Welcome to the Daily Synopsis by Retail Insider. We published 8 articles today covering various developments across Canadian retail sectors.
Open banking is set to significantly change Canadian retail payments as retailers adapt to evolving consumer expectations for secure and trusted payment experiences. Meanwhile, Montreal’s restaurant spending surged with transactions near the Bell Centre increasing by up to 84% during the Canadiens’ playoff games as the hockey run boosted hospitality sales. Calgary’s Wild Rose Brewery marked its 30th anniversary, highlighting growth opportunities from craft beer expanding its retail footprint and community engagement.
Education on artificial intelligence has an unprecedented degree of accessibility these days. Aren’t you excited? With a good number of potential online courses (most of which are high quality), community support, and practice opportunities, if you have internet connection and motivation, you’ve got access. The challenge here isn’t access, but rather selection. The struggle people have is sifting through the online AI courses that are high quality, and the ones that are essentially just grant you a certificate. This guide will help you plan your self-paced and flexible AI courses for 2026 the right way to help you reach a place of competence on the matter.
Convenience of AI Courses
There are plenty of benefits to taking AI courses. They are on-demand, for starters. You have the choice to study as little or as much as you’d like. You can have any time of the day or night as your study time. Flexible courses are prioritized to suit your convenience. These online courses are continuously updated and curated so the pace of rapidly changing AI tools and research is always taken into account. A perk to online platforms is that interactive notebooks, auto-graded assignments, and community are all available. At in-person programs, you may be enjoying the rigor of learning, but you are also paying a steep price. Online learning is significantly cheaper while offering the same (if not better) opportunities.
The convenience of online learning comes at a price. The margin of accountability is the biggest disadvantage of online learning. Many people simply enroll and then forget about the course. Setting your own discipline is a tool that you have to either be your own study buddy or have a study buddy. You can make your learning goals public to keep you accountable. You’ve got to be disciplined if you want to make online learning work for you.
Best Platforms for Online AI Learning
Coursera features the best AI curriculums online. DeepLearning.AI provides a series of courses, and there are also AI courses from Google and university courses from Stanford, MIT, and Johns Hopkins. Coursera Plus ($59/month) provides unlimited access to courses, making it the best value for a learner who is pursuing multiple AI certifications. Fast.ai offers a practitioner-focused, deep learning course that is free, and is the best resource for rapidly evolving technologies. Kaggle offers free courses and competitive challenges that help learners build skills that will enhance their portfolios.
Hugging Face offers a free course for learners in the industry who want to become proficient in the use of transformer models. Andrej Karpathy, 3Blue1Brown, and Yannic Kilcher, are all examples of Youtube video creators who explain AI concepts, and provide free tutorials that can be of great help to people who want to learn AI online for free. Online platforms that offer multiple structured learning routes that are geared for a career in AI are also great options. These platforms are edX, and Udacity, as well as LinkedIn Learning.
Learning how to build the different machine learning models is the primary building block for any AI learning path, and courses in math typically accompany these courses. AI systems are complicated, but the issues that these systems are designed to solve and the systems themselves work in a predictable manner once the learner grasps all of the above concepts.
Top Online AI Certifications
The AWS Certified Machine Learning courses are used to prove knowledge of machine learning skills in the AWS ecosystem. Google’s Cloud Professional Machine Learning Engineer is used to prove knowledge of developing and deploying machine learning systems in the GCP ecosystem. Microsoft’s Azure AI Engineer Associate is used to prove knowledge of developing artificial intelligence solutions in Microsoft’s ecosystem. These vendor-specific certifications are valid for employers that use competing platforms and help organize a measurable study goal. In addition to developing vendor-specific knowledge, it is important to develop knowledge in artificial intelligence. DeepLearning.AI’s specialization certificates are in high demand across the industry, especially Andrew Ng’s Machine Learning Specialisation.
Building a Flexible Learning Schedule
The best way to build a sustainable online artificial intelligence program is to choose a primary anchoring (structured) course (6 to 15 hours) and organize short practice (real-world) sessions (lessons) each week. Many designers of well-structured online courses have taken a Sustainable AI Learning method and focused on a balanced professional commitment throughout the week. For example, a well-structured commitment of 8 to 12 hours (throughout the week) would allow designers of well-structured online courses to achieve a Sustainable AI Learning credential every 2 months.
When designing your program, it is important that you do not overcommit. Foundational courses can be completed in a few weeks. Professionalisation courses (multiple courses and projects) that are well-structured can be completed in 2 to 4 months. Well-structured advanced courses can be used to cover deep learning (or niche) areas in 3 to 6 months, and balanced professional commitments throughout the week are needed.
