Real estate company Galion has completed the acquisition of five large-format RONA and RONA L’Entrepôt stores located on Montréal’s South Shore, for an amount exceeding $100 million(Cdn). The acquired properties are located in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Brossard, Granby, Beloeil, and Saint-Hyacinthe, adding 620,000 square feet to its portfolio. Following this transaction, Galion’s real estate portfolio now includes 73 properties across Québec. The company’s assets are now approaching $1 billion, and the organization clearly states its ambition to double this value in the short term. Galion’s portfolio includes office space, retail space, light industrial properties, and gas stations, reflecting a strong and structured diversification strategy across Québec. (Galion Gestion Developpement Immobilier – www.societegalion.com)………….
Retail Council of Canada has recognized Sandra Sanderson, Chief Marketing Officer of Empire Company Ltd and Sobeys Inc., with the Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions, leadership, and decades of dedication to retail in Canada. “Sandra Sanderson has set the standard for what great retail marketing leadership looks like in Canada.,” said Kim Furlong, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada. “She leads with rigour and purpose, builds brands that genuinely connect with consumers, and does it all with a generosity of spirit that has made her a mentor and a model for the next generation of retail leaders. Her contributions to Canadian retail are both profound and enduring.” Today, Ms Sanderson leads marketing across one of Canada’s largest retail portfolios, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Thrifty Foods, Foodland, FreshCo and Lawton’s. As part of Empire’s Executive Team, Sanderson has played a pivotal role in the company’s multi-phased transformation over her seven-plus year tenure. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Ms Sanderson at RCC’s Canadian Grand Prix Awards Gala on June 3, 2026, at the Toronto Congress Centre, the closing celebration of RCCSTORE26. (Retail Council of Canada – www.retailcounciol.org)………….
Earlier in April, Toronto-based PesoRama Inc., a Canadian company operating dollar stores in Mexico under the JOi Dollar Plus brand, opened its 35th store in Parque Tepeyac, a large shopping centre in northeast Mexico City. The store is 3640 square feet. Rahim Bhaloo, Founder, CEO, Chairman of PesoRama adds that aggressive expansion continues. “We have identified a robust pipeline of high-density traffic areas where there is an opportunity to open additional stores to drive continued growth and success.” (PesoRama – www.pesorama.ca)……….
Over the weekend, Happy Belly Food Group opened its first Heal Wellness location in Quebec. The quick-service restaurant brand specializing in fresh smoothie bowls, açaí bowls, and smoothies opened at 6985 Boul Decarie in Montreal’s west end. With the Heal location that opened at 360 Bloor St West in Toronto’s Bloor Annex neighbourhood, Happy Belly counts 37 locations open in Canada and over 170 under development. (Happy Belly Food Group – www.happybellyfg.com)……….
Joliette, Quebec-based Harnois Énergies has officially opened its new large-scale Travel Stop in Woodstock in southwestern Ontario. Representing a key milestone in the company’s strategy to develop large-scale destinations tailored to the needs of both truck drivers and travelers, the location is at Exit 230 off Hwy 401. Woodstock is the Harnois Énergies’ first site of its kind and sets the stage for a growing network in the years ahead. In addition to fuel, mechanical services and lounge areas, the Travel Stop includes quick service restaurants including a Tim Hortons with drive-thru, two Proxi convenience stores, an ice cream shop, etc. (Harrois Energies – www.harnoisenergies.com)…………
Are You Using a Broker?
I don’t think it’s any surprise to anyone, but real estate brokers have become a requirement in today’s industry. For a retailer or restaurateur that is expanding beyond one or two locations, the right broker isn’t just helpful—they’ve become necessary.
The right broker will often know about off-market or soon-to-be-available spaces before they’re widely advertised. This early access can be critical in competitive retail corridors. And that right broker brings data on traffic patterns, demographics, co-tenancy, and competitor locations to your attention. These insights helps to ensure that you’re not just opening more locations, you’re opening the best ones.
With a firm understanding of your business and your requirements, the right broker is the specialists that will efficiently arrange site tours, landlord coordination, document reviews, etc., to save time and at the same time avoid overpaying, cannibalizing existing locations, or committing to poor-performing sites.
Also keep in mind, while landlords negotiate leases every day, for many tenants, lease negotiations can be a precarious path. The right brokers can level that playing field by negotiating rent, tenant improvement allowances, fixturing periods, exclusivity clauses, and renewal options in your favor.
Agreed, the larger retail organizations may have real estate departments, yet in many instances, they too will retain the services of a broker. And while the small and medium-sized chains can technically search for space on their own, but going without a broker usually means leaving money, time, and leverage on the table.
Now these are some of the obvious and sometimes overlooked reasons for retaining the right broker, and yes, I have repeatedly mentioned ‘right’ broker. Like most professions, brokers are specialists and the retail real estate is a specific area of skill. And make no mistake, like every profession, there can be a big difference between the right one and the rest. Maybe next time we’ll talk about finding that ‘right broker’…………Have a great week……….