This week in grocery news: Empire’s ‘strategic’ deal, discount versus conventional

Get up to speed with our rundown of the biggest news stories of the past week. 

Empire buys Quebec’s Mayrand

Sobeys parent company Empire said Thursday (April 9) it had struck a deal to purchase Quebec food retailer Mayrand. The acquisition provides the grocery giant with a “strategic entry” into the Quebec discount/warehouse food market. Read more

What does discount’s growth mean for conventional grocery stores?

Shoppers might once have picked up staple goods at a discount grocer but turned to a traditional store for produce, ready-made meals or a wider variety of choices on some goods. That’s changing. Read more 

Front-of-package labels influence shopper behavior

Caddle CEO Ransom Hawley writes that the impact of FOP labels is emerging—measurably and unevenly—and is likely to compound as consumer familiarity grows. Read more

FreshCo to open first stores in Atlantic Canada 

FreshCo, Empire Company’s discount chain, is launching in Atlantic Canada with three stores set to open in the Halifax area. Read more 

Loblaw’s No Name brand launches Y2K-inspired campaign

The private label’s “grocery goss” campaign is inspired by 2000s-era tabloids. Read more 

Stay in the know by subscribing to Canadian Grocer’s free daily newsletter and following us on LinkedIn.