Retail Council of Canada recognized retailers, brands and industry leaders at RCCSTORE2026 through its Excellence in Retailing Awards and Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards.
FreshCo will open in Winnipeg in Fall 2026, reviving a long-vacant grocery site and reflecting a broader shift in discount retail expansion across Canada.
The company said that its Feed The Dream campaign will run across its Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, Thrifty Foods, Farm Boy and Voilà brands, with programming designed to connect consumers, communities and athletes in the lead-up to and during the Games.
Rooted in deep consumer research, the campaign highlights Voilà’s most unique differentiator as the only online destination that brings together several of Canada’s most beloved grocery banners, including Sobeys, Farm Boy, and Longo’s in Ontario, and IGA in Quebec, under one seamless experience.
With approximately $31 billion in annual sales and $17 billion in assets, Empire and its subsidiaries, franchisees and affiliates employ approximately 129,000 people.
The So Canadian Picnic builds on the momentum of Sobeys’ So Canadian brand campaign launched earlier this year, marking the next chapter in the company’s storytelling.
Canadian shoppers are increasingly choosing local products at Sobeys and other Empire stores amid rising U.S. tariffs, reshaping grocery sales across the country.
Empire Company's Q1 profit falls to $207.8M, but strategic acquisitions and investments position the retail giant for future growth in Canadian market.
The expansion will give Canadians access to deep discounts on surplus food at over 500 participating grocery stores across the country as part of a major growth initiative for the company.
Sylvain Charlebois says that "it's about time" that the relationship ended, and that loyalty will probably be the next battleground for Canadian grocers.
Local farmers manage the vertical farming at the individual grocery stores, where a variety of herbs, microgreens, leafy greens, and lettuces are grown year round.
This is the first of four In Conversation With Retail Leaders webinars where Canada’s most visionary retailers and industry insiders will discuss innovation in retail and provide critical insights to successfully leading businesses through disruptive times.