This month's top stories
1. Co-op Atlantic looks to sell grocery business to Sobeys
Last Saturday, the board of directors of the Moncton, N.B.-based co-op asked its member-owners to ratify a plan to sell Co-op Atlantic’s entire food and gas retail and wholesale business to Sobeys. Members have until May 12 to vote.
Read the full story here.
2. Sobeys surprises residents with pop-up restaurant
Sobeys Newcastle in north Edmonton set out on a quest to prove food from its take-out kitchen and fresh market could be considered fine dining. In March, the marketing team invited residents to attend what they thought to be a menu tasting for a new restaurant. It was, in fact, food made by Sobeys' in-store chefs.
Read the full story here.
3. Instabuggy grocery delivery service launches in Toronto
A startup called InstaBuggy launched its grocery delivery service on last month. Now in pilot stage, the service says it will get groceries to customers’ homes or offices in one hour.
Read the full story here.
4. Senior executive shuffle at Longo’s
Longo Bros. Fruit Markets announced a series of senior executive changes and appointments, part of a new five-year strategic plan for the family-owned company.
Read the full story here.
5. Loblaw and Uber team up on click-and-collect offer
In a bid to increase online grocery sales, Loblaw and the commercial ride-sharing service Uber have teamed up to give shoppers free rides to the three Toronto-area stores that offer the grocer’s click-and-collect service.
Read the full story here.
6. How to break the harmful price promotions habit
Canadians are addicted to deals and stocking up on sale items. How can grocers do better promotions to be profitable?
Read the full story here.
7. Ontario to allow beer sold in grocery stores
Ontario will allow beer to be sold in 450 grocery stores, and will start a pilot project to sell 12-packs of beer in 10 Liquor Control Board stores, which could expand to about 60 LCBO stores.
Read the full story here.
8. IGA improves online ordering
Sobeys Quebec executive Alain Dumas doesn’t think online grocery shopping will ever replace the in-store experience. But for the growing numbers of consumers who do shop online, he says the newest version of IGA’s online shopping platform is about as close to in-store experience as you can get.
Read the full story here.
9. Why General Mills resurrected three beloved cereal brands
A decade after discontinuing Trix in Canada, General Mills reintroduced the brand for a limited run this spring in hopes of cashing in on nostalgia consumers have for the cereal and its mascot, the Trix rabbit.
Read the full story here.
10. How is Overwaitea winning in the West?
One hundred years is a long time for any company to survive—let alone an independent from Canada’s West Coast. But then, Overwaitea Foods isn’t your average grocery chain.
Read the full story here.