Ben’s Original, part of Mars, is expanding its ready meal portfolio with the launch of Ben’s Original Street Food Noodles.
Inspired by bold, globally loved street food flavours, this new ready meal extension delivers a flavour-packed, authentic international taste to Canadians in just 90 seconds, said the company.
“The launch reflects growing Canadian consumer demand for convenient meals that deliver on taste, quality and global inspiration. In fact, the ready meal segment in Canada is expected to grow 46 per cent between 2024 and 2030, to a $7.18B US industry.1 Ben’s Original™ is meeting growing consumer demand with an expanded portfolio of ready meals, continuing to move the brand to the center of the plate and the star of mealtime,” said the company.
Derin Bello
“Noodles are one of the fastest-growing convenient meal categories in Canada, and consumers are increasingly looking for bold, globally inspired flavours they can prepare quickly,” said Derin Bello, General Manager, Mars Food & Nutrition Canada.
“With the success of our Ben’s Original Street Food ready meals, expanding into noodles was a natural next step, bringing exciting international flavours to Canadians in a format that’s ready in just 90 seconds.”
To celebrate the launch, Ben’s Original is offering a limited-time promotion where Canadians who purchase two or more Street Food Noodles can receive an exclusive set of authentic bamboo chopsticks in a sleek travel case.
Five Globally Inspired Street Food Noodles Varieties
Each Ben’s Original Street Food Noodles variety delivers authentic global flavours in a convenient microwave-ready pouch:
Chinese Stir Fry Noodles – Classic wok-inspired flavour with perfectly cooked noodles, vegetables, and a savoury seasoning blend. This convenient entrée combines mushrooms, carrots and red bell peppers with a satisfyingly savoury profile that brings authentic Chinese-style stir fry taste straight to your table.
Korean Style BBQ Noodles – Perfectly cooked noodles combined with mushrooms, carrots, red bell peppers and green onions, and a touch of chili for a sweet, smoky, and mildly spicy Korean BBQ–style flavour.
Spicy Indonesian Noodles – Bringing the heat with a spicy Indonesian-style blend seasoning that delivers heat, depth, and rich aromatic notes. This entrée features carrots, green beans, red bell peppers and green onions.
Thai Stir Fry Noodles – Lightly spiced noodles with Thai seasoning that delivers a balanced combination of savoury, sweet, and fragrant notes. Carrots, red bell peppers and green onions round out the dish.
Japanese Teriyaki Noodles – A classic teriyaki-style seasoning brings deep umami and a touch of gentle sweetness, complemented by a vibrant mix of mushrooms and red bell peppers for a perfectly balanced bite.
Guests can enjoy a seasonally inspired, chef-curated brunch menu, featuring six dishes from Anna Cooks, including syrniki, double blueberry streusel muffins, scrambled smoked salmon and asparagus and a croque madame – alongside two speciality cocktails and three desserts, he said.
Olson’s latest cookbook features more than 125 approachable recipes for every time of day – from quick weekday breakfasts and lunches to one-pan dinners and indulgent desserts.
Known for her warm, practical approach to cooking, Olson continues to inspire home cooks of all skill levels with recipes that are both accessible and satisfying, he said.
“Hosting a culinary icon like Anna at Beertown Barrie is a chance to showcase what makes our restaurant special,” said Palubiski. “It’s about great food, meaningful experiences and creating memories that guests will cherish long after the meal.”
Anna Olson
In addition to Olson’s curated menu, Beertown’s regular menu will also be available.
Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Anna Cooks. Reservations are required for this complimentary, ticketed event.
Following the Barrie event on April 18, Olson will continue her tour with appearances at Beertown locations in Waterloo and Burlington in June.
For reservations and more information, visit Beertown.ca.
