Canada news

In our 2021 sustainability trends report, which subscribers can access here , we highlighted four trends shaping the way retailers are approaching the topic. The trends include reducing plastic packaging, partnering to win, supporting communities and sustainable stores. Given the recent focus on reducing plastic packaging from many companies globally, in our packaging free the global opportu...

As part of its partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands, Walmart has opened its first ghost kitchen at its store in Rochester, New York. Bringing new brands to the market Through this partnership, shoppers at the store will be able to make a one-stop meal pickup, or order for delivery, from up to 25 well-known foodservice brands. These include several brands which are new to Ghost Kitchens’ ro...

We review Couche-Tard’s results for the quarter ending 18 July 2021. Key numbers: total revenue up 39.8% to US$13.6bn Q1 merchandise and service revenues up 5.4% to US$4.1bn Same-store merchandise revenues up 5.9% in Europe and other regions (including Hong Kong), -0.2% in the U.S and -9.6% in Canada Q1 road transportation fuel revenues up 51.7% in Europe, 65.5% in the U.S and 68.1...

We look inside the latest store opening from Save-On-Foods, one of Canada’s leading grocery retailers, to discover strengths in fresh and prepared foods and creative ways to drive interest in the centre store. Western Canada focus With 185 stores across Western Canada, Save-On-Foods is one of the leading retailers in the region. It recently opened a new 39,000 sq ft store in Surrey, BC, its...

With another strong quarterly performance, Walmart has lifted its outlook for the full year, including anticipating global ecommerce sales of $75bn this year. Walmart's key numbers Walmart's total revenue in Q2 increased by 2.4% to $141.0bn, representing an additional $3.3bn in sales Sales in its US stores increased by 5.3%, with Sam’s Club up 13.9% (+7.7% ex-fuel) US ecommerce sal...

We review Metro’s Q3 performance in Canada as it lapped last year’s pandemic-driven surge in demand. Third quarter key numbers Total sales fell 2.0% to $5.7bn, up 9.4% vs 2019 Food same-store sales down 3.6%, up 11.4% vs 2019 Pharmacy same-store sales up 7.6%, and up 8.6% vs 2019 Ecommerce sales increased 19% Net earnings down 4.2% to $252.4m COVID-19 related expenses of $...

Sobeys’ Quebec-based IGA business has invested a majority stake in Ricardo Media to accelerate the brand’s development. Building on existing partnership Founded in 2002, Ricardo Media is a food media company, operating a leading magazine with one million readers, a daily television programme and an online presence that generates 5.4m visits per month. In 2011, the company launched a range o...

Loblaw is partnering with dentalcorp Holdings, Canada’s largest network of dental practices. Under the agreement, dentalcorp will be the exclusive provider of oral care education and dental health services for users of the PC Health app. Personalised healthcare Loblaw launched the PC Health app last year, in partnership with League, Canada’s leading health operating system technology provid...

Having delivered a solid second quarter performance, the company’s chairman and CEO, Steven Cahillane, outlined some of the actions it is taking to mitigate the higher costs it is experiencing. Industry wide issue The Kellogg Company is not alone in aiming to mitigate the higher costs it is experiencing across a range of areas including commodities, packaging, freight and shipping. In the U...

With a new leadership team in place, Loblaw has reassessed almost 20 strategic initiatives. Against a strong second quarter performance, we look at some of the areas the business will be focusing on through the second half. Loblaw Q2 key numbers Total revenue up 4.5% to $12.5bn Operating income up 86.1% to $752m Net earnings up 660% to $56m Food retail same-store sales declined ...