SPOTLIGHT ARTICLES

Skin Excellence Medspa offers 30% discount as it launches influencer partnership program

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The initiatives give the clinic two approaches to attracting customers: a price reduction across its service menu and a partnership program designed to generate promotional content through local creators.

Fizz expands retail presence through EB Games Canada partnership

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The agreement marks an expansion of Fizz’s in-store presence as the company continues to build its wireless business beyond its original Quebec market.

Daily Synopsis: August 19, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Fake maple syrup class action targets grocers, end of an era for Husky brand, 200k retail development coming to Calgary, Costco breaks ground on Winnipeg store, and other news.

Pandora Expands Canadian Footprint While Reshaping Jewellery Strategy

News Lee Rivett -
Pandora is expanding its Canadian business while reducing promotions, investing in stores and preparing a broader shift toward platinum-plated jewellery.

Coach Expands Store Investment as Gen Z Drives Global Growth

News Lee Rivett -
Coach is raising handbag prices, reducing promotions and investing in stores as Gen Z drives growth, with 29 locations operating across Canada.

Shopify Expands Cross-Border Ecommerce Tools for Canadian Retailers

News Craig Patterson -
Shopify is expanding Managed Markets to eligible Canadian merchants as Global-e reports growing adoption and strong cross-border ecommerce demand.

RUDSAK Opening Bloor Street Store at Toronto’s Manulife Centre

News Craig Patterson -
RUDSAK is opening a new store at Toronto’s Manulife Centre on Bloor Street, taking space that includes the former Birks Van Cleef & Arpels boutique.

Groupe Dynamite appoints new digital leader as Chief Customer Officer

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Henry Spear brings more than two decades of experience across digital, E-commerce, customer experience, and omni-channel retail.

25% of New Businesses in Canada Are Started by New Canadians: CFA

News Mario Toneguzzi -
There are more than 800,000 self-employed newcomers across Canada.

Why Major Retailers Are Turning Employees Into Content Creators: Billo

News Mario Toneguzzi -
“Showing authentic and imperfect people on camera is a very good strategy for brands that want to create relationships with their audience and win their trust in the age of AI."

GoodLeaf Farms says all three Canadian vertical farms have reached profitability

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Canadian vertical farming operator reported revenue of $34 million in 2025, up from $6.4 million in 2023. Revenue has increased another 31 per cent in 2026.

Small business confidence hits three-year low as costs rise and cash reserves shrink: Zensurance

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Confidence fell to 49 per cent this year, down from 58 per cent in 2025 and 70 per cent in 2024.

Daily Synopsis: August 18, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Sport Check expanding 'destination' sport stores in department store spaces, Canada could lose 2,500 restaurants this year, David's Tea expands, Shake Shack opening new locations, and other news.

SportChek Plans More Destination Sport Stores as HBC Spaces Create Opportunities

News Craig Patterson -
SportChek is accelerating its Destination Sport rollout across Canada as Canadian Tire eyes former Hudson’s Bay and other department-store spaces for expansion.

Canada Could Lose 2,500 Restaurants in 2026 as Industry Pressures Mount

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Canada may avoid the 4,000 restaurant losses once forecast for 2026, but Sylvain Charlebois says up to 2,500 could still disappear as industry pressures intensify.

DAVIDsTEA Opens Square One Flagship as Canadian Store Expansion Advances

News Craig Patterson -
DAVIDsTEA opens a flagship at Square One in Mississauga as it targets 25 Canadian stores and reports broader sales benefits from new locations.

Shake Shack Expands Canadian Footprint With New Ontario Restaurants

News Lee Rivett -
Shake Shack is expanding in Canada with new restaurants in Oakville, Burlington and London as it adds drive-thrus and grows beyond the GTA.

The Home Depot sees Q2 fiscal sales reach $47.9 billion

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 were $4.8 billion, or $4.79 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $4.6 billion, or $4.58 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2025.

