KONEK Head Kris Zanuldin on Growth and Expansion [Video Interview]

Date:

Share post:

Craig Patterson and Kris Zanuldin, head of KONEK at Interac Corp. (Interac), discuss how the new Canadian e-commerce payment solution was developed to address key gaps in online checkout experiences. See the description directly below the video interview:

Youtube video

KONEK focuses on accessibility, trust, and convenience—factors Zanuldin says are essential for driving adoption in payments. Built to give Canadians more choice, the system aims to solve pain points around rising payment costs, fraud, and increasingly demanding customer expectations.

Zanuldin outlines how KONEK benefits merchants by improving conversion rates while also reducing payment-processing expenses. By working collaboratively with major financial institutions, KONEK enables features like bank-grade fraud protection, liability shift, and a streamlined checkout flow. The platform also tackles cart abandonment by offering customers more payment options, particularly pay-by-bank methods that resonate strongly with Gen Z and trust-conscious shoppers.

He also highlights the advantage of a made-in-Canada solution built for Canadian regulations, consumer behavior, and security expectations. With Staples as the first national launch partner, KONEK is set to showcase a smoother checkout and improved customer experience. Looking ahead, Zanuldin expects KONEK to play a major role in Canada’s shift from offline to digital commerce, providing a trusted, lower-cost payment alternative as digital wallets and online retail continue to accelerate.

Merchants who are interested in learning more about KONEK can visit KONEK.ca.

***

The Interview Series video podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available through our Retail Insider YouTube Channel where you can subscribe and be notified when new video episodes are available.

If you prefer to listen to the audio version, it is available below:

The Interview Series audio podcasts by Retail Insider Canada are available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Also check out our The Weekly audio podcast where Craig and Lee discuss popular content published on Retail Insider which is part of the The Retail Insider Podcast Network.

Subscribe, Rate, and Review our Retail Insider Podcast!

Follow Craig:

Follow Retail Insider:

Listen & Subscribe:

Share your thoughts!

Drop us a line at Craig@Retail-Insider.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Background Music Credit: Hard Boiled Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

RELATED ARTICLES

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

RECENT articles

Alberta launches tariff portal for businesses

The government said the portal launches as businesses continue to assess the impact of recent U.S. tariffs and Canada's planned retaliatory measures.

Richelieu investing more than $15 million to expand Drummondville distribution centre

The project will expand the facility from nearly 40,000 square feet to 180,000 square feet and is expected to be completed in time for the expanded centre to become operational in spring 2027.

Walmart Canada, foundation commit US$250,000 to B.C. wildfire relief

The contribution comes as Walmart Canada concludes its annual fundraising campaign for the Canadian Red Cross, which raised more than $3.9 million for local disaster relief.

Daily Synopsis: Sep 4, 2026

New Lululemon CEO has uphill battle, Metro to close Montreal ecomm 'ghost store', NB appliance store stocks up ahead of tariffs, ready-to-drink cocktail brand Duchess opens 1st BC cafe, and other news.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Jollibee marks 10 years in Canada with promotional campaign and plans for 26 more restaurants

The Filipino fast-food chain, which opened its first Canadian restaurant in Winnipeg in December 2016, now has 28 locations across five provinces.

Massive T&T Supermarket to open in former Bay space at CF Markville

CF Markville will be T&T’s 18th location in Ontario, and it also marks the fourth partnership with Cadillac Fairview, following CF Fairview Mall, CF Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke, and CF Polo Park in Winnipeg.

Canada loses 42,000 jobs in August: Statistics Canada

Wholesale and retail trade (-55,000; -1.8%) recorded the largest decline across industries over the past 12 months.

Pilgrim Plans Canadian Expansion After Oshawa Store Opening

Pilgrim CEO Robert Hayes discusses the jewelry brand's Canadian expansion plans, new Oshawa Centre store, suburban performance, growing wholesale network and the increasing role of piercing services.

Typical expanding its reach and its stretchable towel product

Typical is now selling through The Knot, Anthropologie, and Nordstrom, while building out corporate gifting and hospitality channels alongside its DTC business.

Calgary’s Forum Thermal to open 18,000-square-foot urban spa in late 2026

With six signature pools, three saunas and two steam rooms, Forum will offer a series of interconnected experiences. 

OpenRoad Auto announces 16-acre Surrey automall development

The Surrey Auto Loop, located at 13340 76 Avenue, is being developed in partnership with Conwest Developments and will include seven lots and approximately 166,000 square feet of commercial space.

Many small businesses at risk due to trade war: CFIB

One in five (18%) small exporters and 11% of importers affected by the Canada-U.S. trade war say they would stop being financially viable if the trade war lasts three months or more.

IKEA showcases miniature homes in three cities as part of new in-store experience

Miniature homes have been installed in public locations in Melbourne, Chengdu and Beijing as part of the launch of IKEA open house, an in-store program running from late August through September.

Grocery Prices Face New Pressure as Ottawa Imposes Counter-Tariffs

Sylvain Charlebois examines how Canada’s new counter-tariffs could affect grocery prices, food inflation and affordability as Ottawa extends fuel-tax relief.

Daily Synopsis: September 3, 2026

Lululemon reports numbers, Gather Packaging pivots after US tariffs, Couche-Tard shifting convenience store mix, D Spot Expansion, and other news.

Lululemon Canada Sales Fall 11% as Outlook Weakens

Lululemon's Canadian revenue fell 11% in Q2 as traffic and product challenges intensified, with the retailer warning of deeper declines ahead.

Retail Insider’s Canadian Retail Monitor — August 2026 Edition: Demand Strengthens as Volumes Rise

Retail Insider’s first edition of the Canadian Retail Monitor finds demand strengthened, with sales volumes rising faster than headline sales. Health, apparel and general merchandise led growth, while grocery weakened and e-commerce rebounded sharply.

Gather Packaging Pivots to Canada After 50% U.S. Tariff

Toronto-based Gather Packaging is targeting Canadian retailers after a 50% U.S. tariff disrupted a market representing more than 75% of its plant volume.