Entertainment Becomes a New Anchor for Canadian Shopping Centres

Entertainment operators are taking larger positions in Canadian shopping centres as landlords redevelop former department stores and add attractions designed to extend visits. JLL is tracking a 16.5-million-square-foot North American pipeline as concepts including Playdium, Activate, Splitsville and Forever Young expand.

Kidfresh Expands to More Than 300 Canadian Stores as Kids’ Frozen Meal Category Grows

The brand is adding Metro Ontario and Pattison Food Group locations while making and packaging its Canadian lineup domestically.

Imaginaire Targets National Expansion with 2–3 New Stores Annually

Quebec-based hobby and collectibles retailer Imaginaire is prioritizing Ontario as it plans two to three new stores annually beginning in 2027 and builds toward a national footprint.

Canadian Travel Brand Monos Plans Retail Expansion as Tariffs Reshape U.S. Strategy

CEO Victor Tam says the Vancouver-based company is deepening its presence in existing Canadian markets while balancing growth between Canada and the U.S.

Replacement Tenants Now Identified at All Former Nordstrom Stores in Canada

More than three years after Nordstrom exited Canada, replacement tenants are now known at all six former full-line stores. From SportChek, Winners and Old Navy in Calgary to Simons, Aritzia, Eataly and Splitsville elsewhere, the former department-store boxes are taking on very different configurations.

Most Canadian Small Businesses Haven’t Felt AI’s Impact: Zensurance

Second-wave findings from Zensurance’s 2026 survey show three-in-five small business owners remain outside the AI conversation.

Calgary Retail Investment Hits $522 Million in H1 2026, Led by $154M Northland Village Sale

Investor demand in Calgary is strongest for grocery-anchored, neighbourhood and convenience-focused properties, as buyers seek resilient retail assets amid population growth and limited supply.

EB Games opening North America’s first Nintendo store-within-a-store experience in Toronto

New permanent Nintendo space coming to EB Games' flagship Toronto location October 17

Canadian Consumer Spending Tracks 2.6% Growth in Q3 as FIFA World Cup Provides Modest Boost: TD

TD data show spending on travel, groceries and home-related purchases remained resilient, while World Cup activity lifted select categories in Ontario and B.C.

Costco expands on-demand delivery across Canada through DoorDash

Costco members across Canada can now order groceries, household essentials, electronics and other products from Costco warehouses through DoorDash.

Daily Synopsis: October 6, 2026

Wild Fork retreats from Ontario after closing four stores, contrasting with Jollibee's rapid Canadian growth and MINISO's launch of a larger store format in Mississauga. Their differing strategies reflect varied approaches to scaling retail operations in competitive markets.

Wild Fork Exits Canada, Abandoning Ambitious Ontario Expansion Plans

Wild Fork is exiting Canada and closing four Ontario stores after once planning nearly 30 locations and broader national expansion.

VIDEO: What consumers can do during an affordability crisis

Bruce Winder, a retail analyst, shops this way and offers the following advice.

Crate & Barrel Holdings partners with Affirm for flexible payment options

Crate & Barrel Holdings has partnered with Affirm to offer flexible biweekly and monthly payment options to eligible shoppers in Canada and the U.S. across its brands.

Skip, Instacart partner to expand grocery, restaurant delivery options for Canadians

Skip customers will gain access to Instacart’s grocery and retail marketplace, while Instacart users will be able to order from more than 50,000 Skip restaurant partners.

SITE SEARCH

FEATURED ARTICLES

Retail Insider Releases Q3 2026 Canadian Retail Reports

Retail Insider has released 18 Q3 2026 reports examining Canadian retail sectors, consumer behaviour and the businesses supporting the industry. The collection brings together reporting and data on store investment, real estate, technology, supply chains, marketing, security and policy.

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

RETAILER NEWS

Latest retail store openings, closings, expansions, etc.

Entertainment Becomes a New Anchor for Canadian Shopping Centres

Entertainment operators are taking larger positions in Canadian shopping centres as landlords redevelop former department stores and add attractions designed to extend visits. JLL is tracking a 16.5-million-square-foot North American pipeline as concepts including Playdium, Activate, Splitsville and Forever Young expand.

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA

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

Retail Insider Releases Q3 2026 Canadian Retail Reports

Retail Insider has released 18 Q3 2026 reports examining Canadian retail sectors, consumer behaviour and the businesses supporting the industry. The collection brings together reporting and data on store investment, real estate, technology, supply chains, marketing, security and policy.

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS

Latest retail news focused on leaders, recognition, etc.

RETAILER OP-EDS

Latest retail opinion editorials.

RETAILER NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER FINANCIALS & DATA (Con't)

Payroll employment increases in retail trade: Statistics Canada

From February to July, payroll employment in this sector generally trended up, with an overall increase of 25,300 (+1.3%).

RETAILER PEOPLE NEWS (Con't)

RETAILER OP-EDS (Con't)

How Premium Brands Defend Pricing as Products Become Easier to Copy

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

SUBSCRIBE to Retail Insider's Daily E-News

Subscribe

* indicates required