Canadian retail

From The Desk: Retailers adapt formats and expansion amid labour, cost and consumer shifts

Retail Insider -
Canadian retailers adjust store formats and expansion amid labour challenges, cost pressures and uneven spending, balancing growth with operational control.

Aritzia’s Store Network Has Shifted South as U.S. Expansion Accelerates

Lee Rivett -
Aritzia now operates more boutiques in the United States than in Canada as the Vancouver-founded retailer directs most new-store growth south of the border. Its mature Canadian network offers a useful template for the company’s push toward a potential 180-to-200-store U.S. footprint.

Daily Synopsis: September 22, 2026

Retail Insider -
Arc’teryx launched its largest Montreal store on Sainte-Catherine, while UNIQLO revamped its Eaton Centre flagship with new services. Adopt Parfums plans five new outlets in Quebec and Ontario, signalling growth in both urban and mall formats.

Daily Synopsis: September 17, 2026

Retail Insider -
Stefano Ricci luxury boutique in Vancouver shuttering, Metro reaches deal with striking workers, Harry Rosen opens Toronto flagship September 22, GTA furniture retailer appears to go bankrupt, and other news.

Dollarama’s $5 Ceiling Is Becoming a Test for Canadian Retail

Lee Rivett -
Dollarama is holding its $5 maximum price point as Canadian traffic continues to rise and cost pressures build. The widening performance gap with parts of mainstream retail raises questions about whether value shopping is becoming a permanent part of household spending.

Daily Synopsis: September 16, 2026

Retail Insider -
Mine & Yours Marks 13 Years as Luxury Resale Starts Looking More Like, TryCanadian.ca launches as Consumers Search for Canadian Alternatives, Dollarama Q2 sales increase 17.6% y/y to surpass $2 billion, RBC says grocery prices likely to keep rising faster than overall, and other retail news.

Daily Synopsis: September 15, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canadian companies look to capitalize on 'elbows up', Circle K capitalizes on back-to-school rush, No Frills takes North York No Frills, London Drugs launches community pharmacies, Costco opening 4 Canadian stores, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: September 11, 2026

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

Lee Rivett -
Groupe Dynamite is reshaping Garage around an older customer, higher-productivity stores and global expansion while optimizing its Canadian network.

Daily Synopsis: September 9, 2026

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.

Apple Introduces iPhone Duo with Breakthrough Foldable Design

Lee Rivett -
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, featuring a groundbreaking foldable design that allows for enhanced multitasking and productivity. With two displays and a focus on durability, the new model aims to redefine the smartphone experience for users in Canada and beyond.

Apple Launches iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in Canada

Lee Rivett -
Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring significant advancements in camera technology, battery life, and the A20 Pro chip. Pre-orders start on September 12, with availability beginning September 18 across Canada.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

Craig Patterson -
This week in Canadian retail: store expansion, shifting consumer spending, tariffs, supply chain pressures, loyalty strategies and key industry developments.

Lululemon Cuts Store SKUs by 15% as Retailer Slows Expansion

Craig Patterson -
Lululemon is cutting store SKUs by 15%, testing localized assortments and slowing net expansion while continuing to invest in Canadian stores.

Daily Synopsis: September 3, 2026

Retail Insider -
Lululemon reports numbers, Gather Packaging pivots after US tariffs, Couche-Tard shifting convenience store mix, D Spot Expansion, and other news.

Retail Insider’s Canadian Retail Monitor — August 2026 Edition: Demand Strengthens as Volumes Rise

Craig Patterson -
Retail Insider’s first edition of the Canadian Retail Monitor finds demand strengthened, with sales volumes rising faster than headline sales. Health, apparel and general merchandise led growth, while grocery weakened and e-commerce rebounded sharply.

Daily Synopsis: August 27, 2026

Retail Insider -
Chapman's Ice Cream to cut American ingredients, Montreal Shein pop-up sees protest, Saskatchewan launches 50% US alcohol tariff, Drake launching U of T collection for fall, SSENSE grapples with new tariffs, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: August 21, 2026

Retail Insider -
FreschCo opens 1st Atlantic stores, Apple stores prepare for product expansion, Lordco expands in Western Canada, thrift stores deal with excess donations, Columbia House Records shuting down, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: August 20, 2026

Retail Insider -
FreshCo expands in Nova Scotia, Circle K promotes customized drinks, downtown Ottawa retail expected to return to pre-pandemic levels, Kiokii and opens in Windsor, and other news.

Daily Synopsis: August 17, 2026

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.

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

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: Aug 10, 2026

Retail Insider -
Safeway reopening at Oakridge Park this month, Giant Tiger shuts The Pas store, Sysco expanding in Canada, SUKOSHI opening at West Edmonton Mall, and other news.

Retail Insider “Policy & Regulation Report”: Affordability Promises Collide With Retail Costs

Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider’s Q2 2026 policy report finds affordability promises colliding with rising compliance, trade, labour and public-safety costs, while grocery property controls and public-store proposals expose how government action is reshaping Canadian retail operations today.

Daily Synopsis: August 6, 2026

Retail Insider -
Retail Insider published 12 articles today on Canadian retail including Birks’ market move, Mattel’s strategy shift, Realm Fitness’ community, and McDonald’s new beverage platform.

Retail Insider “Loss Prevention & Security Report”: Retail Risk Moves Beyond Theft

Lee Rivett -
Retail risk is moving beyond merchandise theft as organized crime, violence, cyberattacks, fraud and data failures reshape store operations, customer experience and investment decisions across Canada. Retail Insider’s Q2 2026 report examines the widening mandate for loss prevention.
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