Learning to support AI
Learning AI alone is time consuming compared to when learning AI with support of a community. There are so many platforms to join studying groups, like Discord, the subreddits for Machine Learning and for Learning Machine Learning, the Kaggle forums and specific communities on Coursera and fast.ai. These communities give you the motivation and technical support needed to learn and even give you collaborators for future projects that could be added to your portfolio.
AI learning Online in 2026 will be more relevant and useful for more professionals. Learning via communities along with the readily available and useful content makes learning relaxed and fun. But for this to be useful, it is necessary to have the motivation and self discipline to engage with the material and to practice after completing courses.
Canada’s retail payments landscape is approaching a shift that could move faster than many expect.
Open banking has been discussed for years, but implementation is now moving closer. Once in place, consumers will be able to share financial data securely with third parties, including retailers and fintech providers. That change may sound incremental, but experience in other markets suggests otherwise. When similar frameworks were introduced in countries such as Brazil and India, new payment methods gained traction quickly, and consumer behaviour changed in a short period of time.
For retailers, the takeaway is simple. The way customers expect to pay is about to expand, and that shift could happen quickly once the infrastructure is in place.
Convenience Is No Longer a Differentiator
For years, the focus in e-commerce has been on removing friction. Faster checkout flows, fewer steps, and smoother payment experiences have all been positioned as competitive advantages. Today, those features are widely available across most platforms.
Kris Zanuldin, Head of Konek at Interac Corp., says that dynamic is already changing.
“When open banking comes, you get hyper-competition and fast, frictionless experiences become table stakes,” he says. “When everyone is convenient, convenience is no longer enough.”
That changes how customers evaluate payment options. Speed still matters, but it is no longer the deciding factor. Customers begin to look more closely at who they are dealing with, especially when financial data is involved.
Kris Zanuldin
Trust Starts to Influence the Transaction
A bank account holds a detailed record of how someone lives and spends. As open banking allows that information to move more freely, customers are likely to be more selective about where they allow access.
Zanuldin says that question becomes central at checkout.
“When customers are given more options, they’re not just asking what’s easiest anymore. They’re asking who they trust enough to allow access to their financial information,” he explains.
For retailers, that shows up in a very practical way. The decision to complete a transaction is no longer just about convenience. It depends on whether the customer feels comfortable moving forward.
Persistent Friction Still Affects Conversion
Even before open banking takes hold, many retailers continue to deal with payment-related challenges.
Cart abandonment remains a consistent issue across e-commerce. At the same time, false declines, where legitimate transactions are rejected due to fraud checks, can quietly reduce conversion rates and damage customer confidence.
“False declines are one of the silent killers in e-commerce,” says Zanuldin. “When a legitimate customer is denied, it creates a poor experience and can impact whether they return.”
These issues do not always show up clearly in reporting, but they affect revenue. Customers who encounter friction or feel uncertain during checkout may simply choose not to complete the purchase.
Building on Existing Trust
In Canada, one approach is to build on the trust consumers already have in their financial institutions.
Powered by Interac Corp. and backed by Canada’s leading financial institutions, Konek allows customers to pay by bank through their chequing or savings accounts, while also supporting debit and credit options within a single experience.
The idea is not to introduce something unfamiliar. Instead, it connects the checkout process to banking systems that customers already use.
“We’re not trying to create new trust,” Zanuldin says. “We’re leveraging the trust Canadians already have in their banks and extending that into the checkout experience.”
For retailers, that can mean giving customers more ways to pay without adding friction or uncertainty.
What Implementation Looks Like
Retailers will also look closely at how difficult a new payment option is to implement.
Konek is designed as a single integration that works across platforms and operating systems. Merchants do not need to rebuild their checkout or commit to a specific technology stack.
As Canada’s payments infrastructure continues to evolve, systems like this are expected to adapt alongside it.
Photo: Interac Corp.
A Shift That May Arrive Quickly
Open banking is expected to introduce more choice into the payments landscape, but it also raises the bar for retailers.
Speed and convenience are no longer enough on their own. Customers already expect those as a baseline. The next question is whether they feel comfortable completing the transaction.
Retailers will need to think about how their checkout experience supports that confidence, and how it holds up as new payment options enter the market.
Looking Ahead
While open banking will reshape payments in the near term, other changes are already beginning to influence how transactions happen.
