Retail Data Security: Save-On-Foods says a breach exposed names and contact details, including birth dates, linked to its More Rewards program. The grocer says passwords and payment details were not accessed, but has not disclosed how many customers were affected. Trade & Prices: U.S. food importer Gellert Global Group is challenging 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, including cheese, saying the duties disrupted suppliers and could add about $40 million a year to its cheese costs. Household Costs: Canada’s annual inflation rate reached 3.1% in September, while markets are increasingly betting on a Bank of Canada rate hike—pressure on household budgets and borrowers. Product Safety: Aleve, Claritin and Flintstones vitamins were among products recalled in Canada.
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Tariff Fight: A U.S. food importer is challenging President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, including cheese and other products. The case could shape costs for cross-border businesses and shoppers. Grocery Affordability: B.C. Greens propose 20 publicly owned grocery stores and a distribution hub, with $100 million in startup funding and a promise to price core staples 30% below market. Prices and Spending: September inflation reached 3.1%, driven in part by higher gasoline prices, while Canadian consumer confidence edged up but remained cautious. Product Safety: Reports flag recalls involving Aleve, Claritin and Flintstones vitamins; shoppers should check Health Canada notices for affected products.
Prices: Canada’s September inflation rate rose to 3.1%, with grocery-price growth moderating as higher gas prices drove the increase. The Bank of Canada is warning of a sharper inflation outlook as oil costs climb. Food Supply: Quebec’s strategic maple syrup reserve is nearly depleted amid high demand. Ottawa is putting C$50 million toward food-processing technology, while higher-fat milk is arriving on shelves. Product Watch: A recall alert names Aleve, Claritin and Flintstones vitamins; shoppers should check current notices for affected products. Retail: Spaces plans four new Toronto and Ottawa locations, and Miniso expects to open four Canadian stores by Christmas. Canadian Brands: A new Ontario-made chocolate is marketed to ease period pain, while a survey finds Canadians are willing to pay more for local products.
Prices: Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.1% in September, largely on higher fuel costs, while grocery prices climbed a milder 1.7% year over year. Still, food prices are up 33% since September 2020, and markets are betting the Bank of Canada could raise rates next week. Holiday Spending: Canadians plan to spend 5% less on gifts this season, according to a Deloitte survey, as households face continued cost pressures. Food Demand: Quebec’s strategic maple syrup reserve has run dry amid high demand, renewing questions about supply as the busy holiday season approaches. Retail Expansion: Miniso plans to open four more Canadian stores by Christmas. Local Products: A new study finds Canadians are willing to pay more for locally made goods, a potential boost for domestic brands.
Inflation Watch: Statistics Canada was due to release September’s CPI, with economists forecasting a rise to 3.2% from 3% in August as energy costs climb. Businesses’ plans to pass on higher costs will also be in focus ahead of the Bank of Canada’s Oct. 28 rate decision. Product News: Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K are listed at C$429 each in Canada, with the TV arriving Nov. 13. Korean skincare brand Medicube says it plans to bring its products to Costco Canada after expanding across U.S. stores. Food and Health: Canadian recalls include Soup Time French Onion Soup over undeclared wheat and Flintstones Complete chewable tablets recalled from wholesalers. A Guelph entrepreneur has also created a chocolate product aimed at easing period pain.
New Canadian Products: A Guelph entrepreneur has created a chocolate marketed to help ease period pain, bringing a novel wellness product to market. Food Safety: Health Canada recalled Flintstones Complete chewable tablets from wholesalers, while Soup Time French Onion Soup was recalled for undeclared wheat. Farm Boy, Life Smart and L’Ancêtre organic cheeses were also recalled over possible Listeria contamination. Shopping Outlook: Canadian shoppers say they’re willing to pay more for local products, but holiday-spending forecasts signal caution: one report expects gift spending to fall 5%, while Deloitte projects holiday outlays down 14%. Retail Costs: Tariffs and higher energy costs are pushing up toy prices ahead of the holidays. Canadian retail sales and CPI figures are due this week.
Food Safety: Soup Time French Onion Soup has been recalled in Canada because it may contain undeclared wheat, a reminder to check product labels and recall notices. Inflation Watch: Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem says higher oil prices are pushing up the inflation outlook ahead of the Oct. 28 rate decision, with potential knock-on costs for households and businesses. Hospitality: A new national survey finds 67% of tipped workers say their tips have fallen over the past two years; 43% rely on them for essentials such as rent and groceries. Retail: A Canadian designer popular with celebrities is opening her first Toronto storefront, bringing the brand to local shoppers.
