SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Criterion Establishes Permanent Toronto Retail Presence After Strong TIFF Demand

News Ritchie Po -
The Criterion Collection establishes a permanent Canadian retail presence at Cinema Cellar in downtown Toronto following strong demand from its TIFF activations.

Holiday shopping starts earlier as retailers face growing mobile, AI customer-experience risks: Quantum Metric

News Mario Toneguzzi -
As retailers roll-out new app campaigns, AI-driven features and discovery tools, they’re also introducing more opportunities for friction across the digital shopping journey.

LEGO Expands Canadian Store Network with Three GTA Locations

News Craig Patterson -
The LEGO Group is increasing its Canadian store network by 25% this fall, adding three Greater Toronto Area locations in what the company describes as its largest Canadian retail expansion in more than five years.

Walmart Canada Builds Supercentre Pipeline as Retailer Targets Malls and Growing Communities

News Lee Rivett -
Walmart Canada is expanding its Supercentre pipeline through 2028, targeting former department store spaces, growing communities and grocery expansion as part of its $6.5-billion investment.

Circle K, Couche-Tard launch app-based rewards campaign tied to customer visits

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Road to Rewards promotion runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 9, and is the company's first app-integrated, visit-based campaign, according to Circle K Canada.

IKEA Canada marks 50th anniversary with new campaign focused on products’ role in everyday life

News Mario Toneguzzi -
When IKEA opened its first Canadian store in 1976, home life looked very different than it does today.

The high cost of doing business in the restaurant industry: EconoLease

News Mario Toneguzzi -
EconoLease’s 2026 Hospitality Operator Report found that restaurants’ most critical equipment breaks down the most, and many operators say they can’t afford to upgrade or replace it.

How Premium Brands Defend Pricing as Products Become Easier to Copy

News Retail Insider -
Why can some brands still charge premium prices when cheaper alternatives are everywhere? Justin Walford examines Canada Goose, Aritzia and Arc’teryx.

Nearly two-thirds of working Albertans feel less financially secure than a year ago: Money Mentors

News Mario Toneguzzi -
62 per cent of working Albertans feel less financially secure than they did a year ago, compared with 49 per cent nationally. Only 14 per cent said they are more financially secure.

Khloé Kardashian fragrance portfolio expands into Sephora in U.S. and Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The products will be sold in 1,300 Sephora U.S. and Sephora Kohl's locations, while Sephora will be the exclusive retailer for the fragrances in Canada.

Daily Synopsis: September 14, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Italian brands launch in Canada, Maple Leaf Foods brings back Yves Veggie Cuisine, Article opens Toronto store, food inflation runs higher in Canada vs. US, Empire opening stores, and other news.

Maple Leaf Foods Revives Yves Veggie Cuisine After Brand Was Discontinued

News Craig Patterson -
Maple Leaf Foods is bringing Yves Veggie Cuisine back to Canadian grocery stores after acquiring the plant-based brand following its 2025 discontinuation.

PC Health launches new “Built in Canada for Canadians” AI-powered health chat

News Mario Toneguzzi -
New research commissioned by PC Health found that 88 per cent of Canadians searched online for health information in the past year, yet nearly half (46 per cent) remain unsure whether the information they find is accurate, one-third (33 per cent) encounter conflicting advice, and more than one-quarter (26 per cent) say there is simply too much information to sort through.

Retailers report stronger-than-expected returns from modern POS systems: Aptos

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Retailers that have upgraded their systems reported improvements in store conversion rates, average transaction values and operational performance.

Intimissimi and Calzedonia Launch Canadian Expansion with First Stores at CF Sherway Gardens

News Craig Patterson -
Intimissimi and Calzedonia will open their first Canadian stores at CF Sherway Gardens, as a broader expansion gets underway.

Consumer prices rise 3% y/y in August: Statistics Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Although prices for groceries decelerated this month, prices have increased 29.0% since August 2021.

Liminal Assembly Expands LoiterFEST as Forgotten Spaces Become Social Destinations

News Craig Patterson -
Toronto-based Liminal Assembly expands LoiterFEST across multiple cities, turning forgotten malls and transitional spaces into destinations for community, nostalgia and exploration.

North West Company Sees Northern Retail Spending Rise as First Nations Settlement Payments Accelerate

News Lee Rivett -
The North West Company is seeing stronger consumer spending in Northern Canada as First Nations settlement payments reach more communities, while fuel and freight costs remain elevated.

Canadian Small Businesses Grapple With Late Payments and Rising Debt

News Craig Patterson -
Daryl Ching of Vistance Accounting says Canadian SMEs are facing cash-flow pressure from late payments, inventory, tariffs and growing debt.

Empire Raises Store-Opening Target as Canadian Grocery Expansion Intensifies

News Lee Rivett -
Empire is raising its fiscal 2027 store-opening target to more than 25 locations as Sobeys, FreshCo, IGA and other banners expand across Canada.

Article advances retail expansion with Toronto furniture store (Photos)

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The new store features curated room vignettes, an extensive swatch library, and complimentary in-person Interior Design Services.

Why Food Inflation Is Running Hotter in Canada Than the U.S.

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Canadian grocery prices have risen faster than in the U.S. Sylvain Charlebois examines tariffs, productivity, competition, processing capacity and scale.

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.

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.

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.
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