Empire Company

Daily Synopsis: September 18, 2026

Retail Insider -
Ikea pitches affordability in Canada, Mandy's lands in Vancouver's Kits, No Frills opens in former Whole Foods, Pokemon cards stolen, dogs in restaurants discussed, 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.

Empire Rejecting Tariff-Related Supplier Price Hikes as Trade Tensions Escalate

Lee Rivett -
Empire says it is rejecting tariff-related supplier price increases for now, citing sourcing alternatives as Canada-U.S. trade tensions escalate.

Empire Company sees Q1 net earnings reach $233 million, a 9.9% y/y increase

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%.

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.

Empire to acquire nine Morelli’s pharmacies in Ontario

Mario Toneguzzi -
The pharmacies will be brought into Sobeys’ National Pharmacy operations as part of the transaction.

Retail Insider “Grocery Report” Examines How Value Is Reshaping Canadian Grocery

Lee Rivett -
Retail Insider’s Q2 2026 Grocery Report examines how value is reshaping Canadian grocery, from discount expansion and private label to digital tools, prepared foods, grocery-anchored real estate and shifting consumer behaviour.

Competition Bureau Continues Multi-Year Push Against Grocery Property Controls

Craig Patterson -
The Competition Bureau of Canada has expanded its investigation into Sobeys' use of property controls, continuing a multi-year effort that began with its 2023 grocery competition study and has already prompted changes across the grocery industry.

Daily Synopsis: Jun 18, 2026

Retail Insider -
Today's Retail Insider coverage highlights Canadian retail growth with new store openings by Zellers, Soch, Le Creuset, and No Frills plus Empire's robust sales and expansion plans.

DoorDash Expands Grocery Reach Through Empire Partnership

Lee Rivett -
DoorDash adds 1,000+ Empire grocery stores across Canada, expanding its role in on-demand grocery and retail delivery.

From The Desk: Strategic Expansion and Evolving Consumer Engagement Define Retail in April 2026

Craig Patterson -
Retail trends highlight acquisitions, cautious expansion, and experiential growth as brands navigate 2026 challenges and shifting consumer expectations.

FreshCo Expands East with First Atlantic Canada Locations

Craig Patterson -
FreshCo enters Atlantic Canada with new Halifax-area stores, marking Empire’s first discount grocery expansion into the East Coast.

Empire Acquires Mayrand, Enters Quebec Discount Grocery Market

Craig Patterson -
Empire acquires Mayrand, gaining entry into Quebec’s discount and warehouse grocery market through a court-supervised sale process.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Reinvention amid Expansion and Rising Costs

Craig Patterson -
This week’s Canadian retail landscape blends strategic expansions with cost pressures, highlighting physical growth and evolving shopping behaviours amid economic chal...

AI Adoption Accelerates Across Canadian Retail

Lee Rivett -
Major retailers in Canada accelerate AI adoption, shifting from pilots to enterprise execution in agentic commerce and operations.

Longo’s celebrating 70 years as a family-focused grocer 

Mario Toneguzzi -
Recently, Longo’s was named the #1 Grocer in Ontario in the 2026 WOW Study by Léger, based on the opinions of thousands of recent visitors to grocery stores across Ontario.

Empire Company to close Alberta e-commerce facilities, expands third-party delivery partnerships

Mario Toneguzzi -
The company said the changes are expected to deliver roughly $95 million in annualized operating income by fiscal 2027.
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