In an agreement with London, U.K.-based Boots Group, Canada’s Weston family holding company, Wittington Investments, has agreed to acquire Boots and its associated businesses from majority owner Sycamore Partners, in partnership with Stefano Pessina and family, for $8.9 billion(US). The acquisition includes Boots’ retail operations in the UK and Ireland, Boots Opticians, No7 Beauty Company, and its Thailand and franchised businesses. Sycamore will retain other interests, including Farmacias Benavides and Alliance Healthcare Deutschland. Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings is partnering with Wittington, which will retain operational control. The acquisition builds on the Westons’ extensive retail, pharmacy and beauty experience through Loblaw Companies Ltd, which operates approximately 2,800 locations and owns Shoppers Drug Mart. Wittington also previously owned Selfridges in the UK from 2003 to 2021. Boots, which has more than 50,000 employees and a 177-year history, will benefit from planned investment in store upgrades, online shopping and expanded healthcare services. Galen Weston will become chairman upon closing. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027. (Wittington Investments Ltd – www.wittington-investments.co.uk)…….
Hangzhou, China-based Geely Auto has officially announced its entry into Canada, establishing a local team and beginning development of a retail and service network ahead of its first vehicle launches in 2027. The global automotive brand, whose vehicles are sold in more than 100 countries and regions, plans to partner with experienced local operators to support sales and customer service. Geely Auto Canada Managing Director Bryan Wu said the company is committed to long-term growth in Canada. (Geely Auto Group – www.geely.ca)………..
Sephora, the LVMH-owned omni-channel beauty chain with its assortment of makeup, skincare haircare and fragrance brands, is opening in Liberty Village in downtown Toronto, reportedly in time for the holiday season. The unit is in the former 8 Temple presentation gallery at 171 East Liberty St. RioCan Stock Yards Village at 1980 St Clair Ave in Toronto also reports at a 4770 square foot Sephora is opening shortly. (Sephora -www.sephora.com)………..
Dilawri, Canada’s largest automotive group, has opened Kia Vaughan at 9088 Jane St. in Vaughan, its third Kia dealership in Ontario alongside Markham Kia and 401 Dixie Kia. The existing two-storey facility features 10,395 square feet of showroom space, 16 service bays, two alignment bays, four detailing bays and two vehicle delivery bays. A redevelopment, expected to be completed in late 2027, will introduce Kia’s next-generation retail environment, with an updated showroom, customer amenities and digital experiences. The investment strengthens Dilawri’s presence in the growing Vaughan market and is expected to create employment opportunities. (Dilawri – www.dilawri.ca)……………
Tim Hortons and its restaurant owners across Canada announced that $979,000 was raised for Indigenous organizations through the sixth annual Orange Sprinkle Donut campaign, held on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Every Sept. 30, Tim Hortons restaurant owners donate 100 percent of proceeds from Orange Sprinkle Donut sales to organizations supporting Indigenous communities across the country. First developed in 2021 by a group of Indigenous Tim Hortons restaurant owners, the campaign has now raised over $6.2 million for the Orange Shirt Society, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, Ulnooweg Education Centre, and in Quebec, the New Pathways Foundation. (Tim Hortons – www.timhortons.ca)……….
Costco Wholesale is preparing to open four locations in Canada in November. In Alberta, Costco is opening at Manning Town Centre in northeast Edmonton in Lloydminster’s west side at 75th Ave and 19th St. In Ontario, the openings are at Tecumseh Rd East and Catherine St in East Windsor and at 345 Lyons Court in Wasaga Beach in Ontario. (Costco Wholesale – www.costco.ca)…………
Based on its recent research, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business reports that only seven percent of small businesses plan to grow or diversify significantly over the next twelve months. About 31 percent say cost and economic pressures are preventing growth, with 59 percent of those citing taxes as their biggest obstacle. Ahead of the federal government’s Fall budget, CFIB is recommending 13 tax changes, led by reducing the small business tax rate from nine percent to six percent and raising the income eligibility threshold from $500,000 to at least $700,000. Other proposals include doubling the GST/HST registration threshold to $60,000 and introducing tax relief for reinvested business-sale proceeds. CFIB says 62 percent of small businesses would prioritize a lower tax rate if offered relief. Meanwhile, 58 percent would use savings to increase employee wages, 48 percent to pay down debt and 47 percent to expand operations. The organization’s petition calling for a tax-rate reduction has attracted nearly 10,000 signatures. (Canadian Federation of Independent Business – www.cfib.ca)……….
