SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Transit DOOH advertising surges in Canada as commuters return to public transit: Vistar Media Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Transit DOOH stands out because of the quality of attention it delivers.

64% of wealthy Canadians say they’ve switched to cheaper products in the past year: Omnisend

News Mario Toneguzzi -
43% say they have substituted name brands with store brands, compared with 38% of all consumers. 

Small business optimism climbs above historical norms for the first time since 2022: CFIB

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Confidence levels among almost all provinces hovered just above or around their historical averages, while most sectors saw gains in their 12-month outlook.

Leon’s reports annual sales in 2025 of close to $3.1 billion

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Same store sales increased 3%

Eggslut to Enter Canada with Toronto, Vancouver Sites

News Craig Patterson -
Chef-driven breakfast concept Eggslut will open its first Canadian locations in Toronto and Vancouver starting in spring 2026.

Daily Synopsis: Feb 25, 2026 – Retail Expansion and Innovation

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Empire expands discount banners in Western Canada, Loblaw pivots to discount brands, former Vancouver London Drugs could become police academy, former Hudson's Bay store sees FIFA decorations, and other news.

Jimmy John’s Opens First Saskatoon Location

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Craig Patterson -
Jimmy John’s opens its first Saskatoon location, advancing the brand’s national Canadian expansion strategy.

Sales at restaurants and bars sector decline in December, but annual sales surpass $100 billion in 2025: Statistics Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
In December 2025, the largest decrease in dollar terms came from lower sales at full-service restaurants (-0.4%), followed by limited-service eating places (-0.3%).

VIDEO: Grocery Shift: Discount expansion, rising food inflation, trade uncertainty reshape market

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canada’s grocery store density is declining. The country now has about 19 to 20 stores per 100,000 people, down from more than 22 per 100,000 in 2020.

Loblaw retail revenue surpasses $16 billion in 2025

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Loblaw continued to invest in its future growth by opening 77 new stores across its banners in 2025.

Amazon Launches AI-Powered Creative Agent in Canada

News Craig Patterson -
Amazon launches AI-powered Creative Agent in Canada, enabling advertisers to create professional-quality ads at no additional cost.

Veg ER for Pets opens Etobicoke emergency hospital as part of North American expansion

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The new site reflects the company’s focus on accessibility, visibility and an open-concept model designed to differentiate it within the veterinary emergency market.

Pilgrim grows retail presence with store opening in CF Masonville Place, London

News Mario Toneguzzi -
This milestone coincides with the brand’s 10-year journey in the Canadian market and marks the opening of Pilgrim’s 10th boutique nationwide.

Montreal Eaton Centre Opens Les Terrasses Food Court

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Lee Rivett -
Montreal Eaton Centre unveils Les Terrasses, a new 12-vendor food court in downtown Montréal.

Canada Grocery Store Density Declines Despite Expansion

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Major grocers are opening discount stores across Canada, yet supermarket density per capita continues to fall, raising market questions.

How advertisers must adapt to the age of split attention: Roku 

News Mario Toneguzzi -
For retailers, the opening moments of an ad need to work like a storefront window.

Daily Synopsis: Feb 24, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Grocery giant investing in discount, Bobby Flay's Burgers coming to Toronto, CF expanding investment portfolio, Taiwanese tea shop closes half of Vancouver locations, T&T Supermarkets innovates, and other news.

Chef and entrepreneur launch Canadian chocolate maker to challenge foreign suppliers

News Mario Toneguzzi -
As We Do has launched a Kickstarter campaign with a funding goal of $100,000.

Foodtastic adds Central Social Hall to its portfolio, strengthening its presence in casual dining

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The move supports the company’s strategy of adding strong Canadian brands to its portfolio of banners and expanding into dining concepts that cater to both everyday occasions and social gatherings.

Home Depot sees fiscal 2025 sales surpassing $164 billion US

Retailer Data Mario Toneguzzi -
Net earnings for fiscal 2025 were $14.2 billion, or $14.23 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $14.8 billion, or $14.91 per diluted share in fiscal 2024.

87% of Canadians feel financially trapped by rising living costs: Harris & Partners

News Mario Toneguzzi -
85% report their overall monthly expenses have increased in the past 12 months

Partnerships key to unlocking value in payments space: KPMG International

News Mario Toneguzzi -
54% of retailers believe that payment modernization is crucial to the future of their business, including delivering major efficiency and operational gains.

Cautious holiday spending softens typical January credit card delinquency spike: Equifax Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Total consumer debt climbed to $2.65 trillion in Q4 2025, a 3.13 per cent increase year-over-year, driven by a $50.26 billion rise in mortgage balances and a 4.50 per cent jump year-over-year in non-mortgage debt.

Quebec Retail Hours Pilot Expands Weekend Shopping

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Lee Rivett -
Quebec launches a retail hours pilot ending 5 PM weekend closings to help stores compete with e-commerce giants.

Daily Synopsis: Feb 23, 2026 – Canadian Retail Growth and AI

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Sukoshi Mart looks to further US expansion, recession called, updated renderings for Vancouver's flagship Aritzia, dozens arrested for retail theft at Metrotown, and other news.

