SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Premier Protein Expands Canadian Retail Assortment as Protein Demand Grows

News Craig Patterson -
Premier Protein is expanding its Canadian retail assortment across Costco, Walmart, Amazon and grocery as parent BellRing Brands pursues wider distribution.

What happens when viral TikTok trends move faster than retail inventory?

News Mario Toneguzzi -
AI can help brands spot these shifts earlier and make faster calls on replenishment while there's still time to act.

How SMBs can deliver like large retailers this holiday season: UniUni (Opinion)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The holiday season can make or break a small or medium-sized e-commerce business.

Daily Synopsis: September 11, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Weight loss drugs boost grocer pharmacy, skyrocketing diesel could impact groceries, Costco opening more Canadian stores, Alberta Safeway employees vote to strike, downtown Edmonton sees retail vacancies, and other news.

Groupe Dynamite Shifts Growth to Higher-Productivity Stores as Garage Expands Globally

News Lee Rivett -
Groupe Dynamite is reshaping Garage around an older customer, higher-productivity stores and global expansion while optimizing its Canadian network.

Empire Rejecting Tariff-Related Supplier Price Hikes as Trade Tensions Escalate

News Lee Rivett -
Empire says it is rejecting tariff-related supplier price increases for now, citing sourcing alternatives as Canada-U.S. trade tensions escalate.

From The Desk: Navigating Retail Expansion Amid Economic Pressure and Innovation

News Craig Patterson -
This week in Canadian retail: strategic expansion, shifting consumer behaviour, innovation, tariffs and operational discipline shape the market.

What Apple’s New iPhone Strategy Means for Canadian Retailers and Carriers

News Lee Rivett -
Apple’s iPhone Duo, higher Pro pricing and new launch calendar could reshape how Canadian retailers, carriers and consumers buy and sell Apple hardware.

Fraud Is Costing Canadian Merchants More Than They May Realize

News Craig Patterson -
The financial impact of fraud extends well beyond a lost transaction. Konek can help Canadian retailers build trust into the payment experience from the start.

Nearly 400 consumer insolvencies filed every day in Canada: Harris & Partners

News Mario Toneguzzi -
New federal figures show consumer insolvencies increased by 2.2%, while separate research found more than one-third of respondents had skipped essentials because of financial pressure.

Retailers rethink pricing strategies as tariffs hit nearly 900 product categories: Global-e

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Continued trade tensions reinforce the importance of diversification across international markets.

Canadian Retail Properties Perform Well in the First Half of 2026: CBRE

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Suburban fundamentals excelled in key retail formats, especially grocery-anchored centres, supported by population growth in select cities and consistent tenant demand, according to CBRE’s new survey

Winnipeg-based Activate to open first Australian location in Melbourne in early 2027

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Activate Melbourne (Highpoint) will be located next to HOYTS Cinema in Maribyrnong, Victoria, marking the company's entry into the Australian market and the first of several planned openings across the country.

INDOCHINO launches Fall/Winter 2026 campaign focused on made-to-measure tailoring

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Called Hold the Room, the campaign follows four friends over a weekend, using three settings — an afternoon arrival, an evening lounge and a formal dinner — to showcase the company's tailoring and fabrics.

Daily Synopsis: Sep 10, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Dynamite reports numbers, Harry Rosen shutting Bloor flagship Sept 12 with relocation a week later, Empire reports quarter, consumers use AI ahead of holidays, Jersey Mike's targets 300 Canadian locations, and other news.

Protect Your Business Before Peak Shipping Season

Highlighted (Top Right of Main Page) Retail Insider -
Join Retail Insider and UPS Capital Canada on September 30 at Noon ET for a free webinar on peak-season shipping risks, and protecting profits.

Mercedes-Benz Refreshes Holt Renfrew Studio With Paul & Shark and New S-Class

News Craig Patterson -
Mercedes-Benz has refreshed its Holt Renfrew Studio in Toronto with a new Paul & Shark residency, the Canadian debut of the 2027 S-Class, and an immersive 140 Years of Innovation experience.

Trade war puts over 50,000 Canadian small businesses at risk: CFIB

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The CFIB is calling for immediate tax relief for small businesses through a Small Business Corporate Tax Rate cut.

Nearly 4 in 10 Canadian Shoppers Are Using AI for Shopping: Salesforce

News Craig Patterson -
Salesforce says 39% of Canadian shoppers have used AI for shopping as product discovery, retail marketing and e-commerce begin to change.

Retail Accessibility Can Shape Sales and Customer Loyalty, Says Pamela Shainhouse

News Craig Patterson -
Pamela Shainhouse explains why accessibility in store design, staff training and ecommerce should be part of the customer experience for Canadian retailers.

Canada’s retail vacancy rate expected to remain elevated as market absorbs Hudson’s Bay closures

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Hudson's Bay closures had a significant impact on Canada's retail market in 2025, with vacancy at shopping malls rising from three per cent to eight per cent in the second quarter of that year.

How Canadian consumers can soften the blow of tariffs: NerdWallet

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canada’s latest batch of counter-tariffs affect a wide range of consumer goods, including beauty supplies, milk products, clothes, home appliances and exercise equipment. 

