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SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Canadian Retailers Bet Early on Outdoor Living in 2026

News Briefs (Bulletin/Quick Reads) Lee Rivett -
Canadian retailers are prioritizing outdoor living early in 2026, signalling confidence in discretionary spending despite economic uncertainty.

Why a Ceasefire Won’t Lower Grocery Prices in Canada

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Oil volatility, not falling prices, is driving sustained food inflation across Canada, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

Peavey Mart Relaunches with Prairie Store Strategy

News Lee Rivett -
Peavey Mart relaunches with seven prairie stores and a focused regional strategy following its 2025 collapse and restructuring.

Downtown Vancouver Retail Stabilizes, but Growth Stalls

News Craig Patterson -
Downtown Vancouver retail shows signs of stability, but growth remains uneven as local demand rises and consumer behaviour shifts.

GWLRA redefines Toronto’s back-to-office experience with Berczy Square (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The new lobby is a part of GWLRA’s two-year renovation and rebranding to transform the property at 33 Yonge into a social hub and destination.

Operating a retail business from a barge in the Netherlands

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Lifelong sailors and retired brand builders Sian Roberts and Kevin Dunal offer a compelling second-act founder story. 

Daily Synopsis: Apr 7, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Skip partners with Loblaw, Amazon introduces logistics surcharge for third-party sellers, Sona Cosmetics targets GenZ, counterfeit currency concerns retailers, Handmade Saskatchewan evicted from Saskatoon's Midtown Plaza as competitor moves in, discount grocers expand in Nova Scotia, Zombie filming in Vancouver HBC flagship, and other news.

Wholesale Resurgence Reshapes Retail Growth Strategy

News Craig Patterson -
Wholesale is emerging as retail’s top growth engine, as brands prioritize margins and rethink DTC strategies, according to new Lightspeed data.

Clutch Opens Ottawa Customer Hub at Bayshore

News Craig Patterson -
Clutch opens a Customer Hub at Bayshore Shopping Centre, expanding its physical footprint and enhancing its online car retail model in Ottawa.

PÜR Gum Founder Jay Klein on Growth and Dragons’ Den

News Craig Patterson -
PÜR Gum founder Jay Klein discusses growth, retail strategy, and his return to Dragons’ Den after building a global CPG brand.

As Grocery Theft Rises, Surveillance Tactics Draw Scrutiny in Canada

News Retail Insider -
As grocery theft rises, surveillance tactics in Canada face growing scrutiny over privacy, rising costs, and deepening food insecurity.

T. LINE continues to expand retail presence through strategic partnerships

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Founded in 2022, T. LINE is a contemporary womenswear brand built on the iconic staying power of shirt dressing.

Sleep Country raises awareness of ‘sleep shaming’

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Sleep Country reinforced a simple message: there’s no shame in prioritizing your sleep and, by extension, your health and day-to-day performance.

Daily Synopsis: Apr 6, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Toronto retail leasing update, Toys R Us Canada moves to protect trademarks, fuel surcharges to hit consumers, The Body Shop Canada marks 50 years, vinyl record sales up 240% in Canada over 2019, and other news.

Restaurants Canada calls on provinces to urgently opt-in to temporary TFW cap increase for rural regions

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Temporary Foreign Workers represent just 3% of the foodservice workforce and are a last resort for employers, filling critical gaps in communities with aging populations, shrinking workforces and declining youth participation rates.

Food and Experiential Retail Drive Toronto Leasing

News Craig Patterson -
Food, fitness, and experiential concepts are driving retail leasing activity across Toronto’s urban corridors.

Food Fraud Is Becoming a Business Model in Canada

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Food fraud in Canada is rising as economic pressures grow, exposing gaps in oversight and raising serious questions about trust in the food system, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

RCCSTORE26: Where the Industry’s Biggest Conversations Happen

News Retail Insider -
Canada's retail community comes together at RCC’s STORE Conference, and this year’s event reflects the full weight of the moment facing the industry.

Soft Start to 2026 Masks Resilient Consumer Spending in Canada

News J.C. Williams Group -
Canada’s retail sector shows a soft start to 2026, but resilient consumer spending and strong discretionary demand signal underlying strength.

New headquarters for Calgary developer Truman includes well-known brands

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Offering a downtown experience in West District.

Fake product reviews surging in AI era: Omnisend

News Mario Toneguzzi -
30% of online reviews on average are fake or misleading, and 82% of consumers encounter fake reviews at least once a year.

Olympics offer key advertising lessons for brands ahead of the 2026 World Cup, says Vistar Media Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
During moments of mass attention when digital feeds are saturated, out-of-home becomes the unavoidable shared media layer.

Walmart Canada launches Scintilla Digital Landscapes to deliver deeper e-commerce shopper insights

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Walmart Data Ventures continues to scale its Scintilla platform — delivering innovative, market-relevant solutions that help suppliers grow alongside Walmart Canada while improving the shopping experience for customers at every touchpoint.

Daily Synopsis: Apr 2, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Nations takes HBC space in Oakville, Walmart closing 2 Montreal stores amid concern, more violent Pokemon card store thefts, fake maple syrup sold in Quebec contains sugar cane, fruit and vegetable shortage in Quebec amid Metro strike, Ferrero Rocher opening Toronto pop-up, and other news.