Food Safety: Canadian recalls include Soup Time French Onion Soup for undeclared wheat, mooncake for undeclared peanut and Flintstones Complete chewables over a distribution error. Farm Boy and other organic cheeses were also recalled over possible listeria contamination. Shopping: A Halloween candy comparison weighs prices at Costco, Walmart and Loblaws, while a survey finds Canadians are willing to pay more for local products. Consumer Tech: Apple’s new iPhone Duo starts at $2,999 in Canada and is eSIM-only, with no physical SIM tray. Retail: Toronto-born designer Tanya Taylor has opened her first local store in Rosedale.
Product Recalls: Health Canada recalled Flintstones Complete chewable tablets after returned stock was mistakenly resold; a separate recall flagged mooncakes for undeclared peanuts. Grocery Competition: The Competition Bureau has opened an investigation into grocery minimum-advertised-price policies, putting retailers’ pricing practices under scrutiny. Halloween Shopping: A new comparison looks at Halloween candy prices at Costco, Walmart and Loblaws, giving shoppers a timely reason to check prices before buying. Tariff Costs: GoPro’s HERO13 Black price rose by $30 despite earlier assurances that tariffs would not raise prices, with buyers reportedly receiving no refund. Canadian Brands: A study finds Canadians are willing to pay more for local products, a potential boost for homegrown makers.
Product Recalls: Flintstones vitamins, Aleve and Claritin tablets are among products recalled over a distribution error. Retail Resilience: A cyberattack spoiled food at hundreds of French supermarkets by tampering with connected refrigeration. Canadian experts say grocers should review security on their own digital systems. Home Energy: Federal heat-pump rebates offer up to $10,000 for eligible lower- and middle-income homeowners, and up to $2,000 for others. Canadian Brands: Aritzia’s Canadian revenue rose 19.8%, but its U.S. sales grew much faster, so the results are not a clear sign of a broad consumer rebound at home. Food and Manufacturing: Canada ranked seventh among G20 countries for agri-food competitiveness, while processors still face rising costs and trade uncertainty. Manufacturing sales rose 1.5% in August, led by metals and chemicals, but vehicle sales fell. Jobs: Orillia plastics maker Polyethics temporarily laid off 118 workers as it prepares to open a U.S. factory, citing complex business challenges that include tariffs and trade tensions.
Food Safety: Organic cheeses sold under Farm Boy, Life Smart and L’Ancêtre brands were recalled across Canada over possible Listeria contamination; Flintstones multivitamins were also recalled because of a distribution error. Holiday Costs: Tariffs and higher energy costs are expected to push up toy prices, adding pressure as Canadian holiday gift spending is forecast to fall. Food Supply: Ottawa announced $50 million for the Canadian Food Innovation Network and renewed the Atlantic Fisheries Fund with $300 million to help seafood businesses reach new markets, as trade disruptions continue to squeeze food and beverage manufacturers. Retail Expansion: Circle K’s parent is set to acquire 50 gas-station sites from Irving Oil.
Product Recalls: Health Canada recalled Flintstones multivitamins after returned stock was mistakenly resold. Organic cheeses from Farm Boy, Life Smart and L’Ancêtre were also recalled over possible Listeria contamination. Food Affordability: Trade disruptions are squeezing Canadian food and beverage makers, while food insecurity affected 24% of Canadians in 2024 and holiday gift spending is forecast to fall 5%. Packaging Rules: The Supreme Court will hear Ottawa’s appeal over the federal single-use plastics ban, putting restrictions on items such as checkout bags and cutlery back in focus. Auto Market: U.S.-made vehicles lost 20% of their Canadian market share in the first half of 2026 amid tariffs; Geely plans to begin selling cars here in 2027, bringing new competition.
Food Supply: A U.S. ban on Canadian dairy imports threatens goat-milk producers: about 65% of Ontario’s output was exported south, putting farms, processors and rural jobs at risk. Food Safety: Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart organic cheeses were recalled across Canada over possible listeria contamination. Trade Pressure: Canadian food and beverage manufacturers face rising costs and disrupted markets, while holiday spending forecasts point to cautious shoppers, with Deloitte projecting a 14% drop. Autos: Geely plans to bring vehicles and a retail and service network to Canada in 2027, adding a major new competitor for car buyers. Toys: Walmart Canada has unveiled its 2026 top-toy picks as retailers gear up for the holiday season.