Charcoal Group is an inspired group of full-service restaurants located across in Southern Ontario with over 65 years in the hospitality industry. Restaurants include Solé Uptown, The Charcoal Steakhouse, Martini’s, Dels Italian Kitchen, Wildcraft Grill & Long Bar, The Bauer Kitchen, The Bauer Bakery & Café, Moose Winooski’s, Beertown and Sociable Kitchen & Tavern.
RBC Canadian cardholder spending firmed modestly in March with underlying activity continuing to stabilize despite ongoing softness in discretionary goods.
“A sharp increase in gasoline prices, tied to geopolitical tensions, boosted spending at fuel stations, and contributed to strength in essentials’ purchases. Excluding gasoline, spending still increased in March, although at a slower pace than February,” said RBC.
“Growth in spending edged lower on a three-month average, largely reflecting a pullback in January with activity over February and March broadly improving.
“Our core retail sales measure rose 0.3% on a three-month average from -0.1% (seasonally adjusted), extending the gradual improvement seen since the start of the year.”
The details from RBC:
Spending on gasoline surged 9.1% in March as conflict in the Middle East pushed oil prices higher.
Excluding gasoline, spending still rose in March, but slowed from February, remaining weak on a three-month average.
Clothing and related retail segments continued to contract on a three-month average, largely reflecting a pullback in January with spending firmer in the following two months.
Service categories remained the primary source of non-gasoline related growth with entertainment and arts leading gains, reinforcing the ongoing shift toward experience-related spending.
Provincial trends were mixed with declines persisting in British Columbia and New Brunswick, while other regions, including Quebec and Ontario, showed modest gains or stabilization.
Ofood Kimchi Ramyun Surpasses 1 Million Units Sold in Canada
Kimchi Ramyun, launched by Daesang’s leading Korean food brand Ofood, has surpassed 1 million units in cumulative sales in Canada, carving out a niche market by leveraging Korea’s heritage as the origin of Kimchi.
Since its launch in the Canadian market in October last year, ‘Real Kimchi Ramyun Noodle Soup’ has quickly gained traction, receiving strong positive responses from local consumers. Unlike conventional ramyun products that rely on dried flakes, Ofood Kimchi Ramyun uses real Kimchi from Korea’s No.1 Kimchi brand Jongga, delivering the authentic taste of traditional Korean Kimchi stew. This differentiated approach has contributed to its rapid market growth, said the company.
Ofood Kimchi Ramyun is available in two varieties: ‘Real Kimchi Ramyun Noodle Soup’, featuring a spicy soup base, and ‘Real Fiery Kimchi Stir-fried Ramyun’, made with gochujang. Both products use fresh Kimchi instead of dried flakes, offering a crisp texture and deep fermented flavor. While balancing sourness and aroma, the products retain the signature spiciness of Korean ramyun, making them appealing to a wide range of consumers, said the company.
“Active marketing efforts targeting local Gen Z consumers also contributed to the strong performance. Ofood enhanced brand awareness through outdoor advertising in major Canadian cities and digital campaigns on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. In addition, large-scale sampling events held around major universities, including the University of Toronto, helped expand engagement with younger consumers familiar with Korean culture and bold flavors, leading to actual purchases,” it said.
“Following strong sales performance, distribution expansion is also accelerating. In addition to existing retail channels such as Costco and Loblaws, Ofood Kimchi Ramyun is now available at FreshCo, where it is currently sold in approximately 70 stores across Canada, with plans to expand distribution to more than 150 locations nationwide in the second half of the year.”
Seungin Jung, Head of Global Discovery BO at Daesang, said: “Ofood Kimchi Ramyun is rapidly gaining traction in the Canadian market as a product that allows consumers to enjoy the authentic taste of Korean Kimchi. We will continue to strengthen the presence of K-food in North America through marketing tailored to local consumer lifestyles and expanded distribution channels.”
Fuel costs posted the largest monthly increase, rising another 20 points in April alone. In fact, concern over fuel costs has doubled in just two months, climbing from 36% in February to 74% in April.
