At Aegis Brands Inc., Sean Murphy has been appointed President, CEO and Director of Aegis Brands, joining the company on August 17th, 2026. He brings decades of proven expertise in business transformation, franchise operations, and scalable growth strategies. Most recently, as President of a concierge and security services company and as Vice President for two large franchisors following a highly successful 20-year tenure at Restaurant Brands International where he led regional profit centres of more than 800 units. Aegis Brands owns and operates the St. Louis Bar & Grill brand and holds the master franchise for the Sweet Jesus ice cream brand in Canada. (Aegis Brands Inc. – www.aegisbrands.ca)…….
METRO Inc. and FGF Brands have announced a strategic partnership involving the commercial bakery manufacturing operations of Première Moisson Group Inc., with Toronto-based FGF acquiring Première Moisson’s Baie-D’Urfé production facility for $90 million(Cdn). The transaction supports METRO’s strategy of focusing resources on its core food and pharmaceutical retail and distribution businesses while partnering with a specialized bakery manufacturer. Following the closing, expected in METRO’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, FGF will manufacture and distribute Première Moisson products sold through METRO’s Québec and Ontario grocery network. The Première Moisson brand, its 25 retail bakeries across Québec, artisanal in-store production operations, and Vaudreuil-Dorion pastry facility will remain under METRO ownership. FGF will assume responsibility for the production facility and all affected employees will transfer to the company. The partnership is expected to enhance innovation, product development and operational efficiency while maintaining the quality and craftsmanship associated with Première Moisson. FGF Brands, one of North America’s largest bakery producers, supplies branded and private-label products through a global network of manufacturing facilities. (METRO Inc. – www.metro.ca) & (FGF Brands – www.fgfbrands.com)………..
Minto Apartment REIT has received required approvals from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and certain lenders to proceed with its previously announced acquisition by an affiliate of Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Limited Partnership. Under the arrangement, Crestpoint will acquire all outstanding Minto REIT units, excluding those held by Minto Properties Inc., affiliates and certain executives, for $18.00 per unit in cash. Subject to remaining closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close on or about August 7, 2026. (Minto Apartment REIT – www.mintoapartmentreit.com) & (Crestpoint Real Estate Investments Limited Partnership – www.crestpoint.cclgroup.com)………….
Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, the chain of over 430-auto service locations across the U.S. has just opened its latest location, a 5700 square foot location at 3455 Winder Hwy in Oakwood in the Gainsville area in northeastern Georgia, part of its continued growth in the region. Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers is part of the Mavis Tire Express Services Corp. family of brands and targets 0.65 to 0.85 acres sites with 120 to 175 feet of frontage in markets with steady daytime traffic and strong residential growth. (Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers – www.expressoil.com)…………..
PRO Real Estate Investment Trust has completed the acquisition of four industrial properties in Winnipeg in Manitoba, totaling 164,872 square feet of gross leasable area, for $21.7 million(Cdn). Following the acquisition, PROREIT’s portfolio now includes 126 income-producing properties totaling approximately 7.4 million square feet. Industrial assets account for 93.5 percent of the portfolio’s leasable area. (PRO Real Estate Investment Trust – www.proreit.com)…………
AutoCanada Inc. has completed the sale of three British Columbia dealerships: Island Chevrolet Buick GMC in Duncan, Abbotsford Volkswagen, and Chilliwack Volkswagen. The transactions generated approximately $32.2 million in gross proceeds, including $28.8 million for goodwill and fixed assets and $3.4 million for real estate. AutoCanada said the divestitures support its strategy of improving capital allocation by reducing debt and reinvesting in higher-return opportunities within its core dealership network. AutoCanada’s Dealership Operations segment operates 61 franchised dealerships in Canada, comprised of 23 automotive brands across 8 provinces as well as three independent used dealerships. (AutoCanada Inc. – www.autocan.ca)………..