Casual bar and grill brand TGI Fridays has announced a development agreement with Bliss Bites LLC to open five new Fridays restaurants across New York State over three years. The agreement marks the company’s first domestic development agreement in more than a decade, reenergizing its growth plans in the U.S. Bliss Bites LLC is led by owner and managing Director, Vinod Chand. In addition to the development of five new restaurants over three years, Bliss Bites has also acquired Fridays’ existing location in Central Islip in New York, bringing the franchisee’s total New York portfolio to six restaurants. Over 60 years in operation, TGI Fridays operates nearly 400 restaurants in about 40 countries. (TGI Fridays – www.tgifridays.com)………..
Roots Corp has partnered with the National Football League to launch a Canadian-focused collection of officially licensed fan apparel for five teams: the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Blending NFL team identities with Roots’ Canadian heritage, the collection features custom graphics, signature styles and heritage-inspired details. Available exclusively online as of last week, merchandise includes T-shirts, fleece and leather varsity jackets. Additional styles, including Park Plaid pieces, are scheduled for November. (Roots Corp – www.roots.com)……..
Last week, the largest T&T Supermarket in Ontario opening at the Empress Walk at Yonge St at Empress Ave in North York. The 66,000 square foot Asian supermarket opened in the former Loblaws store that closed in late 2025. The new store features a large bakery section along with a large Asian beauty section. T&T recently announced that it is opening an even larger store in 2028 in CF Markville in Markham. A relocation of its Unionville store will be 68,000 square feet. (T&T Supermarket – www.tntsupermarket.com)…….
Stacked, the Barrie, Ontario-based breakfast and lunch chain with more than 170 restaurants in nine provinces, has launched its first national brand campaign, ‘Life Happens Around the Table.’ The 60-second film, narrated by a restaurant booth, celebrates everyday gatherings, including family birthdays, friends’ brunches and team celebrations. Developed by Toronto agency King Street Media, the campaign runs on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook through December 14. Citing research that 65 percent of Canadians wish their families ate together more often, Stacked encourages customers to reconnect over meals. The chain has opened more than 70 restaurants in the past two years. (King Street Media – www.kingstreetmedia.ca) & (Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House – www.stacked.ca)…….
Edmonton-based AutoCanada Inc. has acquired two Colorworks Autobody collision repair facilities in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam in British Columbia, adding approximately 12,100 square feet of capacity to its Metro Vancouver network. The facilities, to be renamed ACX Coquitlam and ACX PoCo, hold certifications for ten automotive brands and Tier 1 status with the Insurance Corp of British Columbia. The acquisitions strengthen network density, improve potential operating efficiencies and expand service capabilities. AutoCanada has acquired nine collision centres over the past twelve months, increasing its network by more than 20 percent. The company also appointed TD Securities Inc. as exclusive financial advisor for its previously announced strategic review of Collision Operations, which operates 40 centres. The review will explore opportunities to accelerate growth and unlock shareholder value. (AutoCanada Inc. – www.autocan.ca)……..
Build-A-Bear Workshop will open its largest and most immersive location to date in November at Orlando’s Icon Park, featuring a three-storey retail and entertainment experience, according to Retail & Leisure International. The store introduces three concepts: a Design Studio offering personalized, appointment-only plush creation with one-on-one design consultants; a Bakeshop for cookie and cupcake decorating; and a Personalise Me station providing custom embroidery and screen printing. Developed with design firm Chute Gerdeman, the Design Studio uses interactive digital tools to preview customized animals before skilled seamstresses create them. (Build-A-Bear Workshop – www.buildabear.com)………..
RONA Inc. has selected 150 minor hockey teams for the third edition of its RONA Rookies program, launched in Fall 2024 to make hockey more accessible to Canadian children and teenagers. The home improvement retailer, which operates and services more than 425 corporate and affiliated stores, will provide each participating team with $3,000 in support. The sponsorship includes a $1,000 grant for tournaments and other team activities, team apparel featuring RONA branding, and fan accessories. The program supports teams involving children and grandchildren of RONA network members, reinforcing the company’s commitment to families, youth participation and community engagement across Canada. (RONA Inc. – www.rona.ca)……….
Happy Thanksgiving, Canadian-style and I hope everybody is back safe and sound from ICSC@Canada. Now comes the time to see if the proof is in the pudding. Will all that traveling, the hotels, the conference, the conversations, the restaurants and the meetings turn into deals? Did the cost of all ‘That Fun’ pay for itself……..or will it be justified as ‘Waving the Flag’?
Regardless of how you justify it to the ‘bean-counters’, you only have eight weeks to prepare for the next important gathering……ICSC New York in early December is the second largest Canadian attended event in the U.S. And if you found that hotel rates in Toronto have become a little high, wait until you see the rates in Manhattan.
Yeah, I know, it’s a ‘cost of doing business’. See ya there………..