Other key takeaways:
The average price increase plans jumped to 3.2% in April, the highest monthly change since the tariff war last March.
Small business long-term optimism improved modestly to 58.5 points in April, following the sharp decline recorded in March.
CFIB’s Business Barometer long-term index, which is based on 12-month forward expectations for business performance, edged up to 58.5 in April—roughly 3 points higher than in March. The short-term optimism index, based on the 3-month outlook, also posted a modest gain, rising by about 1 point to 55.4, said the national organization.
Measured on a scale between 0 and 100, an index above 50 means owners expecting their business’s performance to be stronger over the next three or 12 months outnumber those expecting weaker performance.
“Concern over fuel costs has, in fact, doubled in just two months, climbing from 36% in February to 74% in April. Shipping and receiving costs have also risen sharply, reaching 45%, up from 26% in February,” said the CFIB.
“The average price increase jumped up to 3.2% in April, marking the highest monthly change since the tariff war last March. The average wage increase increased slightly to 2.4%, the first notable shift after roughly 12 months of readings clustered around the 2.2% mark.”
Staples Canada recently released its 2025 Community Impact and Sustainability Report, marking the completion of its five-year Goals for a Greener Future program and introducing a new four-pillar sustainability framework to guide its environmental commitments.
The report also highlights record fundraising efforts in support of health equity and a milestone moment for the annual Staples School Supply Drive, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, raising more than $1.16 million for students across Canada, it said.
“Each year, we set ambitious goals to strengthen our commitment to environment, equity and education in the communities we serve,” said Jens Cermak, CEO, Staples Canada. “Our new sustainability framework reflects how we’re evolving – moving from individual targets to driving cumulative, measurable impact across our entire business. I’m proud of what our team and partners have built, and I’m energized by what’s ahead.”
Environment: A New Chapter in Sustainability
Staples Canada said its Goals for a Greener Future, launched in 2020, set bold recycling and waste diversion targets. With the program now complete, the company is sharing the results and introducing the framework that will replace it.
Over the course of the five-year program, Staples Canada said it met the following recycling and waste diversion targets:
Technology Recycling: More than 14,000 metric tonnes.
Writing Instrument Recycling: More than 12 million units. In partnership with TerraCycle, Staples Canada has Canada’s only national writing instrument recycling program, which is approaching its 20th anniversary.
Ink and Toner Recycling: More than 9.2 million units.
Battery Recycling: More than 2.34 million kilograms since 2004. This achievement earned Staples Canada the 2025 Leaders in Sustainability Award from Call2Recycle, recognizing outstanding environmental leadership in responsible battery recycling across Canada.
An Updated Sustainability Framework for 2026 and Beyond Starting in 2026, Staples Canada said it is replacing its fixed-target model with a progress-driven approach centred around four pillars that reflect changing consumer interests and evolving industry regulations:
Waste Diversion and Circular Economy
Climate Action and Carbon Management
Sustainable Products and Services
Community Impact
Reducing Carbon Emissions
“In 2025, Staples Canada expanded its electric vehicle (EV) fleet with 10 new EVs, building on its initial rollout in 2023, and extending its EV presence to Vancouver, Laval, Winnipeg, and Calgary. The EVs also use smart routing software to identify the most efficient delivery routes, further reducing emissions. Additionally, since 2013, the company has partnered with Bullfrog Power to power its Print production centres, Solution Shops, Studio co-working spaces and select stores across Canada with 100 per cent clean, renewable electricity, displacing more than 36,000 tonnes of CO2e over the course of the partnership,” said the retailer.
Strengthening Sustainability Partnerships
In 2025, Staples Canada deepened its long-standing partnerships with Tree Canada, Call2Recycle, TerraCycle, and eCycle, celebrating major milestones and raising associate awareness around joint initiatives. The company’s 17-year partnership with Tree Canada has resulted in more than 256,000 trees planted in underserved communities across Canada, it added.