New technologies are starting to play a role in how purchasing decisions are made, including the possibility of more automated or assisted transactions. As that develops, questions around trust, control and responsibility become more complex.
Zanuldin points to consumer behaviour as an early signal.
“When customers don’t feel confident in the system, their behaviour changes,” he says. “They may set lower spending limits or hesitate to complete transactions, even if the outcome is something they want.”
For retailers, that reaction matters. If customers hesitate, spending can be affected, even when the product itself is not the issue.
Retailers interested in learning more about Konek can visit konek.ca or connect with Interac Corp. for additional information.
Bell Centre in Montreal during the playoffs. Photo: NHL.com
Montreal restaurants are seeing a significant playoff-driven business boost as the Canadiens advance deeper into the NHL postseason, according to new transaction data from Moneris.
The payment processor reported sharp increases in restaurant spending both near Bell Centre and across the city during the Canadiens’ second-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, highlighting how major live sporting events continue driving hospitality traffic and consumer spending.
Bell Centre in Montreal. Photo: Stadium and Arena Visits
Bell Centre Area Sees Strong Restaurant Activity
Restaurant activity intensified as the series returned to Montreal for home games. Spending near the Bell Centre increased 37 per cent during Game Three on May 10 and climbed 43 per cent during Game Four on May 12 before surging to its highest level of the series during Game Six on May 16, when spending rose 84 per cent above baseline levels. Average transaction counts near the arena increased 47 per cent during that game.
“Home playoff games continue to be a major economic catalyst for businesses near the Bell Centre,” said Sean McCormick, Vice President, Business Development, Data Services at Moneris. “Moneris data shows restaurant spending rose sharply throughout the Canadiens’ second-round series, increasing 37 per cent and peaking at 84 per cent in Game Six.”
Sean McCormick
The figures reflect the role that playoff hockey plays in driving foot traffic throughout Montreal’s downtown entertainment district, where restaurants, bars, and hospitality venues benefit from large crowds gathering before and after games.
Spending Gains Extend Beyond Downtown Montreal
The economic impact was not limited to the immediate arena area. Moneris reported substantial increases in restaurant spending across Montreal as fans gathered in neighbourhood restaurants and bars throughout the city to watch games.
Citywide restaurant spending rose 96 per cent during Game Three on May 10 and 89 per cent during Game Four on May 12. Spending remained elevated through Game Six on May 16, increasing 53 per cent above baseline levels while transaction counts climbed 34 per cent.
“Moneris data shows the Canadiens’ playoff run drove a citywide lift in restaurant activity, with spending rising 89 per cent in Game Four,” McCormick said. “By Game Six, activity remained elevated at 53 per cent, underscoring how postseason success translates into sustained hospitality gains well beyond the downtown core.”
Away games produced more modest spending increases, according to Moneris, particularly when games took place during weekdays. The company noted that Game Seven, played in Buffalo on Monday, May 18, generated softer restaurant activity because many establishments are traditionally closed at the start of the week.
Pre-game Bell Centre in Montreal. Photo: NHL.com
Live Sports Continue Driving Hospitality Spending
The Canadiens defeated Buffalo 3-2 in overtime during Game Seven on May 18 to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2021. Montreal has since opened its series against the Carolina Hurricanes with a 6-2 road victory, extending playoff momentum across the city.
The transaction data highlights the continued importance of live events and experiential spending for Canada’s hospitality sector. While many consumers remain cautious with discretionary spending, major sporting events continue generating strong restaurant and nightlife traffic in urban markets with engaged fan bases.
If the Canadiens continue advancing through the playoffs, Montreal restaurants and bars could see sustained consumer activity in the weeks ahead as fan excitement continues building across the city.
Tre’dish, the Ontario-based wholesale direct-to-consumer grocery platform, has launched SproutAI, an agentic AI assistant that continuously optimizes household grocery spending in real time.
Grocery affordability remains one of the most acute financial pressures facing Canadian households. Food prices are 27% higher than they were five years ago, and the average family of four is expected to spend nearly $1,000 more on groceries this year than last, said the company.
Statistics Canada confirmed recently that food purchased from stores rose 4.4% year over year in March, outpacing overall inflation. The cause is structural: a layered supply chain, concentrated market power, and grocery stores incentivized to sell households more, not help them spend less. For most families, the budget is fixed. Tre’dish was built to change that equation by rebuilding the supply chain from the ground up, before adding any technology on top of it, it said.
