SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Retail Insider “Retail Technology & Payments Report”: Commerce Infrastructure Gets Smarter

News Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider's latest Retail Technology & Payments Report examines how artificial intelligence, payments, loyalty, commerce platforms, and digital infrastructure are becoming increasingly integrated, reshaping retail operations, customer experiences, and competitive advantage across the Canadian retail industry.

Mercedes-Benz Reimagines Automotive Retail Inside Holt Renfrew

News Craig Patterson -
The 2,230-square-foot Mercedes-Benz Studio Toronto combines vehicles, fashion, customization and cultural programming inside Holt Renfrew’s Bloor Street flagship.

Decathlon reaches 700 stores equipped with Vusion solutions

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Vusion platform, now deployed across 54 countries on three continents, enhances operational efficiency for Decathlon teams and improves customer experience.

METRO sells its Première Moisson Group production facility to FGF for $90 million

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Upon closing of the transaction, FGF will manufacture and distribute Première Moisson products sold in food stores.

Blu Mediterraneo: A Timeless Mediterranean Design Language at Maison Territo

News Craig Patterson -
Maison Territo explores the enduring appeal of Blu Mediterraneo, the Mediterranean-inspired design language defined by craftsmanship, natural materials, and timeless elegance.

Destination Canada and Economic Developers Association of Canada unite to advance tourism

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Collaboration will strengthen tourism investment readiness and connections between tourism and economic development leaders.

Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada Appoints Renée St-Jean as New Chair

News Mario Toneguzzi -
A bilingual pharmacist with more than 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare, she has dedicated her career to advancing pharmacy practice and improving patient care in Canada.

Internal trade improving on paper, but not yet in practice: CFIB (Video)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Report card shows improved grades across Canada, but most small businesses say it's no easier to operate across provincial borders

Daily Synopsis: Jul 16, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Metro selling baking facility, Dollarama recalls spices, two employees from Ottawa store mourned as they die in a week, uncertain future for businesses at 55 ByWard Market Square in Ottawa, Save-On-Foods opens in Lillooet, and other news.

VIDEO: Nixit expands retail footprint as Canadian period care brand targets North American growth

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Initially launched as an online-only business, customer demand led the company into retail, beginning with natural food and wellness chains before expanding this year into nearly 400 Loblaw stores across Canada.

Retail Insider “Discount, Value & Off-Price Retail Report”: Value Retail Becomes a Defining Force in Canadian Retail

News Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider's latest report examines how discount, value and off-price retailers are reshaping Canadian consumer behaviour, retail real estate and competitive strategy as value shopping becomes a mainstream force influencing retailers, landlords and investors alike.

Splitsville Bowl to Open at CF Sherway Gardens in Former Nordstrom Space

News Craig Patterson -
Splitsville Bowl will open a 34,000-square-foot flagship at CF Sherway Gardens in 2027, marking a major redevelopment of part of the former Nordstrom store as Cadillac Fairview reshapes the shopping centre's anchor lineup.

VIDEO: Foxy Box targets 150 locations as Canadian hair removal franchise prepares for next growth phase

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The company began franchising about six years ago and now operates 24 locations, with its 25th opening next month.

Chrome Hearts Buys Yorkville Building for First Canadian Store

News Craig Patterson -
Chrome Hearts has acquired the former Webster building in Toronto's Yorkville neighbourhood, paving the way for the luxury brand's first standalone Canadian store.

Lululemon Opens Massive Automated Distribution Centre in Brampton

News Lee Rivett -
Lululemon’s new one-million-square-foot Brampton distribution centre will support e-commerce fulfillment across Eastern Canada and the eastern U.S.

CFIB projects private investment to weaken, even as GDP expected to grow in Q2-Q3

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canada's GDP is expected to grow by 2.7% and 1.6% in Q2 and Q3, respectively.

