Lactalis Canada Opens $16.4M Milk Receiving Bay at Ontario Facility
Lactalis Canada opened a new 180,000‑square‑foot milk receiving bay at its Winchester, Ontario cheese plant, investing $16.4 million. The facility increases milk intake capacity by 25 %, adding four truck bays and three independent receiving lines. The bay is part of a broader $42 million capital program for the site in 2026, which follows earlier upgrades to wastewater treatment and refrigeration. The expansion reinforces the plant’s status as Canada’s largest cheese‑manufacturing hub.
Costco Will Represent 'Large Retail Shock' In Thunder Bay
Costco announced plans for a standard‑sized warehouse in the Thunder Bay region, targeting a trade area of 100,000‑250,000 people. The development promises construction jobs, long‑term retail positions, and new property‑tax revenue for the city. Officials expect the store to draw...
Six Forces Redefining Canadian Grocery
Canadian shoppers are increasingly favoring domestic products as tariffs reshape buying habits, while a surge in deal‑seeking behavior is expanding discount retail channels. Health‑focused consumers are pivoting to low‑cost proteins and fibre‑rich foods, prompting manufacturers to reformulate and retailers to...
This Week in Grocery News: Empire’s ‘Strategic’ Deal, Discount versus Conventional
Empire Company announced the acquisition of Quebec discount retailer Mayrand, giving it a strategic foothold in the province’s discount and warehouse grocery market. FreshCo, Empire’s discount chain, is launching three new stores in the Halifax area, marking its first entry...
Empire Acquires Quebec Food Retailer Mayrand
Empire Company, the parent of Sobeys, announced a deal to acquire Quebec‑based Mayrand Group, which operates four large‑format discount grocery stores in the Greater Montreal area. The acquisition gives Empire a strategic foothold in Quebec's discount and warehouse food market...
7-Eleven Owner Delays North American IPO Until 2027
Seven & i Holdings has postponed the IPO of its North American 7‑Eleven business to April 2027, citing weaker U.S. performance and rising fuel costs. The delay follows a missed profit forecast and slower‑than‑expected rollout of prepared‑food offerings. The listing was...
PHOTO GALLERY: T&T Opens 15th Store in Ontaro
T&T Supermarket opened its 15th Ontario location, a 40,000‑square‑foot store in Mississauga’s Erin Mills Power Centre, marking the chain’s 39th outlet in North America. The ground‑up project was built in partnership with Choice Properties, the real‑estate arm of Loblaw’s parent George Weston....
Doritos Contest Targets Video Gamers
Snack brand Doritos has rolled out a new promotional campaign called “Key Codes” that targets video gamers. The contest invites players to wipe crumbs off their keyboards, capture the resulting gibberish code, and submit it at DoritosKeyCodes.ca for a chance...
Sobeys Recalls some Products Containing Cheese over Listeria Risk
Sobeys, Canada’s second‑largest grocery chain, is recalling a range of cheese‑containing products after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency flagged possible listeria contamination. The recall spans all provinces except Quebec and includes items sold under Sobeys’ banners such as Co‑Op, Foodland,...
CPMA to Present Paul Catania Jr. With 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award
Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) announced that Paul Catania Jr., president and CEO of Catania Worldwide, will receive its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor recognizes his more than five decades of leadership at the family‑owned produce firm, which dates...
No Name Dishes Out ‘Grocery Goss’ in 2000s-Inspired Campaign
Loblaw’s No Name brand is rolling out a 2000s‑inspired “grocery goss” campaign that mimics tabloid journalism. The activation launches April 10‑12 with retro yellow newsboxes stocked with a free‑snack‑filled first edition of the tabloid in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. A digital hub...
FreshCo to Open First Stores in Atlantic Canada
Empire Company’s discount banner FreshCo is entering Atlantic Canada with three new stores in the Halifax area. The first two locations – Lower Sackville on Cobequid Road and Bedford Place Mall – are slated for a late‑summer opening, while a third...
Why a Ceasefire Won’t Cool Your Grocery Bill
The article argues that the recent cease‑fire‑driven oil price drop will not lower grocery bills because food prices are driven by oil market volatility, not momentary price levels. Since early January, WTI has swung from $55 to $116 per barrel,...
Skip Adds Loblaw to Growing Grocery Network
Skip has sealed a partnership with Loblaw Companies, adding the retailer’s 13 banners—including No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore and Maxi—to its on‑demand grocery network. The deal extends Skip’s service to every Canadian postal code, allowing customers to order from a broader...
Kicking Horse Coffee Brand Platform Is an Ode to the ‘Hellbent’
Canadian roaster Kicking Horse Coffee marks its 30‑year anniversary with a new brand platform titled “Here’s to the Hellbent.” The campaign, developed with agencies OneMethod and Super Proper, rolls out a 60‑second television spot supported by social, out‑of‑home, connected TV,...
Cadbury Commits $200,000 to Food Banks Canada
Cadbury has launched the “Make Every Bite Count” campaign in partnership with the NHLPA, pledging a total of $200,000 to Food Banks Canada. Up to $100,000 will come from a portion of Cadbury product sales through May 18, while the company...
Front-of-Package Labels Are Already Shaping Shopper Behaviour
Canada’s Health Canada launched mandatory front‑of‑package (FOP) nutrition warning labels on Jan. 1. Early data shows 56% of shoppers are aware of the symbols, while 57% say the warnings would affect their buying choices. Price remains the dominant purchase driver for...