“We took the opposite approach. We spent two years doing the unglamorous work first: fixing the supply chain, removing middlemen, and
proving real savings for families. We didn’t build an AI wrapper on top of grocery stores. We rebuilt the foundation first, then built intelligence on top of it. We’re using it to help people get more value from a system already designed to save them money.
“Grocery costs are not high because we lack apps. They are high because the foundation is broken. We rebuilt the foundation first. SproutAI works because of what sits underneath it.”
The company said SproutAI is Tre’dish’s core intelligence engine, built directly into the platform’s supply chain infrastructure. Customers set a budget and preferences once. From there, SproutAI works continuously on their behalf, dynamically adjusting and optimizing each order in real time, drawing on direct-supply pricing, actual purchasing data from within the platform, and where substitutions can stretch the budget further. Unlike AI grocery features built on top of conventional retail models, it isn’t working against the economics of the system underneath it. The result is optimization grounded in real savings, not estimated ones.
“I cost it out myself,” said Tre’dish customer Frank Alberts of Toronto. “The same produce box was $130 at my regular grocery store. It was $110 at Tre’dish. They’re doing exactly what they claim.”
The company said 80% of orders on the Tre’dish platform are recurring.
“Grocery, it turns out, is a natural subscription business and that purchase behaviour is precisely what makes SproutAI’s optimization meaningful in a way generic AI grocery tools cannot replicate. Recommendations are grounded in what a household actually buys, not what a broad model predicts they might,” it said.
“The longer a household is on the platform, the sharper that personalization becomes: SproutAI can pre-plan orders, anticipate needs, and continue improving the unit economics that make the model work. The data compounds. So does the value.”
Tre’dish said customers average 25% savings compared to major chain grocery pricing. SproutAI is available to all Tre’dish customers across the platform’s existing delivery geography, including the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, and Grimsby.
Tim Hortons launched on Monday a national campaign across TV, digital, paid social and in-restaurant channels, to hire 10,000 new people, supporting natural turnover and growth of Tim Hortons restaurants – including 80 new restaurants opening this year across Canada.
It also addressed its position on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada.
“This is part of the brand’s strong, ongoing commitment to hire locally, whenever possible, in every community we serve,” said the company in a news release.
The two announcements also come on the heels of recent news by Foodtastic, one of Canada’s leading restaurant operators, which announced it had signed a master franchising agreement with Inspire Brands to open hundreds of Dunkin’ locations across Canada.
Under the new agreement, Foodtastic said it will have exclusive rights to develop the Dunkin’ brand nationally through both corporate and franchise-operated locations. This expansion strengthens Foodtastic’s relationship with Inspire Brands and adds a globally recognized coffee and donut concept to its Canadian portfolio, it added.
Tim Hortons photo
“Canada is a country that prides itself on welcoming everyone. As a brand, for more than 60 years, this is a value that Tims has shared and is one that we deeply believe in – this will never change,” said Tim Hortons in a news release.
“Tims restaurant owners don’t discriminate in their local hiring – anyone entitled to work in Canada is welcome to work at their restaurants. This includes Canadian students, international students, people with disabilities, mature workers, Indigenous people, new Canadians and members of the local community of all ages – always with the aim to hire locally every time they can in order to serve guests with excellence at every Tims, every time.
“When Tim Horton himself opened his first restaurant in 1964, he wanted it to be a place where anyone could go at any time and feel welcomed. We continue to believe in Tim’s vision today: everyone in Canada is welcome as a guest and everyone in Canada is welcome to work in a Tim Hortons restaurant.”
Tim Hortons photo
As Canada emerged from COVID in 2021, there were acute labour shortages across the country. To address this, the government increased access to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, said the brand.
“Tim Hortons was one of the companies encouraging the government to do so at the time to help restaurants facing staffing challenges and lobbied them to maintain greater access when they announced plans to limit applications. However, today in 2026, with high youth unemployment nationally, lobbying for expanded access is no longer necessary. In fact, our restaurant owners’ use of the program has already declined steadily since 2024. We will continue to work within the labour frameworks the federal and provincial governments decide are best for Canada,” it said.
“Of the approximately 110,000 team members across the Tim Hortons system, we estimate roughly 4,000 team members hold positions under the Temporary Foreign Worker program – representing approximately 3.6% of all restaurant roles. These are positions in communities where restaurant owners faced documented labour shortages and went through the full government approval process before hiring. Restaurant owners understand the need for continued rigour and scrutiny for any new temporary foreign worker applications.”