“Staples also became the first company to pilot the Bullfrog Environmental Token technology, launched at its Burlington, Ontario store grand opening. These digital tokens provide long-term traceability of a store’s environmental impacts, and the technology is expected to become available to other Bullfrog Power partners in 2026,” it said.
Equity: Fostering a New Way to Give Back Through Innovative Partnerships
Staples Canada said its flagship Even the Odds initiative reached a four-year milestone in 2025, with total fundraising for MAP – Canada’s largest health equity research centre – growing from an initial $5 million commitment to more than $9 million raised. In 2025 alone, customers, team members, vendor-partners, and a corporate match donation combined to raise more than $2 million for MAP’s evidence-based community health programs.
Education: 20 Years of Breaking Down Barriers to Learning
“In 2025, Staples Canada’s annual School Supply Drive celebrated its 20th anniversary, raising a record $1.16 million for students across Canada — the most in any single year since the program launched in 2005 — and bringing its cumulative total to more than $18 million. Through longstanding partnerships with United Way/Centraide and Kiwanis, Staples Canada continued to break down barriers to learning from coast to coast,” it said.
Staples Canada, headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has close to 300 stores across Canada.
Founded in 1961 as a single Ottawa store, built on a simple promise to offer low prices, support local owners and earn customer trust, Giant Tiger has expanded into a national network of over 260 locally owned stores across Canada. (CNW Group/Giant Tiger Stores Limited)
Canadian discount retailer Giant Tiger is marking a major milestone with a nationwide celebration tied to its 65th anniversary, combining promotional events, customer engagement initiatives, and community-focused investments across its network of more than 260 stores.
The Ottawa-based company announced that festivities will begin April 22, 2026, featuring promotional offers both in-store and online, alongside a national GT VIP contest. The campaign will culminate in a coordinated birthday event on May 2 and 3, when all locations will participate in customer-focused activations.
During the two-day event, the first 65 customers at each store will receive a $10 gift card, reinforcing the retailer’s value positioning while driving store traffic during the anniversary weekend.
A Canadian Retailer Rooted in Local Ownership
Founded in 1961 by Gordon Reid, Giant Tiger began as a single store in Ottawa’s ByWard Market. The business has since grown into a national discount chain, maintaining a hybrid model that combines corporate oversight with locally operated franchise stores.
According to the company, its long-standing focus on affordability, community engagement, and local ownership continues to define its operations. The retailer employs more than 10,000 people and positions its store operators as integral to maintaining strong ties with local customers.
Gino DiGioacchino
“Our founder, Gordon Reid, built this business on values that still guide us today: low prices, local ownership and earning customer trust every day,” said Gino DiGioacchino, President and CEO of Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “That foundation comes to life in a simple but powerful way: one customer, one store, one local owner and one team, all working together to earn trust and save Canadians more. That connection to our customers and communities has sustained us for 65 years and will for many years to come.”
Local Ownership Model Sets Giant Tiger Apart
Giant Tiger operates as a privately held Canadian company with a hybrid structure that combines centralized operations with local ownership. Most stores are run by franchise partners who live and work in the communities they serve, creating a level of local connection that is uncommon among national retailers.
At the same time, the company maintains control over merchandising, sourcing, and pricing, allowing it to deliver consistency and scale across its network. This balance enables individual stores to reflect local needs while benefiting from a national operating platform.
Ownership has also extended to key employees at the head office level, reinforcing a culture of accountability and long-term commitment. The model has remained largely unchanged over decades and continues to underpin Giant Tiger’s position in Canada’s discount retail sector.
Giant Tiger at 275 Second Line West, Sault Ste. Marie (Image: Giant Tiger)
Customer Engagement Through Promotions and Contests
As part of the Giant Tiger 65th anniversary campaign, the retailer is launching a national contest running from April 22 to May 5. GT VIP members are invited to share why they value the brand for a chance to win one of four $1,000 gift cards, along with a Giant Value prize pack.