Nations Experience Takes Possession at Oakville Place

News Craig Patterson -
Nations Experience takes possession of former Hudson’s Bay at Oakville Place as construction nears on its new food and entertainment concept.

Calgary entrepreneur opens 2nd FS8 Fitness Studio in under a year   

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Launched in 2021, FS8 is a next-generation fitness concept that fuses Pilates, Yoga and strength training into a full-body, low-impact workout.

Calgary-based Foothills Creamery introduces high-protein ice cream

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Foothills Creamery supplies over 80 flavours of ice cream, sorbet, sherbet, and soft serve to over 1,000 independent ice cream shops across Western Canada.

Garage U.K. Debut Signals Global Growth for Groupe Dynamite

News Craig Patterson -
Garage’s U.K. debut drew strong demand, signaling global growth potential for Groupe Dynamite, according to Stifel.

Beer Canada raises concerns as the federal government proceeds with another tax increase on beer

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canadian consumers already pay some of the highest beer taxes in the world.

Why Toronto’s 4-Store public grocery test will not work: Bruce Winder

News Bruce Winder -
After the 3 major grocers pay all of their bills, they make $ 4 of profit on every $ 100 they sell.

Rocky focuses on future growth in Ontario as retailer grounds itself with connection to nature (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
There are 14 stores - 10 in Alberta (the Bow Valley, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge, and Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and two in the Greater Toronto Area.

Nando’s returns to Kerrisdale neighbourhood in Vancouver after devastating fire had closed the longstanding restaurant (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The new restaurant features updated interiors and a refreshed design that reflects a new direction for the brand.

Daily Synopsis: Apr 1, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Groupe Dynamite growth, Toys R Us gets court permission to sell, Brunello Cucinelli expanding, luxury handbag rental firm Zero Collective expands to Ottawa, Bloor Street rents up, and other news.

Brunello Cucinelli Expanding Vancouver Flagship

News Craig Patterson -
Brunello Cucinelli will expand its Vancouver flagship, annexing adjacent space as luxury retail shifts on Thurlow Street.

Study: 20 International Retailers Entered Canada in 2025, Led by Toronto

News Craig Patterson -
20 international retailers entered Canada in 2025, with Toronto capturing the majority of openings and strong momentum heading into 2026.

VIDEO: Healthy Earth, Healthy Body

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Canadians are increasingly seeking products that support both their well-being and environmentally responsible practices.

M&M Food Market launches Homemade-ish campaign with comedian and busy mom Jessi Cruickshank(Video)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
91% of Canadians feel stress balancing cooking homemade meals with other responsibilities (with 65% experiencing moderate to extreme stress)

Bloor Street Rents Surge as Availability Remains Elevated

News Craig Patterson -
Bloor Street rents exceed $246 PSF, but elevated availability highlights challenges in Toronto’s luxury retail market.

Groupe Dynamite delivers record Fiscal 2025 results, revenue surpasses $1.3 billion

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Revenue increased by 36.7% to $1,310.2 million in Fiscal 2025, compared to $958.5 million in Fiscal 2024.

Jimmy John’s coming to Edmonton

News Mario Toneguzzi -
“This marks our very first Jimmy John’s location, and it’s just the beginning. We have ambitious plans to expand with 12–13 additional locations across Edmonton and its surrounding suburbs."

Government Grocery Stores Won’t Fix Food Affordability in Canada

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois explains why government grocery stores won’t work in Canada and what can actually improve food affordability.

IKEA Canada to open newest Plan and order point in Kelowna

News Mario Toneguzzi -
IKEA Canada operates 11 Plan and order point locations in BC, Ontario, and Quebec.

Farm Boy Opens Store in Collingwood

News Lee Rivett -
Farm Boy opens its 52nd Ontario store in Collingwood, expanding its fresh-market concept with local products and community-focused design.

DoorDash Canada awards $300K in #BlackFoodEnergy grants to 30 black-owned restaurants nationwide

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Each recipient will receive over $10,000 in funding, along with a one-year Restaurants Canada membership – providing access to industry-leading research and insights, advocacy on key policy issues, and a national network of operators and partners to help support long-term business growth

Retail Leaders Panel at Rotman Set for April 15

News Retail Insider -
Retail Insider and Rotman host a retail strategy panel on April 15 featuring Canadian industry leaders and insights on the sector’s future.

Daily Synopsis: Mar 31, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Independent grocers warn of effect of high gas prices, Metro workers in Quebec strike, indie bookstores unite, man sets fire to downtown Eastside grocery store in Vancouver following London Drugs closure in the same Woodward's complex, and other news.

Pandora opens new distribution centre in Mississauga to cut down on Canadian delivery times

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The shift also reduces Pandora’s exposure to US tariffs, as online jewellery orders destined for the Canadian market no longer need to pass through US customs.

Leyad acquires grocery portfolio spanning six provinces and Yukon

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The transaction reflects sustained institutional demand for grocery-anchored real estate supported by strong credit tenants.

Haven Greens growing fast: Ontario greenhouse adds Costco product and plans major expansion

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Since its first harvest last March, Haven Greens has become the #1 indoor lettuce grower in Ontario, producing approximately two million pounds of lettuce for Canadians over the past 12 months within its five-acre facility located in King City.

SAIL Leadership Buyout Signals New Growth Phase

News Craig Patterson -
SAIL leadership buyout by three executives signals growth, expansion plans, and female-led succession in Canadian retail.
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