Tim Hortons is the largest restaurant chain in Canada, with 4,000 restaurants – more restaurants per capita than any other brand anywhere in the world.
Quebec is poised to become the second province in Canada in recent weeks to eliminate provincial sales taxes on food-related items. Unlike Manitoba, however, Quebec is taking a broader and arguably more pragmatic approach by extending relief to healthier ready-to-eat products and convenience foods. That distinction matters. Too often, public policy assumes that only “junk food” is taxed, when in reality many prepared and nutritious options remain subject to provincial sales taxes simply because they are convenient. Quebec’s new measure, expected to cost more than $100 million annually, acknowledges an important reality of modern food consumption: convenience is no longer a luxury. For many Canadians, it is a necessity.
The average household is expected to save roughly $50 annually. Critics will argue that the savings are insignificant, and from a purely macroeconomic standpoint, they are correct. Fifty dollars will not solve Canada’s affordability crisis. But food taxation has always been about more than arithmetic. Retail taxes disproportionately penalize seniors on fixed incomes, individuals living alone, and consumers who either cannot cook regularly or simply choose not to. Preparing meals for one person every single day is neither economical nor particularly motivating. In many cases, ready-to-eat meals reduce food waste and improve accessibility. Tax systems that penalize convenience foods often fail to recognize these demographic and behavioural realities.
The broader assumption underpinning food taxation policy — that taxes significantly discourage unhealthy consumption — is also far less convincing than many policymakers suggest. Newfoundland and Labrador offered a compelling case study. Its sugar tax, introduced with the intention of reducing sugary drink consumption, was eventually repealed after consumers and policymakers increasingly viewed the policy as ineffective during a worsening affordability crisis. While research indicated the tax modestly reduced purchases of sugary beverages, the behavioural impact remained limited. The tax itself was relatively small, and many consumers simply shifted toward other untaxed sugary products. More importantly, the measure became politically difficult to defend as inflation accelerated and household budgets tightened. The Newfoundland experience reinforced a basic principle of food economics: consumers rarely stop consuming altogether when prices rise — they adapt by trading down, switching categories, or altering shopping habits.
Mexico’s sugary drink tax, introduced in 2014, remains one of the most analyzed food-taxation experiments in the world. The country imposed a one-peso-per-litre levy on sugar-sweetened beverages in an effort to combat obesity and diabetes. Early evidence suggested purchases of taxed beverages declined between 6 and 10 per cent during the first years of implementation, with the largest reductions occurring among lower-income households. Public-health advocates celebrated the policy as a success, particularly as bottled water purchases increased and consumer awareness around sugar consumption improved. Mexico demonstrated that highly visible retail taxes can influence purchasing decisions, especially when targeting products perceived as discretionary.
Yet Mexico also exposed the limitations of taxation as a long-term nutrition strategy. While soda sales declined, many consumers simply substituted toward untaxed juices, snacks, sweetened beverages, or other calorie-dense alternatives. In other words, purchasing patterns shifted, but overall sugar consumption may not have declined nearly as dramatically as policymakers had hoped. Economists have long argued that consumers rarely eliminate consumption entirely in response to higher prices; they adapt. The Mexican experience ultimately demonstrated that while taxation can alter buying behaviour at the margins, meaningful public-health outcomes require broader interventions, including education, reformulation, clearer labelling, and improved access to healthier alternatives.
And worse, the sugary drink tax in Mexico did not produce a dramatic nationwide decline in diabetes rates in 11 years.
Taxing food remains deeply problematic from both an economic and ethical standpoint. Food is not tobacco. It is not alcohol. It is a necessity of life. Governments should not penalize consumers based on where food is purchased, how it is prepared, or whether convenience plays a role in consumption. Provinces should move toward eliminating sales taxes on all food products, regardless of category or point of consumption. Unfortunately, provinces operating under harmonized sales tax systems, such as Ontario and the Atlantic provinces, face a far more complicated reality. Ottawa is highly unlikely to relinquish the substantial and dependable revenue stream generated through the GST. And that, ultimately, is the real obstacle to meaningful food tax reform in Canada.
RONA inc., one of Canada’s leading home improvement retailers, operating and servicing over 425 corporate and affiliated stores, recently opened several RONA+ stores across Canada, continuing its transformation journey to the RONA+ and RONA banners.
Thanks to these latest conversions, the company can provide its customers with an outstanding experience, the right product offering at the right price, and exceptional customer service, while improving the ways Canadians shop for their construction and home improvement projects, it said in a news release.