CFIA Announces Recalls for Salads, Cheeses and Meal Kits over Listeria Concerns
Canada’s Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued recalls for several food items due to possible listeria contamination. The recall includes Co‑Op creamy garlic and spinach salads sold in western provinces, multiple national cheese products such as Bothwell three‑cheese blend, Goldstream...
No Frills to Open New Location in Winnipeg
Loblaw Companies’ discount banner No Frills will launch a 23,413‑square‑foot store at 1375 McPhillips Street in Winnipeg. The outlet anchors the Moore Centre, a new retail development owned by real‑estate firm Shindico. The centre will also host Dollar Tree and Sabzi...
Discount Is the New Name of the Game. What Does that Mean for Conventional Stores?
Canadian grocery retailers have shifted toward discount formats over the past three years as high food inflation drove shoppers to seek lower prices. Discount chains now number about 1,200, up from 1,000 in 2019, while conventional supermarkets have fallen to...
Ferrero Rocher to Host Immersive Pop-Up in Toronto
Ferrero Rocher is launching its chocolate squares in Canada with a national campaign that includes an immersive pop‑up at The Grand Bridge in Toronto’s The Well from April 10‑12. The brand previously conducted a sampling activation at the Union subway station kiosk...
Ontario Rebate Reduces Cost of Beverage Alcohol License for Small Grocers
Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission has raised the annual rebate for eligible small grocery stores to $2,750, slashing the net cost of a beverage‑alcohol licence to $500 per year through 2030. The rebate applies to grocers with less than $1 billion...
Trust in the Aisles: Product of the Year Canada Opens 2027 Entries
Product of the Year Canada has opened entries for its 2027 awards, inviting brands across food, personal care, household and pet categories to submit innovations launched after Jan 1 2025. The consumer‑voted award relies on a national study of 4,000 Canadians conducted...
Alcohol, 'Buy Canadian' Policy Flagged by U.S. as Trade Irritants: Report
The U.S. Trade Representative’s annual report flags Canada’s provincial liquor‑control rules and the federal “Buy Canadian” procurement policy as major trade irritants. It also highlights punitive tariffs on U.S. dairy, including 245% on cheese and 298% on butter, which hinder...
Government-Run Grocery Stores Are Likely to Fail. There's a Better Alternative
Canada’s largest city approved a pilot of four municipally run grocery stores, while the NDP’s new leader proposes a network of 50 government‑operated stores promising up to 40% price cuts. The article argues that such savings are unrealistic given the...
High Liner Foods Cuts 9% of North American Workforce
High Liner Foods announced a 9% reduction of its North American workforce, cutting 35 jobs amid rising inflation and tariff pressures. The layoffs are part of a broader cost‑reduction plan that emphasizes disciplined margin management, supply‑chain efficiency, and expense control....
Montreal’s Leyad Buys Portfolio of Properties Leased to Loblaw
Montreal‑based developer Leyad announced the acquisition of a portfolio of grocery‑anchored properties leased to Loblaw Companies, totaling about 387,000 sq ft. The assets are spread across British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Yukon, giving Leyad its first foothold in...
Metro Fruit and Vegetable Distribution Centre Employees on Strike in Quebec
Metro’s Quebec head office and its Laval fruit‑and‑vegetable distribution centre saw roughly 550 warehouse workers and drivers walk off the job on March 30, launching an open‑ended strike that could disrupt deliveries to about 300 Metro stores. The strike stems from...
Sobeys VP Talks Compliments Brand Refresh, 'Innovative' New Products
Sobeys is revamping its private‑label Compliments range with a fresh visual identity and the new tagline “We’re full of Compliments.” The refresh is backed by a national ad campaign and aims to combine strong value with a warmer, more playful...
McCormick Merges with Unilever's Food Business
McCormick and Unilever have agreed to merge Unilever's food division, creating a combined entity valued at roughly $66 billion. The transaction, slated to close in mid‑2027, gives Unilever shareholders a 55% stake and McCormick shareholders 35%, with Unilever also receiving $15.7 billion...
Trending: A Redesigned No Frills, Dollarama's Price Strategy and More!
Canadian grocery retailers are revamping store designs, pricing policies and brand messaging. No Frills opened its first modern‑look store in Komoka, Ontario, while Food Basics debuted a similar aesthetic in Brampton. Dollarama’s CEO pledged to limit price pass‑throughs, tying adjustments to...
Competition Bureau Loses Bid for Amazon Data in Fake Reviews Case
Canada's Federal Court of Appeal upheld a lower‑court ruling that blocks the Competition Bureau from obtaining Amazon’s transaction data on health, personal care, home and electronics items. The bureau sought the data to substantiate claims that Amazon allows vendors to...
Bringing Health Through Food
Danone Canada, originating from the early‑1900s Delisle yogurt brand, has evolved into one of the nation’s largest food and beverage companies. Its flagship Boucherville plant now produces more than one‑third of all dairy yogurts sold in Canada, and the firm...
This Year, Easter Traditions Take a Back Seat to Value
In 2026 Canadian Easter meals are being reshaped by price pressures. Retail data shows turkey under $2 per pound and ham now cheaper, while lamb has surged to $5‑20 per pound, making it a premium item. Chocolate prices also rose...
Kruger Big Assist Reveals 2026 Regional Winners
Kruger Products announced the five regional winners of its 2026 Kruger Big Assist program, each receiving $25,000 to expand hockey access in their communities. The winners include female‑focused associations in Vancouver, Saskatoon, Chapleau, Deux‑Montagnes and Keswick Valley. A public vote beginning April 13...