TOP STORIES

Daily Synopsis: September 17, 2026

Retail Insider -
Stefano Ricci luxury boutique in Vancouver shuttering, Metro reaches deal with striking workers, Harry Rosen opens Toronto flagship September 22, GTA furniture retailer appears to go bankrupt, and other news.

Reitmans (Canada) Limited reports Q2 financial results, net revenues decrease 1.9% y/y

Mario Toneguzzi -
Net earnings were $10.1 million ($0.20 basic and diluted earnings per share) as compared with net earnings of $13.1 million ($0.26 basic and diluted earnings per share) a year earlier.

Primaris Raises $200M With More Than $1B in Canadian Mall Acquisitions Under Negotiation

Craig Patterson -
Primaris is raising $200 million in new equity while negotiating more than $1 billion in potential mall acquisitions. The financing adds capacity as the REIT continues buying major Canadian shopping centres from institutional owners and expanding its national portfolio.

Gen Z demands authentic digital experiences as AI reshapes retail: Sitecore

Mario Toneguzzi -
Sitecore research finds 89% of Gen Z wants more authentic digital experiences, while nearly 70% have reduced engagement with brands they distrust.

Dollarama’s $5 Ceiling Is Becoming a Test for Canadian Retail

Lee Rivett -
Dollarama is holding its $5 maximum price point as Canadian traffic continues to rise and cost pressures build. The widening performance gap with parts of mainstream retail raises questions about whether value shopping is becoming a permanent part of household spending.

STRONG Pilates launches new connected training technology as franchise expands globally

Mario Toneguzzi -
The technology is being introduced in two phases, beginning in Australia and the United States, with a second phase planned for later this year that will add expanded data capabilities, deeper technology integration and a global rollout.

Bloor Street Retail Update: New Stores, Flagships and Major Changes Reshape Toronto Luxury Corridor

Craig Patterson -
Toronto’s Bloor Street is seeing another wave of retail change, with RH, Delysées and Tiffany arriving, Holt Renfrew evolving, Harry Rosen relocating and major redevelopment projects moving ahead.

Verifran launches franchise intelligence platform to streamline candidate qualification

Mario Toneguzzi -
The Toronto-based company is positioning the platform as an intelligence layer between an initial franchise inquiry and a franchise development team

WestJet, Tim Hortons announce new in-flight coffee and loyalty partnership

Mario Toneguzzi -
The partnership will see WestJet serve a new Tim Hortons coffee blend called Flight Roast on flights that currently offer in-flight refreshments, while members of the two companies' rewards programs will eventually be able to earn points through eligible Tim Hortons purchases.

BCG: Canadian retail spending splits further as higher- and lower-income households diverge

Mario Toneguzzi -
Higher-income buyers place more weight on service and the buying experience, especially for bigger purchases like appliances.

Daily Synopsis: September 16, 2026

Retail Insider -
Mine & Yours Marks 13 Years as Luxury Resale Starts Looking More Like, TryCanadian.ca launches as Consumers Search for Canadian Alternatives, Dollarama Q2 sales increase 17.6% y/y to surpass $2 billion, RBC says grocery prices likely to keep rising faster than overall, and other retail news.

Cozey to open first permanent Montreal store as furniture retailer expands physical footprint

Mario Toneguzzi -
The Montreal location is part of a broader expansion that has seen Cozey increase its physical retail presence while also entering new international markets.

RONA names Alain Ménard CEO as J.P. Towner moves to Sycamore Partners advisory role

Mario Toneguzzi -
The company says Towner and Ménard will continue to work closely together during the transition as RONA moves into its next phase of growth.

Amazon invests more than $78 million in pay increases for Canada operations employees  

Mario Toneguzzi -
Amazon is raising its average hourly base wage in Canada to $26.27 per hour — up from $25.27 in 2025 — representing a 4% year-over-year increase. 

Mine & Yours Marks 13 Years as Luxury Resale Starts Looking More Like Luxury Retail

Lee Rivett -
Mine & Yours marks 13 years as the Canadian luxury reseller expands its retail footprint, deepens its Holt Renfrew partnership and builds a business model in which customers increasingly serve as both shoppers and suppliers.

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Retail Insider -
Join Retail Insider and UPS Capital Canada on September 30 at Noon ET for a free webinar on peak-season shipping risks, and protecting profits.

CURATED NEWS

Retail Insider Articles, by Category, can be found below.

RETAILER NEWS

Latest retail store openings, closings, expansions, etc.

News

Primaris Raises $200M With More Than $1B in Canadian Mall Acquisitions Under Negotiation

Craig Patterson -
Primaris is raising $200 million in new equity while negotiating more than $1 billion in potential mall acquisitions. The financing adds capacity as the REIT continues buying major Canadian shopping centres from institutional owners and expanding its national portfolio.

Gen Z demands authentic digital experiences as AI reshapes retail: Sitecore

Dollarama’s $5 Ceiling Is Becoming a Test for Canadian Retail

STRONG Pilates launches new connected training technology as franchise expands globally

Bloor Street Retail Update: New Stores, Flagships and Major Changes Reshape Toronto Luxury Corridor

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA

Latest retail financial results, industry data, and third-party research affecting Canadian retail.

News

Reitmans (Canada) Limited reports Q2 financial results, net revenues decrease 1.9% y/y

Mario Toneguzzi -
Net earnings were $10.1 million ($0.20 basic and diluted earnings per share) as compared with net earnings of $13.1 million ($0.26 basic and diluted earnings per share) a year earlier.

Dollarama Q2 sales increase 17.6% y/y to surpass $2 billion

Consumer prices rise 3% y/y in August: Statistics Canada

North West Company Sees Northern Retail Spending Rise as First Nations Settlement Payments Accelerate

Canadian Small Businesses Grapple With Late Payments and Rising Debt

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS

Latest retail news focused on leaders, recognition, etc.

RETAILER OP-EDS

Latest retail opinion editorials.

News

How Premium Brands Defend Pricing as Products Become Easier to Copy

Retail Insider -
Why can some brands still charge premium prices when cheaper alternatives are everywhere? Justin Walford examines Canada Goose, Aritzia and Arc’teryx.

Why Food Inflation Is Running Hotter in Canada Than the U.S.

How SMBs can deliver like large retailers this holiday season: UniUni (Opinion)

From The Desk: Navigating Retail Expansion Amid Economic Pressure and Innovation

Canadian Consumers Keep Spending Despite Weak Economy and Trade War

RETAILER NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA (Con't)

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER OP-EDS (Con't)

News

Canada’s New Counter-Tariffs to Impact Food Sector Supply Chains

Sylvain Charlebois -
As counter-tariffs come into effect on September 8, Canadian food processors and retailers brace for economic impacts. This article explores how these tariffs could lead to shrinkflation and affect consumer prices in the near future.

From The Desk: Canadian Retail Navigates Expansion, Consumer Shifts, and Supply Challenges

Grocery Prices Face New Pressure as Ottawa Imposes Counter-Tariffs

Canadians Are Grocery Shopping More Often but Buying Less Each Time

Community pharmacies play a bigger role in Canadians’ health and local economies than many realize (Opinion)

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