Squishy toy craze spilling beyond toy aisle: Faire

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Stuffed and plush products were the fastest-growing kids category on Faire, rising 628% between May and June 2025 and the same period in 2026, according to the wholesale marketplace’s latest Independent Retail Pulse report. 

Brasa Peruvian Kitchen prepares to open at Toronto Pearson Airport

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Brasa is treating this expansion almost like a different operating model rather than simply a restaurant with more revenue. 

Why CPG Brands Should Take a Page From Fashion’s Playbook and Embrace Mystery

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Fashion has long understood that desire isn't built by answering every question.

Canadian Consumer Spending Accelerates in Q2 Despite Higher Energy Costs: RBC

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Major events—like FIFA World Cup matches in Toronto and Vancouver and The Calgary Stampede—temporarily boosted dining and entertainment activity in specific time periods and locations, but likely had limited impact on overall Canadian spending growth.

Dr. Oetker Takes Suprema Frozen Pizza Opera on Tour in Quebec to Drive Sampling

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Following a successful launch year, Suprema helped attract new shoppers to the frozen pizza category, contributed to premiumization through higher basket values and now ranks among the top-performing pizza meal items in Canada. 

Daily Synopsis: August 17, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Australian vs Canadian beef in grocery stores, Purdy's looks to relocate Vancouver factory, rare orange lobster named 'Pumpkin' in Chatham Superstore, Justin Trudeau seen dancing with Kaky at a Montreal Home Hardware, and other news.

Primaris Invests $19M to Transform Former Hudson’s Bay at Galeries de la Capitale

News Craig Patterson -
Primaris REIT is investing $19 million to redevelop the former Hudson’s Bay at Galeries de la Capitale, with Imaginaire and ZIBO! among new tenants.

Higher Back-to-School Spending Masks Budget Pressure for Canadian Families

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian families expect to spend more on back-to-school in 2026 as inflation pressures budgets and shoppers turn to deals, discount retailers and Amazon.

lululemon Like New Resale Program Expands to Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Building on the program in the U.S., lululemon brings the online and peer-to-peer experience from its branded resale business to Canada with technology partner Archive.

Consumer prices continue to climb: Statistics Canada

News Mario Toneguzzi -
July was the 18th consecutive month that grocery price inflation outpaced the all-items CPI.

63% of Canadians have bought refurbished, open box or traded in technology in the past year: Best Buy report

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Best Buy Canada says 63% of Canadians bought refurbished, open box or traded-in tech last year, led by Gen Z.

Ford Canada Launches ‘There’s No Can’t in Canada’ Campaign, Highlights $5B Oakville Investment

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Building on its nearly $5 billion investment in Oakville and continued investment in its Windsor Operations, Ford said its commitment spans its entire Canadian network – from manufacturing plants to its Connectivity and Innovation Centres, Parts Distribution Centres, and the more than 430 dealers and 6,500 employees across the country.

Inside Leon’s $1.17 Billion Canadian Real Estate Portfolio

News Craig Patterson -
Leon’s has valued its Canadian real estate portfolio at $1.17 billion as the retailer advances redevelopment projects and continues plans for a publicly traded REIT.

43% of Canadians Less Likely to Trust AI-Generated Ads, Vistar Media Finds

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Consumers continue to value the qualities AI often struggles to replicate: 69% say humour, emotion and entertainment make ads memorable, and more than half say relevance is what captures their attention.

AI Isn’t Expected to Cut Canadian Retail Jobs by 2031, but the Skills Needed Are Changing: ServiceNow

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The implication for retailers is clear: competitive advantage is likely to come less from expanding headcount and more from reskilling existing employees for an AI-enabled future.

CBRE seeks grocery store for Saskatoon’s downtown redevelopment

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The downtown area has several convenience stores and small markets, but residents generally have to travel to suburban locations for larger grocery purchases.