RioCan Sells 50% Share in FourFifty The Well to Woodbourne Capital for $155 Million

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Lee Rivett -
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust has divested its 50% stake in FourFifty The Well in Toronto to Woodbourne Capital for $155 million. This marks a strategic move as RioCan focuses on its core retail operations while Woodbourne gains full ownership of the rental tower.

Why CHFA NOW Toronto Matters for Retailers Navigating the Future of Wellness

News Craig Patterson -
CHFA NOW Toronto 2026 brings together retailers, suppliers and emerging brands to help businesses discover the products and trends shaping the future of wellness retail in Canada.

Daily Synopsis: Jul 15, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Jones Soda expands retail, Miss Vicki's returns, no plans for Carlingwood Mall redevelopment sayw owner, Red Apple renovates more stores, London Drugs cuts jobs, and other news.

Quebec Removes QST from Select Foods and Household Essentials

News Lee Rivett -
Quebec has removed QST from selected foods, toilet paper and facial tissues, requiring retailers to update product classifications and checkout systems.

Retail Insider “Real Estate & Leasing Report”: Scarcity and Curation Reshape Canadian Retail

News Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider's latest Real Estate & Leasing Report examines how limited retail space, selective investment, and redevelopment strategies are reshaping Canada's commercial property market, with growing performance gaps between prime retail assets and secondary centres.

Maxi Plans 13,000-Square-Foot Store at Montreal’s Former Forum

News Evan Nagy -
Maxi will open a 13,000-square-foot grocery store at Montreal’s former Forum in 2027, extending Loblaw’s compact urban discount strategy.

B.C.-Built Lemonade Lab Brings Tap Payments to Kid-Run Businesses

News Evan Nagy -
B.C.-built Lemonade Lab gives young entrepreneurs access to tap payments, digital storefronts and business lessons under parental supervision.

How B.C.’s House of Q Built a North American BBQ Brand Through Specialty Retail

News Craig Patterson -
From competition pits to hundreds of retail shelves, B.C.-based House of Q is building a North American BBQ brand through specialty retail and award-winning products.

Toronto-Based Rawcology launches GUT TO GO probiotic snack bites, expands retail distribution across Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The launch marks the company's latest product expansion as it responds to growing consumer interest in convenient foods with added nutritional benefits.

June spending holds steady as Canadians balance essentials and experiences: RBC

News Mario Toneguzzi -
“The breadth of spending increases across categories points to households maintaining a cautiously optimistic view heading into the summer even as they remain selective about bigger-ticket discretionary purchases.”

Retailers risk losing sales as more shoppers expect tap-to-pay, Oobit survey finds

News Mario Toneguzzi -
44% say a no-tap business feels outdated, a perception problem that compounds the lost sales.

Why consumer behaviour is becoming harder to predict in the AI shopping era

News Mario Toneguzzi -
"The whole game is moving from understanding audiences to understanding intent. The brands that make that jump win.”

Why smart retail brands are investing more in in-store experiences despite e-commerce growth

News Mario Toneguzzi -
80% of consumers say in-person events are the most trusted way to discover new products — and 85% are more likely to make a purchase after engaging with a brand in person. 

Daily Synopsis: July 14, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Fake fashion stores mislead Canadian consumers online, how malls have sifted with society, Steve's Music auctioning remaining gear, Healthy Planet opening store, Frenchy's thrift store gets own musical, and other news.

Retail Insider “Luxury Report”: Control, Concentration and the Rise of Canada’s Premier Retail Nodes

News Lee Rivett -
Canada's luxury retail market is becoming increasingly concentrated around a select group of premier destinations as brands prioritize flagship stores, direct customer relationships and experience-led retail. Retail Insider's latest report examines the forces reshaping luxury investment, real estate and competition.

Bakebe Finds Early Success at CF Markville as Experiential Retail Continues to Grow

News Craig Patterson -
Bakebe has opened its first Canadian location at CF Markville, bringing its app-guided baking concept to Canada as experiential retail continues to grow.

Canadian Retailers Face New Discovery Challenge as Shoppers Turn to AI

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian retailers face a new challenge as shoppers turn to AI for product discovery, with Retail Rewired’s Chris Parsons urging stronger content, reviews and product data.

