Meal kits are sweeping across North America. It’s the perfect trend for consumers who want to be empowered by cooking but still need convenience. For example, Walmart has just partnered with Gobble to deliver meal kits. In the battle over the future of food consumption in the U.S., Walmart wants a fighting chance against the
Comment: Meal kits set the table for a new food retailing boom
Instead of takeout, consumers can choose a meal kit that allows them to whip up an appealing dish in minutes
Opinion: Amazon and Whole Foods – one year later
The blockbuster deal has forced domestic grocery giants to adapt quickly
One after the other, grocers are going virtual. All of them, at some point over the last 12 months, have announced some sort of commitment to an e-commerce strategy. Costco launched its home delivery pilot in Ontario, while Maxi’s, Loblaw’s discount stores in Quebec, were the latest to jump on the virtual bandwagon with their
Comment: Tim Hortons goes east
An aggressive plan to expand into China has been unveiled
Tim Hortons is going where the growth is: east to China. The Canadian institution announced it will expand its portfolio of 4,700 restaurants by signing a joint venture partnership with a Chinese-based equity firm. Tim Hortons currently has locations in the United States, the Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom, and it intends
Comment: The trouble with edibles
Is Canada’s food industry ready for the massive opportunity of cannabis legalization?
On Oct. 17, smoking cannabis will become legal in Canada. As for cannabis edibles, they will take a bit longer: cannabis-infused food products will be legal in a little less than a year’s time. Once edibles are available, things will get complicated in Canada’s food industry. But, with the right regulations, this is a profit
Comment: Souped up
A Kraft-Heinz takeover rumour doesn’t disguise deep-seated issues for companies like Campbell Soup
Campbell Soup stocks soared after news came out suggesting the company could be bought by Kraft-Heinz, one of 3G Capital and Warren Buffett’s pet projects in the food sector. Even though the deal is highly unlikely to happen, these rumours point to a much larger story in food processing. Since 2013, the “acquire and cut”
Comment: Cupboard economics
Canadians love to support Canadian food but there are financial and production realities at play
In a nutshell, here is what happened following the G7 Summit: Trudeau plays nice with Trump, Trump tears Trudeau apart on social media, Trudeau plays nice again. While Trudeau showed very Canadian diplomacy, poise and resilience, the Canadian public seems to be taking another approach. Everywhere on social media, Canadians are encouraging one another to
Comment: Canada’s strategic trade war
Ottawa appears to have a not-so-hidden agenda with its targeted retaliatory tariffs
We are now officially at war with the United States – in a trade war that is. In response to U.S.-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, Canada intends to do the same on our side. Like any trade war, it could unfortunately escalate. Read more: As U.S., Canada spar, farm hopes ride on two men in
Opinion: ‘Shrinkflation’ is a thing
Ingredient prices are rising but Canadians stubbornly won’t pay more at the till
Most consumers are always concerned about the cost of food. We constantly look for bargains and the food industry knows it. According to a recent survey, almost 60 per cent of all Canadian consumers consider price as one of the top three decision criteria when grocery shopping. Price is key, no matter what. Pricing in
Opinion: Food prices stuck in place
The economy is doing well, so why can’t Canadian grocers hike prices?
Retail food prices are not moving much these days. They are barely higher than last year, with a modest increase of 0.5 per cent. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, prices dropped overall by 0.7 per cent over the winter months. South of the border, U.S. grocers are dealing with the same issue. Since our
Comeau: A measly $292.50 that could have changed it all
Interprovincial trade will remain hidebound to internal protectionism, thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling
The recent Supreme Court ruling on interprovincial trade barriers is a significant loss for consumers and our Canadian economy, but a great win for inertia. The Comeau case was never just about beer. It was essentially about enabling our domestic economy across the country to thrive. For the agri-food sector, the decision would have had
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
