Canada news

Walmart Canada’s new store in Vaughan, Ontario, showcases how the retailer is evolving its large store format to support its fast-growing ecommerce business. Most modern omnichannel store Earlier this year, Walmart Canada outlined a $3.5bn investment plan , focused on its stores, supply chain and technology. As part of this, it is investing $110m this year in store renovations and tech...

We look at how Canada’s leading dollar store chain is flexing its approach to meet the needs of shoppers during the pandemic. 1. Allocating more space to high-demand categories Recent store visits indicate that more space has been allocated in three key categories; household cleaning, personal care, arts and crafts. Most retailers have experienced strong growth in these areas as consumers hav...

Loblaw has partnered with League, Canada’s leading health operating system (health OS) technology provider, to launch the PC Health app. National roll-out planned over the next few months The PC Health app maintains the PC branding related to its President’s Choice private label. Through the app, Canadians will have free access to registered nurses and dietitians, who can provide advice and...

Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee shop chain, is boosting its UK expansion plans saying it wants to open an outlet in “every major city and town” in the UK in the next two years. 2,000 new jobs could be created by 2022.  The announcement follows the release of results which show a 37% increase in year-on-year sales in UK and Ireland. UK & Ireland chief commercial officer for UK and Ireland, Kev...

Loblaw’s drugstore chain, Shoppers Drug Mart, has expanded its online offer, with the launch of additional categories. Building on an established platform Having initially been launched as a beauty-led portal, the retailer’s ecommerce service has expanded to include health, personal care, baby and child and electronics categories. The retailer first launched its beauty offer in 2015, with a...

With Walmart confirming the sale of its UK-business, Asda, to the Issa Brothers and TDR Capital, we look at what the deal means for the retailer. 1. Opportunity to benefit from business improvement This transaction follows on from a similar move in Brazil in 2018, when the retailer divested an 80% majority stake of its operations in the country to private equity firm, Advent Internati...

Vancouver-based Food X Technologies has signed a strategic partnership with Carrefour Group to accelerate the retailer’s ecommerce capabilities. Integration of Food X technologies by mid-2021 The partnership with Food X Technologies has been formed to support Carrefour in increasing the productivity and profitability of its ecommerce operating systems while enhancing its digital customer e...

Loblaw’s PC Financial division has launched a new banking account, three years after it closed its daily chequing, savings and lending banking services. Digital-first banking service The PC Money Account forms a central element of the retailer’s payments and rewards strategic pillar. It offers consumers a simple, no-fee bank account, combined with Loblaw’s PC Optimum loyalty programme. It h...

Loblaw has opened a new store in the historic West Block building in the heart of Toronto. Built in 1928, this site formerly housed the first Loblaws Groceterias warehouse. Moving the Inspire programme forward Based on Loblaw’s Inspire format programme, the Loblaws banner store is a testament to the progress which the retailer continues to make with fresh and prepared foods. The Inspire pro...

We look at the’ first quarter performance of Canada's second largest food retailer as its Project Horizon growth plan gets underway. Q1 key numbers Sales up 9.0% to $7.4bn Same-store sales increased 11.0% Sales through its existing ecommerce operations in Quebec and BC increased approximately 370%. During the quarter it launched its Voilà by Sobeys service in the Greater Toronto Ar...