Groupe Dynamite sees revenue increase by 29.8% to $423.6 million in Q2

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Net earnings for Q2 2026 increased by $49.5 million or 77.5% compared to Q2 2025.

Harry Rosen’s Bloor Street Flagship Enters Final Days After Nearly 40 Years

News Craig Patterson -
Harry Rosen’s landmark 82 Bloor Street West flagship closes September 12 after nearly 40 years, ahead of its move to a new Yorkville store.

Empire Company sees Q1 net earnings reach $233 million, a 9.9% y/y increase

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The first quarter had sales of $8.475 billion, an increase of 2.6%; same-store sales growth; food increased by 1.2%; and operating income increased by 7.6%.

Giant Tiger marks five years with Indspire partnership, raises $1.8M for Indigenous education

News Mario Toneguzzi -
100 per cent of profits from sales of this year's shirt will be donated to Indspire to support the new Giant Tiger Learning from the Past Bursary.

Instacart launches AI grocery assistant Clementine in Canada, U.S.

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Clementine is designed to use customers' preferences, previous shopping behaviour and real-time store inventory to help with meal planning, grocery lists, reordering and finding deals.

IKEA Canada launches 50th anniversary year with storage offers, new consumer research

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canadians spend an average of 28 minutes a day looking for misplaced items at home, equivalent to about one week a year.

Daily Synopsis: September 9, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Tariff hikes may not hit retail shelves for a while, Leyad acquires retail real estate portfolio, Walmart announces Kawartha Lakes Supercentre, Book City marks 50 Years, and other news.

H&M names Aneta Pokucinska North America managing director, Claudia Fetta Canada GM

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Retailer shuffles its North American leadership.

Canadian Consumers Keep Spending Despite Weak Economy and Trade War

News Lee Rivett -
Canadian consumers continue spending despite trade tensions and a weaker labour market, with Walmart, TJX and other retailers posting strong results.

Neo Financial chops 10% of its workforce

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The financial technology company was founded in 2019 by the co-founders of SkipTheDishes.

Toronto Pearson transforming customer experience with 30+ retail, dining openings

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Toronto Pearson has been named Best Large Airport in North America (serving more than 40 million passengers) seven times in the last eight years by Airports Council International, the global trade representative of the world's airports.

Brunello Cucinelli to Open at Fairmont Château Whistler as Oxford Elevates Luxury Retail Mix

News Craig Patterson -
Brunello Cucinelli will open at Fairmont Château Whistler as Oxford Properties elevates the resort’s retail concourse with additional luxury brands expected.

Dog Menus Could Boost Restaurant Visits and Spending, TMU Study Finds

News Evan Nagy -
Toronto Metropolitan University research finds dog-specific restaurant menu items can increase visit intent, word-of-mouth and customer spending

IKEA Canada to open first compact store in London, Ont. on Sept. 29

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The London store will feature room sets and home furnishing solutions, as well as about 400 furniture items available for immediate purchase and takeaway from its self-serve warehouse.

Miniso Expands MINISO LAND in Canada as Retailer Shifts to ‘Quality First’ Growth

News Craig Patterson -
Miniso is opening its second Canadian MINISO LAND at CF Toronto Eaton Centre as the retailer shifts its global expansion strategy toward larger, more productive stores.

Daily Synopsis: Sep 8, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Canadian retail highlights include MEC's trail running expansion and challenges from U.S. tariffs impacting margins and staffing strategies.

MEC Deepens Investment in Trail Running as Category Gains Momentum

News Craig Patterson -
MEC is expanding its trail running business with a broader product assortment, Canadian brands, staff expertise and new community programming across Canada.

VIDEO: Retailers face margin pressure, uncertainty as Canada’s U.S. counter-tariffs take effect

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Retailers should examine their supply chains, seek Canadian suppliers and consider sourcing from other countries to reduce risk.

Casavogue Launches “We Pay Both Taxes” Furniture Promotion

News Retail Insider -
Casavogue’s “We Pay Both Taxes” promotion offers savings on qualifying furniture purchases as Montréal shoppers prepare their homes for fall.

Canadian Retailers Keep Expanding as Staffing Gets Leaner

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian retailers continue opening stores as employment data weaken. Suzanne Sears explains leaner staffing, part-time hiring, wages and changing retail jobs.

Canada’s New Counter-Tariffs to Impact Food Sector Supply Chains

News Sylvain Charlebois -
As counter-tariffs come into effect on September 8, Canadian food processors and retailers brace for economic impacts. This article explores how these tariffs could lead to shrinkflation and affect consumer prices in the near future.

Läderach expands North American presence with second location in British Columbia

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Läderach has opened a store at CF Pacific Centre in Vancouver, which follows a string of successful launches across North America, including the recent openings in Connecticut at Westfarms and in Utah at City Creek Mall.

WINNERS teams up with Craig’s Cookies for nationwide in-store campaign

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The campaign, called AcceptCookies.IRL, will launch in stores in Calgary, Windsor, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.

Alberta launches tariff portal for businesses

News Mario Toneguzzi -
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

News Mario Toneguzzi -
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

News Mario Toneguzzi -
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

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
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

News Craig Patterson -
This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.
123...60Page 2 of 60