The Rose Corp has received unanimous approval from Oakville Town Council for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments supporting its 27-acre master-planned community at 420 South Service Rd East. The former General Electric manufacturing site, located just east of Trafalgar Rd., will be transformed into Midtown Oakville’s largest redevelopment project, creating a high-density, mixed-use neighbourhood with approximately 5,600 homes across 14 buildings, retail and commercial space, and five acres of parks and open space. The transit-oriented community will benefit from future Bus Rapid Transit service, GO bus connections and proximity to Oakville GO Station. The project was praised by Council and residents for its collaborative planning process and alignment with Oakville’s long-term vision. Designed by an international team including Graziani & Corazza, SLA and Allies and Morrison, the development will feature pedestrian-focused streets, a retail high street, public plazas, a park loop, a pedestrian bridge and a Bentway-style underpass. The Rose Corp expects construction to begin in late 2027 with the first phase focused on purpose-built rental housing. (The Rose Corp – www.rosecorp.com)……
Over the weekend, Happy Belly Food Group celebrated the grand opening of a Heal Wellness location at 14 York St in Toronto’s downtown core. The location is being opened by the franchise group led by Alex Rechichi and Bedford Park Capital, which entered into Heal’s largest multi-unit franchise agreement to date for 45 locations across Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. (Happy Belly Food Group Inc – www.happybellyfg.com)……
Global restaurant brand Jollibee reports that it has built significant momentum through the first half of 2026, adding three multi-unit franchise developers to its existing four. The development activity puts Jollibee on a clear path toward 330 US franchise restaurants by 2030. “It’s been a great year so far,” said Peter Wright, vice president of franchise development for Jollibee Group North America. “We have a high degree of confidence in franchising as a key way to grow, and the quality of the franchise candidates we are engaging with is impressive.” Those openings will further strengthen Jollibee’s presence in two high-priority markets, California and New York, while increasing brand awareness among new consumers beyond its already passionate customer base. The company’s franchise growth strategy remains focused on partnering with experienced restaurant operators who can execute multi-unit development while maintaining the operational standards that have helped make Jollibee one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. (Jollibee Group North America – www.jollibeefoods.com/franchising)…………..
Minneapolis-based franchisor Winmark Corp has announced net income for its second quarter ending in late June 2026 of $10,394,800(US) compared to net income of $10,601,200(US) in 2025. For the six months ending in late June 2026, net income was $19,649,600(US) compared to net income of $20,557,600 for the same period last year. 2025 year-to-date results included $2.2 million of leasing income from the settlement of customer litigation. “Winmark has continued to make investments in advance of the Plato’s Closet North American Ad Fund launch and in support of technology and innovation initiatives across our network,” noted Brett Heffes, Chair, CEO. Winmark – the Resale Company, is a franchisor focused on sustainability and small business formation operating several resale-type franchises including Plato’s Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore and Music Go Round. (Winmark Corp – www.winmarkcorporation.com)………….
My comments last week about the recent rash of closures generated a few unexpected responses, one in particular from an experienced retail real estate broker who questioned the attraction of second-generation spaces. “While I agree, taking over a location that’s already built-out for your needs can save a start-up or a franchisee money and up and running very quickly, especially with today’s building costs.,” he said. “Unfortunately, in the search for the search for a good location, that apparent financial saving often clouds the fact that you are taking over someone else’s mistake.”
He went on to explain that new prospective tenants need to be aware of why these second-generation spaces are now on the market. “There are usually pretty clear reasons why the original location closed,” he said, “and a good agent should have that information.” Agreed, poor financial management or an inability to control operating costs can be a legitimate reason but all too often, it was not the right locations in the first place.
While the old adage ‘Location, Location, Location’ will always hold true, but with the amount of space that is on the market today, we must adjust that old tradition expression to ‘Location, Location, Location…..and History’.
As a wise man, it might have been my high school teacher, once said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”
Have a great week and don’t forget, Thursday, July 24th is National Drive-Thru Day. Drive-thrus were introduced in the 1930s and are still an in-demand feature today…………..