Canada’s Supply Management System Must Evolve: 10 Myths That Need Rethinking

News Sylvain Charlebois -
Sylvain Charlebois examines 10 common myths about Canada’s supply management system, from dairy prices and subsidies to milk dumping, trade and reform.

Canadian consumer insolvencies hit highest quarterly level since 2009: CAIRP

News Mario Toneguzzi -
There were 37,523 consumer insolvencies filed during the quarter, up 6.9 per cent from the same period a year earlier and 1.1 per cent from the first quarter.

From The Desk: Strategic Expansions and Resilience Shape Canadian Retail Landscape

News Craig Patterson -
Canadian retail sees continued store expansion, shifting real estate strategies and changing consumer behaviour amid ongoing economic and labour market pressures.

Daily Synopsis: August 14, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Rolex sues Montreal jewellery store over customized designs, BTS pop-up draws crowds on Bloor Street in iToronto, Le Creuset expands to West Vancouver, more Ontario grocery stores shift to discount, and other news.

Goodfood obtains Court Approval of Sale and Investment Solicitation Process

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Customers can continue to place orders, and the company expects to continue fulfilling customer orders in the ordinary course throughout the restructuring process.

Absolutely Fabrics Expands in Toronto with Summerhill Flagship

News Craig Patterson -
Toronto fashion retailer Absolutely Fabrics is opening a 7,000-square-foot Summerhill flagship, adding menswear and expanding its curated multi-brand concept.

Plaza Retail REIT Draws Takeover Interest as Retail Space Tightens

News Lee Rivett -
Plaza Retail REIT draws takeover interest as tight retail supply, high occupancy and rising rents strengthen its Canadian property portfolio.

Luminaire Authentik Opens Toronto Flagship, Plans Canadian Expansion

News Craig Patterson -
Luminaire Authentik has opened a Toronto flagship in the King East Design District as the Quebec lighting manufacturer plans further Canadian expansion.

Montréal tourism season on track for record year as hotel demand, business travel rise

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Hotel occupancy reached 82 per cent from May through July, seven percentage points higher than during the same period in 2025.

Leon’s Eyes Western Canada Expansion as The Brick Targets Atlantic Growth

News Craig Patterson -
Leon’s sees expansion opportunities in Western Canada while The Brick targets Atlantic growth as LFL Group adds stores and tests new retail formats.

Daily Synopsis: Aug 13, 2026

Curated Digest Retail Insider -
Pajar expands, Metro converting 10 stores to Food Basics, Canadian Tire reports results, Pet Valu aims for 1200 stores, Nespresso unveils new concept store, and other news.

INDOCHINO announces 10 new US showrooms coming in 2027, largest investment in standalone retail in years

News Mario Toneguzzi -
Growth announcement follows six consecutive quarters of positive EBITDA, and a record quarterly EBITDA in Q2 2026

Nespresso Canada continues its boutique transformation with reopening of CF Sherway Gardens

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The Sherway Gardens boutique marks the latest milestone in Nespresso Canada's continued investment in retail excellence, following the opening of the Willowbrook boutique in Langley, British Columbia, and the reopening of the Oakridge boutique in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Ste-Foy boutique in Québec City, Québec.

METRO to Convert 10 Ontario Stores to Food Basics

News Craig Patterson -
METRO will convert 10 Ontario Metro stores to Food Basics as value-focused consumers drive stronger demand for discount grocery.

IKEA Canada to launch limited-edition KONSTRUNDA art collection

News Mario Toneguzzi -
The KONSTRUNDA collection brings together glass objects, ceramics, furniture and textiles, with IKEA positioning the range as an effort to make art more accessible through everyday home furnishings.

Morguard Advances Mall Redevelopments as Retail Leasing Strength Continues Across Canada

News Craig Patterson -
Morguard REIT is redeveloping former Sears and Hudson's Bay spaces with retailers including Uniqlo, Sport Chek, No Frills and Splitsville as retail occupancy and leasing momentum improve across its Canadian shopping centre portfolio.
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