Canada news

Canada-based Sobeys has formed a strategic partnership with Cookin, a homemade food delivery marketplace, to provide consumers with ideas for creative meals at home using its ingredients. Marketplace for food creators Cookin is a homemade food delivery marketplace connecting consumers with local chefs and cooks, offering ready-to-eat meals with a personal touch. It has developed a marketplace...

Canada’s second largest grocery retailer, Sobeys, has introduced new natural source selections in food, personal care, and household cleaning aisles to make it easier for shoppers looking for products with specific attributes. Product attributes Bus-stops are used to spotlight the ‘Wellness’ sections in-store, which are located mid-aisle across the store. The signage reflects the specific att...

Canada’s Metro Inc. delivered a strong performance for fiscal 2023, delivering sales of more than C$20 bn and net earnings of more than C$1 bn for the first time. We look at the drivers behind the retailer’s success and the outlook for the year ahead. Metro fourth quarter and full year key numbers Q4 sales increased 14.4% to C$5,071.7m Food same-store sales increased 6.8%, with pharma...

We review Loblaw’s Q3 results, highlight seven key takeouts and outline what they mean for the business and its trading partners. Q3 key numbers Total revenue increased 5.0% to $18,265m Retail sales increased 5.0% to $17,982m Food retail same-store sales increased 4.5%, with drug retail same-store sales up 4.6% Ecommerce sales increased 13.6% Operating income increased 7.5% t...

Diwali, the festival of lights, is not just a time for celebrations but also a significant sales opportunity for grocery retailers. We look at how companies in Canada are leveraging this celebration to boost in-store sales and customer engagement. Joyous celebration Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. It's marked by vibrant decorations, traditional rituals, an...

With private label penetration approaching 30%, Loblaw is the undisputed leader in the Canadian market. We look at one of the ways it keeps ranges front of mind with shoppers. Enduring success The PC Insiders Report is used twice a year by Loblaw to showcase its latest new private label products and some of its iconic items. This year’s Holiday report showcases more than 100 new products ar...

Per Bank has taken the reigns as Loblaw’s new president and CEO. We consider what changes to anticipate over the next few months. Learning and understanding the market Per Bank’s appointment was announced in April, joining the business from Denmark’s largest retail business, Salling Group A/S, where he held the position of CEO. While we would typically not expect any immediate changes with a ...

Canada’s leading retailer, Loblaw, has developed its own protected gateway, enabling it to leverage the capabilities of generative AI. Text and image generation Garfield has been developed to allow the retailer’s colleagues to interact with Large Language Models (LLMs) in a safe and secure environment. The retailer wanted to leverage the potential of new and emerging LLMs such as ChatGPT an...

Couche-Tard, Circle K’s parent company, new five year strategic plan has been developed to enable it to achieve $10 bn in EBITDA by 2028, rising from $5.8 bn this year. We look at how the retailer plans to achieve this through evolving its food offer, investing in loyalty and digital, growing its network and developing its fuel operations. Enabling growth The retailer has developed a simple...

Following meetings with Canada’s leading grocers and food manufacturers, the government has outlined five steps it will be taking to stabilise food prices, including securing commitments from the leading five chains for aggressive discounts and price freezes. Is this likely to be effective and what other measures are being taken? Grocery retailers’ commitments Canada's major grocery chains ...