The GT VIP program provides members with personalized deals, exclusive offers, and early access to promotions, reflecting a broader industry trend toward loyalty-driven engagement strategies.
In addition to the contest, the company is bringing back its mascot in the form of a limited-edition plush toy, with proceeds directed toward charitable organizations.
Community Investment and National Giving Initiatives
A key component of the anniversary campaign is a $93,000 community investment program, with $1,000 grants allocated to local charities selected by individual stores. The initiative is designed to support programs related to food security, youth well-being, and health.
The retailer is also partnering with national and regional organizations, including BGC Canada and Enfant Soleil, through the sale of its “Friendly the Giant Tiger” plush toy.
“BGC Canada is proud to partner with Giant Tiger as they celebrate an incredible 65 years of community impact. Through their limited edition Friendly, the Giant Tiger plush campaign, Giant Tiger is helping create meaningful, positive change for more than 160,000 children and youth across Canada,” said Brooke Duval, Senior Director, Partnerships & Philanthropy at BGC Canada.
“Enfant Soleil is proud to celebrate Giant Tiger’s 65th birthday and the positive impact they continue to have on children and families across Canada. Partners like Giant Tiger are essential to our mission; they support pediatric care adapted to children’s needs, care that is close to families and delivered in comforting environments designed to promote healing,” said Catherine B-Montminy, Corporate Partnership Advisor at Enfant Soleil.
Interior of the Giant Tiger store on Walkley Road in Ottawa. Photo: Giant Tiger
Expanding Community Programs with Food Bank Support
Building on its existing charitable efforts, Giant Tiger is introducing a new in-store donation initiative tied to the anniversary. Customers can purchase pre-packed “birthday bags” containing cake essentials, which will be donated to local food banks.
The program reflects an effort to address food insecurity while aligning with the celebratory theme of the campaign, enabling families to mark birthdays with essential items that might otherwise be out of reach.
“For 65 years, our success has been built on the strength of our communities,” said Alison Scarlett, Head of PR, Communications and Corporate Responsibility at Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “This milestone is more than a birthday; it’s a nationwide celebration of the customers, store teams and local partners who have supported us along the way, reinforcing our commitment to delivering low prices while continuing to show up for our communities in meaningful ways.”
A Resilient Player in Canada’s Discount Retail Sector
The Giant Tiger 65th anniversary comes at a time when the Canadian retail landscape continues to evolve, particularly in the discount segment. The company has remained focused on its core strategy of low prices and local engagement, even as competitors have entered and exited the market.
Notably, Giant Tiger has operated exclusively in Canada following a brief U.S. expansion that ended in 2009. The retailer has since concentrated on domestic growth, leveraging its franchise model and supply chain investments to remain competitive.
As the company looks ahead, it continues to emphasize its community-driven approach and value proposition, positioning itself as a stable presence in a sector shaped by economic pressures and shifting consumer expectations.
The anniversary campaign reinforces that positioning, highlighting a retailer that has maintained its identity while scaling nationally over more than six decades.
ROYALMOUNT is set to host the second edition of its Concours ROYALMOUNT event from May 14 to May 24, 2026, positioning the destination as a central hub for Montreal’s Formula 1 race week while reinforcing its broader experiential retail strategy.
The 10-day public event will feature a curated showcase of rare supercars and hypercars, alongside a range of complementary programming designed to drive foot traffic and deepen consumer engagement. Open to the public at no cost, the activation reflects a growing trend among shopping centre developers to integrate large-scale cultural and lifestyle programming into retail environments.
At the core of the event is a curated display of 20 rare vehicles sourced from private collections, including those associated with Automobiles Etcetera and Montreal-based collector Luc Poirier. The vehicles will be exhibited throughout the centre during the week, offering visitors access to automobiles that are rarely seen by the public.