Valentine’s Day Spending in Canada Jumps 48%: Moneris

News Craig Patterson -
Moneris data shows Valentine’s Day spending rose 48% week-over-week, with florists, restaurants and grocery leading gains.

Loblaw to invest $2.4 billion with plans to build 70 new stores

News Mario Toneguzzi -
This is the second investment in the company’s 5-year plan to spend $10 billion by 2030

From The Desk: Retail Expansion and Innovation Signal Resilience

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian retail shows resilience with expanding malls, AI integration, and strategic bankruptcies amid shifting consumer and market dynamics.

AI Adoption Accelerates Across Canadian Retail

News Lee Rivett -
Major retailers in Canada accelerate AI adoption, shifting from pilots to enterprise execution in agentic commerce and operations.

IKEA Canada launches new YouTube Series “IKEA Kitchen Showroom Showdown” (Video)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
IKEA said the retailer’s belief is simple: everyone deserves a kitchen they love, regardless of budget.

Amazon expands Same-Day Delivery options across more Canadian cities

News Mario Toneguzzi -
This expansion comes as Amazon hit its fastest speeds ever for Prime members in Canada last year–with more than 450 million items arriving the same or next day.

Waterworks Food Hall launches new $15 lunch program at select restaurants

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Food Hall, at 50 Brant Street, is home to more than 15 restaurant concepts, three bars, and two outdoor patios, including a secret courtyard garden.

CHFA NOW Vancouver announces 5 trends leading wellness aisles across Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The CHFA is Canada's largest trade association dedicated to natural, organic and wellness products. 

Reitmans announces Board leadership transition

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The company operates 388 stores under three distinct banners consisting of 218 Reitmans, 85 PENN., and 85 RW&CO.

Daily Synopsis: Feb 19, 2026 – Retail Shifts

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Loblaw's Superstore fined over misleading 'product of Canada' display, Sona Cosmetics launches at Ardene, Chinese tours returning to BC, Calgary Co-op to open redeveloped North Hill location, Understory opens queen third place in Toronto, and other news.

U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs a welcome development for Canadian businesses, but President announces more tariffs

News Mario Toneguzzi -
But many questions remain on future impact of the ruling.

Clementine’s Moving to The James in Rosedale

News Craig Patterson -
Toronto's Clementine’s will move its boutique to The James in Rosedale/Summerhill while planning a new concept for its current Yonge Street space.

Loblaw Expands AI Commerce With Google Gemini

News Craig Patterson -
Loblaw expands AI commerce through Google Gemini, following its ChatGPT integration and broader AI-native retail strategy.

Vancouver dessert brand plans expansion through franchising

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Praguery’s operational model leverages small, efficient retail spaces to maximize profitability.

Retail sales decrease in December: Statistics Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
But retail sales were up 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a seventh consecutive quarterly increase.

Activity picking up at Calgary CF Market Mall and CF Chinook Centre

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Demand for space at both shopping centres has strengthened to start the year, with multiple retailers under construction, major brands returning or expanding.

CFIB survey: Tax burden tops small business concerns in Canada as retailers cite costs, regulation and crime

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Overall for all sectors, the CFIB said the total tax burden has been the top concern for over 25 years.

PI Fine Art celebrates 50 years with direct-to-consumer online store

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Working with both in-house and external artists, PI Fine Art holds publishing rights to more than 27,000 images.

Canada auto sales hit 6-year high in 2025, but tariffs to drive decline in 2026: TD report

News Mario Toneguzzi -
4.3% decline in sales expected this year.

Government of Canada invests in pathways to success for Black-led businesses in Alberta 

News Mario Toneguzzi -
$3 million in federal funding through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund

Daily Synopsis: Feb 19, 2026 – Reitmans, Walmart, Restaurant Woes

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Inside the unravelling of Putman's Toys R Us revival, Japanese-style egg sandwiches coming to 7-Eleven Canada, Toronto facade grant returns, FreshCo replacing Winnipeg Sobeys, analyzing Yorkdale's shift post-Les Ailes, and other news.

Ontario Court Recognizes Eddie Bauer Bankruptcy

News Craig Patterson -
Ontario court recognizes U.S. Chapter 11 for Eddie Bauer, integrating Canadian stores into cross-border restructuring.

Aritzia Acquires Fred Segal Brand and Melrose Lease

News Craig Patterson -
Aritzia acquires Fred Segal and secures 8100 Melrose, aiming to revive the LA icon as part of its U.S. expansion strategy.

Reitmans transforms Toronto’s TTC Lower Bay Station into fashion showcase (Photos)

Retailer News Mario Toneguzzi -
"As we mark 100 years, it was about setting the tone for the next century. "

Walmart Canada Expands Beauty After Hudson’s Bay Exit

News Lee Rivett -
Walmart Canada expands its beauty assortment with new masstige, tech, and Gen Z brands following Hudson’s Bay’s exit from the market.
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