“We have accomplished so much since RONA+ was launched over two years ago, and our results are positive. Customers truly appreciate the brand, as we saw with the 10-point increase in the latest Léger Reputation Study. I am extremely proud of our teams’ hard work to convert our stores to the RONA+ banner and to celebrate their grand opening today,” said Sylvain Proulx, Senior Vice-President, Store Operations at RONA inc.
Sylvain Proulx
“Over the past few weeks, these stores underwent major transformations to implement all of their new features, such as an expanded PRO department and new RONAPRO permanent signage; new MOEN and Scotts Shop in Shops; a new program in the kitchen department that includes more demos; an expanded and redesigned seasonal department, as well as an overall modernization of the stores. And like every other RONA+ store, they will offer added value to local customers thanks to a broader selection of products and flexible payment options,” explained the retailer.
Here are the newly converted stores and their location:
RONA+ Toronto Stockyards – 110 West Toronto Street, Toronto, ON
RONA+ Barrie South – 61 Mapleview Drive East, Barrie, ON
RONA+ Kingston (Princess St) – 2342 Princess Street, Kingston, ON
RONA+ Merivale – 585 West Hunt Club Road, Nepean, ON
RONA+ Calgary Sunridge (32nd NE) – 2665 32nd Street N.E., Calgary, AB
Haven Greens is expanding its product lineup with the launch of three ready-to-eat salad kits as the Ontario greenhouse operator works to increase production capacity and broaden its retail presence.
The company said its new Crunch Salad Kits, made with Ontario-grown greens, are now available at select retailers across Ontario, including Summerhill Market and Fortinos, as well as Calgary Co-op locations in Calgary.
The launch adds to Haven Greens’ existing leafy greens business and comes as the company moves ahead with plans to expand its greenhouse operation from five acres to 10 acres to meet demand for locally grown produce.
“From day one, our focus has been on revolutionizing what local produce can look and taste like in Canada,” said Jay Willmot, CEO and founder of Haven Greens. “Our new salad kits take that vision even further, delivering a convenient, high-quality option that fits seamlessly into Canadians’ daily routines without compromising on flavour or freshness.”
Jay Willmot
The company said the salad kits are designed as ready-to-eat meal or side options that do not require washing or preparation. Each kit combines leafy greens with toppings and dressings.
The lineup includes Caesar Crunch, which includes shaved Parmesan, roasted chickpeas, crouton crumbles and Caesar dressing; Fiesta Crunch, made with Cotija cheese, tortilla strips, sweet corn and chipotle dressing; and Sesame Crunch, which includes crispy wontons, roasted edamame, sliced almonds and sesame ginger dressing.
Haven Greens said the greens used in the salad kits are grown in a fully automated, climate-controlled greenhouse in the Greater Toronto Area. The company said its facility currently produces more than 11,000 pounds of lettuce daily.
The company also said it is on track to reach net-zero operations by 2027 as it continues expanding production.
Haven Greens photo
Haven Greens launched in February 2025 and supplies leafy greens to retail and food service customers. The company said additional retailers are expected to begin carrying the salad kits later this summer and beyond.
The Brick, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leon’s Furniture Limited, is introducing what it calls “larger-than-life comfort” with the launch of the Shaq-O-Pedic collection, created in collaboration with four-time NBA Champion and 15-time NBA All Star, Shaquille O’Neal.
Available in-store and online, the lineup features four seating designs that blend premium materials with integrated entertainment features and functional comfort in a variety of colours, perfect for everyday living in any household, said the retailer.
“Launching the Shaq-O-Pedic collection with Shaquille O’Neal is an exciting milestone for The Brick,” said Darci Walker, President, The Brick. “We’re pleased to partner with Shaq on a lineup that reflects our shared commitment to comfort, quality and value.”
Darci Walker
The Shaq-O-Pedic collection combines oversized comfort with innovative features designed for durability and everyday use. The lineup includes a modular power reclining sectional, an immersive entertainment sectional, a premium leather reclining sofa and a massage recliner. Each piece offers supportive seating, flexible configurations and features that enhance comfort and functionality. While inspired by O’Neal’s larger-than-life presence, the collection is designed to deliver exceptional comfort and durability for fans of every size, explained the company.
Shaquille O’Neal
O’Neal partnered with The Brick to bring his vision of comfortable, stylish and accessible furniture to Canadians.
“I’m all about affordability. I’m not trying to break the bank. I just want people to be comfortable, be stylish and feel good,” said O’Neal. “So, when it comes to The Brick, they do have the best stuff.”