The concept draws inspiration from international concours-style exhibitions, where vehicles are showcased for their design, craftsmanship, and heritage. By bringing this format into a retail environment, ROYALMOUNT is blending luxury automotive culture with a commercial setting in an effort to create a differentiated in-person experience.
Visitors will also be invited to participate digitally by voting for their favourite vehicles through the ROYALMOUNT app, adding an interactive layer to the activation while encouraging repeat visits throughout the event.
Experiential Programming Designed to Drive Traffic
In addition to the automotive display, ROYALMOUNT has developed a series of programming elements aimed at broadening the event’s appeal across demographics.
A Junior Race Circuit activation will take place over the Victoria Day long weekend, offering children the opportunity to navigate miniature electric vehicles on Formula 1-inspired tracks within the centre’s urban park. The activation introduces a family-oriented component, expanding the audience beyond traditional automotive enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, a Formula 1 simulator presented by TUDOR will allow visitors to engage with racing technology in a more immersive format. Later in the event, a Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team replica car, presented in partnership with IWC Schaffhausen, will be displayed as a central visual feature within the property’s luxury retail corridor.
The event will conclude with a Cars & Coffee gathering on May 23, bringing together collectors, enthusiasts, and the broader community in a more informal setting that contrasts with the curated vehicle showcase.
Retail and Brand Integration
The event also integrates retail and merchandise components, including the sale of official Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve-branded apparel and accessories. This creates an opportunity for ROYALMOUNT to connect event-driven traffic with on-site retail spending.
More broadly, the activation aligns with the centre’s positioning as a luxury-focused destination. ROYALMOUNT is home to what it describes as the highest concentration of luxury watch and jewellery maisons in Quebec, and the inclusion of brands such as TUDOR and IWC Schaffhausen in the programming reflects a strategic alignment between tenants and experiential initiatives.
Montreal’s Formula 1 race week has increasingly evolved into a city-wide economic and cultural moment, with activations spanning hospitality, retail, and entertainment. ROYALMOUNT’s Concours event represents a deliberate effort to capture a share of that activity by offering a centralized, multi-day destination experience.
By extending programming over a 10-day period, the centre is seeking to lengthen visitor engagement beyond the race weekend itself, encouraging both local and tourist traffic to incorporate the destination into their broader itinerary.
Experiential Retail as a Long-Term Strategy
The return of Concours ROYALMOUNT signals a continued emphasis on experiential retail as a core component of the development’s long-term strategy. As shopping centres across Canada adapt to changing consumer expectations, large-scale events and activations are increasingly being used to differentiate physical retail environments and drive visitation.
ROYALMOUNT, developed by Montreal-based Carbonleo, includes approximately 170 stores and 60 restaurants and cafés, along with a 77,000-square-foot urban park and direct connectivity to public transit. The integration of programming such as Concours ROYALMOUNT suggests that the project is positioning itself not only as a retail destination, but as a year-round cultural and lifestyle hub.
As competition for consumer attention intensifies, particularly in major urban markets, initiatives such as Concours ROYALMOUNT highlight how landlords are leveraging events tied to global moments like Formula 1 to reinforce relevance and drive sustained engagement.
Today’s Retail Insider articles below cover key developments including First Capital REIT’s $9.4 billion acquisition by KingSett Capital and Choice Properties REIT, reshaping urban retail real estate ownership. UniverCell Canada is also expanding rapidly through franchising, targeting strip malls and integrating technology to meet evolving consumer demands. Another retailer, Vancouver-based The Ball Depot, has launched online as it looks to experiential retail stores. These stories, alongside other insights, highlight shifting strategies in retail real estate and franchise growth driving market adaptation.
