News
From The Desk: Canadian Retail Reshapes Loyalty, Footprints, and E-Commerce in Early 2026
Canadian retail kicks off 2026 with Starbucks’ tiered rewards, Toys R Us’ contraction, and Walmart expansion, amid stabilizing market trends.
OMEGA opens flagship boutique at Calgary’s Chinook Centre
The company hooking into a major Alberta shopping centre signals a continued focus on Canada as a growth market, with the new store intended to serve customers in Calgary and the surrounding region.
Retail sector GDP on the rise in November: Statistics Canada
Food and beverage retailers (+2.5%) rebounded in November, reflecting higher beer, wine and liquor retailing activity, following the conclusion of a work action in British Columbia on October 26 that had disrupted activity since September 2.
Birks Group reports 11.8% holiday-period sales increase
Comparable store sales for the period increased 2.5 per cent from the same period a year earlier.
GoodLife Fitness launches national marketing campaign as it expands Canadian locations
The campaign launched on January 1 and will run throughout the year across connected TV, digital video and display, digital audio, social media, search, and out-of-home advertising.
Empire Company to close Alberta e-commerce facilities, expands third-party delivery partnerships
The company said the changes are expected to deliver roughly $95 million in annualized operating income by fiscal 2027.
Larry’s Catch draws three offers on CBC’s Dragons’ Den
The company currently delivers across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Canadian retail enters 2026 with signs of stabilization: CBRE survey
CBRE’s H2 2025 Retail Rent Survey says many cities rebounded as last year progressed, with stabilization becoming more evident nationwide heading into 2026.
Canadian ecommerce orders rose 20% in 2025, with top brands driving half the growth: Omnisend
Demand was unevenly distributed, with a relatively small group of higher-performing brands capturing a disproportionate share of the gains.
Lane Bryant Enters Canada via Walmart Partnership
Lane Bryant launches on Walmart.ca and in 320 stores Feb. 1, expanding plus-size fashion access through partnerships with Centric Brands and KnitWell.
Apple Reports Record Q1 2026 Financial Results
Apple has announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, revealing a record revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16% year-over-year. The company's diluted earnings per share reached $2.84, reflecting a 19% increase.
Starbucks Canada Rolls Out Tiered Rewards Program
Starbucks Canada launches a new tiered Starbucks Rewards program on March 10, introducing Green, Gold, and Reserve levels with faster earning and richer benefits.
Payroll employment in retail trade decreases in November: Statistics Canada
Compared with one year earlier, payroll employment in retail trade was down 30,700 (-1.5%) in November.
AI-enabled fraud surges as most retailers remain unprepared, Deloitte warns
As retailers embrace AI-driven innovation, fraudsters are using the same technology to launch more complex, scalable attacks
New Walmart Supercentre coming to Alberta in southwest Edmonton
In 2025, Walmart Canada said it announced a $6.5 billion investment over the next five years to expand its store and supply chain footprint.
VIDEO: Canadian retailers face structural supply chain reckoning: Gary Newbury
Newbury says many retailers are still relying on systems and processes designed for a far simpler, pre-2019 world.
Restaurants Canada encouraged by federal government’s announcement of new food affordability measures
The foodservice industry is the fourth-largest private sector employer in the country, with nearly 1.2 million employees, including 500,000 youth.
Canadians turn to AI for shopping, but trust remains the biggest barrier: IBM study
AI adoption in Canada is accelerating, with nearly half (45%) of consumers using AI in their shopping journey from researching products (42%) to finding deals (28%).
Canadians spending intentions cool off in January but remain positive: Stifel
54% of respondents expect to increase their spending on discretionary items in the next twelve months, which is higher than the 51% average of the last 11 surveys
Toronto tourism hits record 28.2 million visitors in 2025, $9.1B in spending
Direct visitor spending generated nearly $13.5 billion in total economic impact and exceeded the previous year’s record by four per cent, with 37 per cent of spending coming from U.S. and international visitors
Why Ethical Products Struggle to Sell — and the Simple Pricing Fix That Could Change That
Instead of charging more, ethical products could be sold in slightly smaller quantities so the price feels comparable.
Code Ninjas Opens in Vaughan, Inspiring the Next Generation of Coders
The new dojo will empower children ages 5–14 to learn computer coding, robotics, and problem-solving STEM skills by building their own video games in a fun, inspiring, and family-friendly environment
GASPARD PREMIER charts measured growth as niche fragrance maker leans on small-batch model
Its products are available online and through select retail partners, including the Monocle shop in Toronto.
Rising demand lifts Canada Gold as investors turn to physical precious metals
Customer purchases of physical gold and silver are up about 150 per cent over the past 12 months
Toys R Us Exits Saskatchewan as Canadian Store Network Shrinks
Toys R Us is exiting Saskatchewan as its Canadian store network continues to shrink following widespread closures nationwide.
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