Food Safety: The CFIA recalled organic cheeses sold under Farm Boy, L’Ancêtre and Life Smart for possible listeria contamination. No illnesses have been reported; check the recall notice for affected products and dates. Retail: Walmart Canada has revealed its top toy picks for 2026, as shoppers begin planning holiday purchases. Wild Fork is winding down its Canadian operations, while a new Miniso concept has opened its first international location in the GTA. Autos: Tesla has paused Canadian orders for its lower-priced Model 3 Premium models, leaving the $74,990 Performance as the only available Model 3. Geely plans to enter Canada in 2027, bringing another potential choice for car buyers. Costs: Tariff uncertainty and rising fuel costs are squeezing businesses, including food processors, while whey protein prices have more than doubled amid a global shortage. Deloitte also forecasts holiday spending will fall 14%.
Smart Home: LG and Apple unveiled seven connected-home devices, including cameras, a doorbell, lock and thermostat, with a Canadian launch planned by year-end. Holiday Shopping: Walmart Canada’s 2026 Top Toys list is out, with featured toys set for holiday Rollbacks and demonstrations online. Retail Shifts: Wild Fork is winding down its Canadian operations, while Giant Tiger’s Pembina Highway store in Winnipeg is slated to close; Walmart plans a second Kingston location. More Car Choices: Chinese automaker Geely plans to begin selling vehicles in Canada in 2027, adding a new entrant to the market.
Retail Expansion: Walmart plans a 142,000-square-foot Supercentre in Kingston East next year, its second in the city, with groceries, general merchandise, pharmacy and pickup and delivery. Smart-Home Launches: Apple’s new HomeView display will start at $299 in Canada on Nov. 13, alongside an updated HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K; some Siri AI features will arrive later. Market Shifts: Wild Fork is closing its four Ontario stores by mid-December and has already ended online orders in Canada. Product Safety: A recall covers 340 DR Power walk-behind trimmer mowers in Canada over a fire risk linked to grass and debris buildup. Auto Competition: Chinese automaker Geely plans to begin selling vehicles in Canada in 2027, bringing a new contender to the market.
Retail Expansion: Miniso has opened its first overseas Super Miniso in Canada, while Denny’s added a Regina diner—its second in the city and fifth in Saskatchewan. Couche-Tard also struck a deal to acquire 52 Canadian retail sites from Irving Oil. Recycling: Calgary residents can now put more packaging in blue carts, including snack wrappers, toothpaste tubes, foam trays and empty aerosol cans. Food Safety: A turkey gravy brand sold in Canada was recalled over undeclared mustard, a risk for people with mustard allergies. Digital Banking: Simplii Financial is adding a new account and testing app-based folders to help customers organize spending, bills and savings. Autos: Geely plans to begin selling vehicles in Canada in 2027, though it has yet to name models.
Holiday Shopping: Latvian cheeses, chocolate and candied fruits are being pitched for Canadian entertaining, baking and gifting as retailers look to seasonal specialty foods. Retail Moves: Alimentation Couche-Tard has agreed to buy 52 Canadian retail sites from Irving Oil, expanding its convenience-store footprint. The Weston family’s $8.9-billion purchase of U.K. pharmacy chain Boots could also deepen links with Shoppers Drug Mart, including through Boots’ No7 beauty brand. Consumer Safety: Turkey gravy sold in Canada was recalled over undeclared mustard, a risk for people with allergies. More than 82,000 rechargeable hand warmers were also recalled over fire and burn hazards. Prices and Supply Chains: A weaker Canadian dollar and rising ingredient costs are adding pressure to grocery bills; whey protein prices have more than doubled amid tariffs and a global shortage. Ottawa is also considering tougher rules requiring importers to show goods are free of forced labour. New Products: China’s Geely plans to begin selling vehicles in Canada in 2027, though it has yet to name models.
Auto Market: Geely plans to launch vehicles in Canada in 2027 and is building a local retail and service network. Models, prices and dealers have not yet been announced. Product Safety: More than 82,000 rechargeable hand warmers were recalled over fire and burn risks; the recall includes units sold in Canada. Food Costs: Canadian whey protein prices have more than doubled amid a global shortage, while rising diesel and fertilizer costs add pressure to food prices. Retail: Aritzia reported a 43% sales jump and tripled second-quarter profit, extending the Canadian fashion brand’s strong growth. Shopping Trends: A new poll finds more than half of Canadians are avoiding American products.
Cross-Border Trade: A U.S. ban on nearly $1 billion in Canadian imports—including some alcohol, dairy products and motorcycles—has taken effect, escalating a trade fight that could squeeze Canadian exporters. Food Costs: Canadian whey protein prices have more than doubled as tariffs compound a global shortage, putting pressure on shoppers and supplement makers. Retail: Aritzia raised its outlook as U.S. demand surged, while the Weston family’s Wittington Investments agreed to buy U.K. pharmacy chain Boots for $8.9 billion.
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