Canada retail

Canada's Weston family moves to acquire UK chemist Boots for $9bn, The Brick sells Scarborough site, Ikea opens small-format London ON store, Fortinos opens Popcorn Kitchen in Brampton store, Pattison calls out grocery store violence in BC, and other news.

Q1 2026 showed value retail is still winning trips, but it’s getting costlier to deliver. Expansion, discount formats, and real estate moves raised the stakes.

Q1 2026 luxury in Canada split in two: brands doubled down on flagships and boutiques, while platforms and department stores faced restructuring risk.

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.