventory based on real-time demand;
Sell ‘Unsellable’ Inventory: Eliminate deadstock and slow-moving items by selling them at full price rather than resorting to write-offs or discounting;
Boost On-Shelf Availability: Ensure consistent availability for hot products network-wide, even during promotions, without additional inventory investment by better utilizing current inventory;
Expand Retail Footprint: Open new stores at dramatically lower costs without additional inventory investment by reallocating existing inventory;
Minimize Working Capital: Improve inventory turnover and cash flow with optimized redistribution across retail networks; and
Reduce Logistics Costs: Intelligently reassign stock to high-demand locations, significantly reducing logistics and transportation expenses.
YDISTRI is making a significant financial impact for retailers. On average:
90 per cent of products redistributed are sold within two months;
10 per cent (or higher) increase in net profit margin;
10X increase in inventory turnover of low-velocity inventory;
30 per cent improvement in working capital company-wide;
Two to five per cent logistics costs – firmly in control versus 40-50 per cent markdowns;
Up to 90 per cent of redistributed deadstock sold at full price; and
increasing net profits up to 20 per cent.
YDISTRI uses data analysis to identify “phantom” merchandise that should be in stock but has truly gone missing. By continuously syncing the digital and physical worlds, YDISTRI eliminates inventory blind spots to reduce multi-billion-dollar shrinkage costs that many retailers simply accept as unavoidable losses.
TerraCycle, an international recycling provider is spearheading innovative programs to recycle coffee packaging, offering sustainable solutions for environmentally conscious consumers.
Free Programs Transform Coffee Waste
With global coffee waste reaching staggering levels, TerraCycle’s initiatives are timely. Tom Szaky, CEO and founder, explains, “Most coffee packaging usually ends up in the trash, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We’re making it easy for coffee lovers to enjoy their favorite pick-me-up sustainably.”
TerraCycle’s free recycling programs include partnerships with major brands:
Tassimo Free Recycling Envelope Program
Nespresso Aluminum Capsule Recycling Program
McCafé® Free Composting & Recycling Program
Consumers can easily participate by signing up online, downloading a prepaid shipping label, and sending in their empty coffee packaging.
Comprehensive Solutions Through Zero Waste Boxes
For those looking to recycle a wider range of coffee-related packaging, TerraCycle offers Zero Waste Boxes:
Coffee Bag Zero Waste Box™ for any brand of empty coffee bags
Coffee Capsule Zero Waste Box™ for used capsules, pods, and discs
Break Room Separation Zero Waste Box™ for office use
These boxes can be returned to TerraCycle using the provided prepaid shipping label. The collected packaging is then processed and transformed into raw materials for new products.
As coffee enthusiasts celebrate their favorite brew, they can now do so more sustainably. TerraCycle’s programs ensure that coffee packaging finds new life beyond the landfill, contributing to a more circular economy.
Moscone Center in San Francisco during the 2024 Salesforce Dreamforce conference. Photo: Craig Patterson
Salesforce is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence in retail. Nino Bergfeld, Director of Retail Advisory at Salesforce, shared insights on how AI is revolutionizing customer loyalty, personalization, and service in the retail sector.
Bergfeld, who resides in Munich, Germany, sat down for a one-on-one interview with Retail Insider during Salesforce’s Dreamforce event that was held last week in San Francisco.
AI Enhances Customer Loyalty Programs
Nino Bergfeld
In the interview, Bergfeld said that AI is transforming traditional loyalty programs. “Many existing loyalty programs incentivize behaviour that is already being shown,” he stated. Ineffective loyalty programs, according to Bergfeld, can eat into margins without driving new sales. AI-driven loyalty programs, however, can offer more targeted and valuable rewards, he said.
The future of loyalty, Bergfeld suggests, lies in creating seamless experiences across channels. He cites examples like Amazon’s Alexa, which simplifies reordering processes, fostering loyalty through convenience rather than discounts. “I’m loyal to Amazon because there’s Alexa and I just need to say, ‘Hey Alexa, please reorder the washing detergent.’ It’s so easy,” Bergfeld said.
AI-Powered Customer Service Builds Brand Affinity
One of the most significant impacts of AI in retail is in customer service. Bergfeld highlighted the example of Saks Fifth Avenue’s AI agent, Sophie, powered by Salesforce’s new Agentforce technology. The AI-powered assistant provides immediate, personalized service grounded in customer data for Saks customers.
“You get a much better experience driven and generated by AI,” Bergfeld explained. He contrasted this with traditional call centres, where customers often face long wait times and impersonal service. AI agents like Sophie can access store-level inventory, customer history, and other relevant data to provide swift, accurate responses, he said.