Canadian Retail Employment Rebounds but Remains Down Nearly 72,000 Jobs

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian wholesale and retail employment rose in June but remains down nearly 72,000 jobs, with Suzanne Sears warning of staffing and service pressures.

Aritzia, Group Dynamite outperform retail sector by targeting affluent shoppers: analyst

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Winder said both companies have posted results that far exceed typical retail growth, with strong double-digit sales increases and improved profit margins at a time when many retailers are contending with cautious consumer spending.

Canadians entering pay periods with much of income already committed: MNP survey

News Mario Toneguzzi -
61 per cent of Canadians say at least half of their income is already allocated before they receive it.

Restaurant industry leads Canada in youth job growth through first half of 2026

News Mario Toneguzzi -
While most other industries have been cutting youth jobs, the restaurant industry employed an average of 52,770 more youth during the first half of 2026 than during the same period in 2025.

Jersey Mike’s opening first Manitoba restaurant as Redberry expands Canadian footprint

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The opening also launches a five-day fundraising campaign in support of Make-A-Wish Canada, part of a broader commitment announced in May to raise $1 million for the charity by 2030.

Rising costs and supply chain volatility put consumer goods brands under growing pressure: DOSS

News Mario Toneguzzi -
36% made major business decisions using outdated or incorrect data.

Daily Synopsis: Jul 13, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Aritzia seeing success, 4th generation takes over Prince Albert clothing store, Peter Nygard pleads guilty on sexual assault charges, and other news.

Retail Insider “Consumer Behavior & Retail Economy Report”: Canada’s Market Grows Increasingly Divided

News Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider's latest Consumer Behavior and Retail Economy Report examines how affordability pressures, selective spending, retail real estate polarization, and widening differences between value and premium segments are reshaping Canada's retail landscape and influencing strategic decisions across the industry.

Mondetta Returns to Physical Retail at Holt Renfrew as National Expansion Takes Shape

News Craig Patterson -
Mondetta has returned to physical retail with a Holt Renfrew pop-up in Toronto as the Canadian brand plans permanent stores and a national expansion.

New Retail-Theft Sentencing Rules Take Effect in Canada July 15

News Lee Rivett -
New federal retail-theft sentencing reforms take effect July 15, adding an aggravating factor for theft intended for resale, barter or fraudulent return.

Canadian Shoppers Choose by Mission, Not Channel, New Research Finds

News Craig Patterson -
A recent study from the Retail Council of Canada reveals how Canadian consumers navigate affordability through competitive shopping strategies, using both online and in-store resources to find the best deals.

CHFA launches Greenhouse program to support emerging Canadian wellness brands

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Greenhouse will make its debut at CHFA NOW in Toronto on Sept. 26 and 27, giving participating companies a presence on the trade show floor at an event focused on the natural, organic and wellness products sector.

Kicking Horse Coffee launches Cool Mule cold brew blend as Canadian brand targets new growth

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Cold coffee is one of the fastest-growing segments in Canadian coffee.

Supernatural launches immersive wellness studio focused on sound and sensory experiences

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The company said the studio is built around six programming pillars: Energy, Sound, Breath, Body, Move and Mind.

Little Bellies expands nationwide at Walmart Canada with new organic baby and toddler snacks

News Mario Toneguzzi -
All products are made with carefully selected organic ingredients and contain no artificial colours, flavours, or additives.

Bank of Canada holds interest rates steady as Canadian economy shows stronger-than-expected resilience

News Mario Toneguzzi -
“Economic growth has exceeded expectations, employment has rebounded and the economy has proven more resilient than many anticipated.”

Daily Synopsis: July 10, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Beef price fixing scandal investigated, Vancouver's Kerrisdale thrives while nearby areas struggle, retailers leave downtown Edmonton as office workers return, Honest Ed's signage returns to Mirvish Village, Canada's first Toys R Us shutting down, and other news.
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