The newly updated and expanded Tiffany & Co. flagship at Yorkdale in Toronto includes 32,000 crystals. Photo: Craig Patterson
Canada’s highest-performing shopping centres continue to demonstrate strong productivity, with Yorkdale Shopping Centre once again leading the country by a wide margin. According to newly released data from ICSC, Yorkdale recorded sales of $2,368 per square foot in 2025, maintaining its position as Canada’s most productive retail asset.
The gap between first and second place remains significant. CF Toronto Eaton Centre ranked second with $1,642 per square foot, followed by CF Pacific Centre at $1,593. The spread highlights the continued strength of top-tier urban shopping centres, particularly those located in major gateway markets such as Toronto and Vancouver.
Top-Tier Centres Continue to Lead
Several of Canada’s most prominent malls rounded out the upper tier of the rankings. CF Chinook Centre in Calgary reported $1,469 per square foot, while CF Richmond Centre and Square One Shopping Centre posted $1,466 and $1,396 respectively.
The presence of multiple Greater Toronto Area properties among the top performers reinforces the region’s role as the country’s most competitive retail market. At the same time, strong results from centres in Vancouver and Calgary point to sustained demand in key Western Canadian markets.
Notably, several properties exceeded $1,300 per square foot, placing them firmly within what industry observers often view as the highest echelon of retail productivity. These centres tend to feature a curated mix of luxury, premium, and high-performing international brands, along with strong food and experiential offerings that drive consistent traffic.
The $1,000 Per Square Foot Benchmark
Beyond the top tier, a substantial number of Canadian shopping centres reported sales above $1,000 per square foot in 2025. This threshold is widely considered a benchmark for strong performance in enclosed malls, reflecting healthy tenant productivity and sustained consumer demand.
Centres such as CF Masonville, CF Carrefour Laval, and Metropolis at Metrotown all fall within this range, demonstrating that high-performing retail is not limited to a single region.
At the same time, the data suggests a widening performance gap across the sector. While top-tier assets continue to achieve strong results, many mid-tier and lower-tier centres report significantly lower sales productivity, often below $700 per square foot. This divergence reflects broader structural shifts within the retail landscape, where tenant demand and consumer traffic are increasingly concentrated in dominant, well-located properties.
Performance Shifts Highlight Changing Dynamics
Year-over-year changes provide additional insight into evolving market conditions. Some centres posted notable gains, including CF Chinook Centre, which saw one of the largest increases in sales per square foot. In contrast, others experienced declines, including CF Sherway Gardens, underscoring the variability in performance even among established assets.
These shifts may reflect a combination of factors, including tenant mix changes, redevelopment activity, evolving consumer preferences, and broader economic conditions. As retailers continue to rationalize store networks and prioritize high-performing locations, top-tier centres are often the primary beneficiaries.
CF Toronto Eaton Centre. Photo: Cadillac Fairview
Concentration of Retail Performance Continues
The 2025 data reinforces a broader trend within Canadian retail real estate. Rather than a uniform recovery across all properties, performance is increasingly concentrated among a relatively small group of dominant shopping centres.
These leading assets continue to attract investment, premium tenants, and redevelopment activity, while lower-performing centres face growing pressure to reposition through mixed-use development, experiential offerings, or alternative uses.
As Retail Insider continues to analyze this dataset, upcoming coverage will explore multi-year trends, regional dynamics, and the long-term implications for Canada’s shopping centre landscape.
Notable Shopping Centres Absent from the Dataset
While the 2025 rankings provide a comprehensive snapshot of participating properties, several major Canadian shopping centres are not included in the data submitted to the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Industry sources indicate that these properties rank among the highest-performing shopping centres in Canada by sales productivity. Their absence means that the ICSC list, while highly valuable, does not represent a complete ranking of all top-tier retail assets across the country.
Notably, West Edmonton Mall, owned by Triple Five Group, does not report sales per square foot through ICSC. Similarly, Park Royal, owned by Larco Investments, is absent from the dataset.
In addition, major outlet centres such as Toronto Premium Outlets and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport are also not included in the ICSC-reported figures.