Bergfeld added, “If there would be no AI, you would be in a call center queue, you would have to press ‘one’ for existing orders, press ‘two’ for refunds, press three, four, press five if you want to speak to an agent and you’re in a queue.” This can cause customer frustration or even worse, a situation where a customer becomes so frustrated that any loyalty is lost. The AI-powered alternative offers a dramatically improved customer experience, he said.
Balancing AI and Human Touch in Retail
While AI offers significant benefits, Bergfeld stresses the importance of maintaining human elements in retail. “If you try to cancel out everything and automate with AI, that’s not going to work,” he warns. Instead, he envisions a future where AI empowers human staff, allowing them to focus on high-value interactions.
Bergfeld provides an example: “An AI agent could notify a store associate that a high-value customer is coming to pick up an order, suggesting items that might complement their purchase.” Such a fusion of AI efficiency and human expertise can significantly enhance the shopping experience, while also leading to increased sales with increased purchases.
Saks Fifth Avenue shopping presentation at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco during the Salesforce Dreamforce event, September 2024. Photo: Craig Patterson
He emphasized the importance of the human touch in retail, drawing from personal experience: “I’m from a retail household. My mother had a retail shop for 40 years. People came because they got counselling. My mother had had her little black book. She knew the desperate husband at Christmas showing up, what the wife needs.”
In more modern times, that black book would be replaced with an online CRM system — but the human touch is still critical, particularly in physical retail spaces. Looking to applications in retail, AI allows store associates to focus on more important tasks while also providing comprehensive and useful customer information in seconds.
The Global Adoption of AI in Retail
The pace of AI adoption varies globally, with cultural and regulatory differences playing a significant role. Bergfeld observes that European retailers tend to be more cautious, partly due to stricter data protection regulations like GDPR. In contrast, North American retailers are generally more willing to experiment with new technologies.
“Europe is regulating first and innovating second. The U.S. is innovating first, regulating second,” Bergfeld said, quoting a multinational CEO. The difference in approach impacts the speed of AI adoption in retail across regions.
Asian markets, particularly China, are leading in innovative AI applications in retail. Bergfeld points to platforms like TikTok, SHEIN, and Temu, which use AI-driven discovery and gamification to engage shoppers. These approaches contrast sharply with traditional search-based e-commerce models.
“If you look at TikTok, for example, or SHEIN or Temu, it’s discovery-based,” Bergfeld explains. “The TikTok algorithm decides in the first 1.8 seconds if you like the content. And if yes, you get served more.”
Saks Fifth Avenue shopping presentation at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco during the Salesforce Dreamforce event, September 2024. Photo: Craig Patterson
Challenges and Considerations in AI Adoption
Bergfeld highlighted several challenges retailers face when adopting AI technologies. Data integration, for example, is a significant hurdle. “Everybody in retail knows retail is very particular because you have so many data silos. You have store POS data, loyalty data, email marketing data, CRM data,” he said. Integrating these disparate data sources is crucial for effective AI implementation, he explains.
Transparency and trust are also key concerns. Bergfeld advocates for clear communication with consumers about AI use. “You have to be transparent with your consumers,” he states, suggesting practices like watermarking AI-generated content or clearly labeling AI-assisted communications.
The Future of AI in Retail
Looking ahead, Bergfeld said he sees AI playing an increasingly central role in retail operations. He described different waves of AI adoption, with the current phase focusing on autonomous agents capable of taking actions. Future developments may lead to fully autonomous retail operations, though Bergfeld suggests this is still considerably “further down the road.”
Gamification is another trend Bergfeld believes will shape the future of retail. Drawing inspiration from Asian e-commerce platforms and gaming worlds like Roblox, he suggests that future retail experiences might incorporate game-like elements to engage younger consumers.
“Those are the consumers of the future,” Bergfeld notes, referring to younger generations accustomed to digital interactions. He said he envisions a world where physical purchases might come with digital twins for use in virtual environments, adding another layer of value and engagement for tech-savvy consumers.
There are still unknowns of what AI will hold for the future of retail, particularly as it evolves. Bergfeld said retailers will have to balance innovation with consumer trust and regulatory compliance. The future of retail lies in creating personalized, efficient, and engaging experiences powered by AI but anchored in human understanding — Bergfeld’s insights highlight the transformative potential of AI in retail, from enhancing loyalty programs to revolutionizing customer service and creating novel shopping experiences. As the technology advances, retailers who successfully integrate AI while maintaining a human touch will likely lead the industry into its next era. And given how quickly things are changing with AI technology, that era could be here sooner than we expect.
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.
