GROCERY

Quebec Removes QST from Select Foods and Household Essentials

Lee Rivett -
Quebec has removed QST from selected foods, toilet paper and facial tissues, requiring retailers to update product classifications and checkout systems.

Daily Synopsis: July 10, 2026

Retail Insider -
Beef price fixing scandal investigated, Vancouver's Kerrisdale thrives while nearby areas struggle, retailers leave downtown Edmonton as office workers return, Honest Ed's signage returns to Mirvish Village, Canada's first Toys R Us shutting down, and other news.

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.

Italian Centre Shop expands in Calgary with new Northland location opening July 16

Mario Toneguzzi -
The new 22,000-square-foot location, which will open at 10 a.m. following a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony, will bring Italian Centre Shop’s signature blend of European grocery, fresh food experiences, and warm hospitality to Northwest Calgary — a growing and vibrant part of the city.

Costco Canada Sales Growth Moderates as Warehouse Expansion Continues

Lee Rivett -
Costco Canada's June comparable sales growth slowed from earlier in the year, but the warehouse retailer continues to post healthy underlying gains while expanding its Canadian store network.

Q2 2026 Canadian Discount, Value and Off-Price Retail: Shape of the Next Phase of Canadian Retail

Craig Patterson -
Canadian value retail in Q2 2026 was defined by mainstream consumer adoption, discount grocery expansion, off-price growth, and value-oriented retailers increasingly shaping real estate and retail strategy.

Food Inflation Creates More Tactical Grocery Shoppers in Canada

Lee Rivett -
A new Milesopedia survey finds grocery shoppers are comparing prices more often, buying more private label and questioning whether loyalty rewards meaningfully offset rising food costs.

Daily Synopsis: Jul 7, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canadians turn to 'pay later' for groceries amid struggles, Subaru sees increased sales, Innovative eyewear launching in Canadian stores, Toronto Metro rebranding as Food Basics, St. Vital Walmart fire deemed arson, and other news.

Lotus Capital Expands Retail Platform with First Kelowna Acquisition

Lee Rivett -
Vancouver-based Lotus Capital has acquired Plaza 33 in Kelowna, extending a growing Canadian strategy focused on grocery-anchored and necessity-based retail centres.

Canada’s new tariff on imported canned vegetables expected to add pressure to grocery prices, MEI says

Mario Toneguzzi -
The new tariff could place additional financial pressure on households, particularly those already facing higher grocery bills.

Daily Synopsis: July 6, 2026

Retail Insider -
RioCan gains from slow construction, Sephora introduces low-sensory store experience, Beer Store loses 'sabotage' real estate lawsuit, Flying Tiger opening at Vaughan Mills this week, 60 grocers receive Foodland Ontario award, and other news.

Report says supply management adds hundreds of dollars to annual food costs, pushes thousands below poverty line

Mario Toneguzzi -
More than 120,000 people remain below the low-income cut-off because of those added food costs.

Costco Expands Retail Footprint Across Canada with New Warehouses Planned

Craig Patterson -
Costco is advancing a significant expansion in Canada, with new warehouses set to open in various communities. This growth reflects the retailer's confidence in the Canadian market as it targets both new regions and existing locations with high demand.

Walmart Takes Former Hudson’s Bay Space at Place d’Orléans

Craig Patterson -
Walmart Canada will open a 115,500-square-foot Supercentre in the former Hudson's Bay store at Place d'Orléans in Ottawa, providing an early example of Primaris REIT's strategy to repurpose former HBC spaces with new anchors.

Daily Synopsis: Jun 25, 2026

Retail Insider -
Retail Insider published nine articles covering Vaughan Mills' Playdium, Dollarama's market reach, and Kraft Dinner's move into instant noodles, among others.

Pattison Food Group expands automated grocery fulfillment operations at B.C. distribution centre

Mario Toneguzzi -
The investment reflects Pattison Food Group's efforts to adapt its warehouse operations to changing demand while reducing manual processes and increasing efficiency in moving products through its supply chain.

Longo’s Opens First Welland Store as Growth Continues

Mario Toneguzzi -
Longo’s is a family-operated Canadian organization that started in 1956 when three brothers, Tommy, Joe and Gus opened their first fruit market.

How Consumer Preferences Are Reshaping Canadian Grocery Retail

Craig Patterson -
Canadian grocery retail is evolving as consumers embrace curated assortments, ethnic supermarkets, private-label products and value-focused shopping. Industry veteran Michael Commisso shares insights into the trends reshaping the sector.

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 19, 2026

Retail Insider -
Canada's affordability crisis could fuel Zellers expansion, Putman floats rebrand in new Toys R Us court docs, Ottawa imposes surcharge on canned veggie imports, Burlington Ikea features Indigenous kitchen room setting, The Beer Store opening new stores after shutting others, Vancouver businesses struggle despite FIFA crowds, and other news.

The Hidden Cost of Grocery Promotions in Canada

Sylvain Charlebois -
Supplier-funded grocery promotions may be creating hidden costs throughout Canada's food supply chain. Sylvain Charlebois examines how these practices can affect prices over time.

Empire Company sees sales reach $31.95 billion in Fiscal 2026, more growth planned for FreshCo brand

Mario Toneguzzi -
In fiscal 2027, the Company expects to open approximately 15 new FreshCo stores across Western Canada, Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Daily Synopsis: Jun 17, 2026

Retail Insider -
Tesoro grocery store shuts in Edmonton after less than 2 years, Shindico begins preleasing Winnipeg centre, Pret a Manger opens at YVR Airport, Oakridge Park Skytrain connection anticipated, and other news.

Fresh St. Market to Become Grocery Anchor for CF Richmond Centre Redevelopment

Lee Rivett -
Fresh St. Market will open its first Richmond location at CF Richmond Centre in Summer 2027, bringing a grocery anchor to the mixed-use redevelopment as residential density and retail expansion continue.

Interac survey finds single Canadians are bearing the brunt of rising grocery costs

Mario Toneguzzi -
Nearly eight in 10 (77 per cent) Canadians who live solo say their grocery bill keeps climbing no matter what they do.
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