File photo of the produce section at a Canadian grocery store. (FatCamera/E+/Getty Images)

Competition Bureau to probe soaring food prices

Retail food prices seen outpacing inflation

Reuters — Canada’s competition watchdog said on Monday it would examine factors impacting soaring food prices and whether more competition in the grocery stores sector could help lower costs for Canadians. Price rises for store-bought food have been outpacing the broader annual inflation rate for 10 consecutive months, and grew 11.4 per cent in September,

Signage outside a Tweed cannabis store in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village, roughly 60 metres west of the high-density neighbourhood’s Tokyo Smoke store. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pot producer Canopy Growth to shed retail stores

Company working on 'path to profitability'

In full cost-cutting mode, Canadian cannabis producer Canopy Growth Corp. is set to shed a significant chunk of its vertical integration model by selling off the retail pot shops it owns across the country. Smiths Falls, Ont.-based Canopy announced Sept. 27 it has an agreement in place with OEG Retail Cannabis — already the owner/operators


(DimaSobko/iStock/Getty Images)

Canadian retailers impose limits on baby formula purchases

Canada not as hard hit by shortage as U.S.

Toronto | Reuters — Many Canadian retailers have imposed limits on the amount of baby formula customers can buy amid a shortage following Abbott Laboratories’ February production suspension in the United States, an industry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Canada has not been as hard hit by the shortage caused by the suspension at the Abbott




File photo of a Conagra production facility at Oakdale, Calif., about 150 km east of San Francisco, on Dec, 18, 2015. (Photo: Reuters/Fred Greaves)

Food retail order boom may ease after big quarter, Conagra says

Reuters — Conagra Brands put better-than-expected first quarter sales on Thursday down to heavy ordering by retailers worried about the durability of supply chains in the months ahead as a second wave of coronavirus cases takes hold. Shares in the foodstuffs maker dipped as much as three per cent before recovering after chief financial officer


File photo of a chickpea crop in India. (Nikhil Patil/iStock/Getty Images)

India to let farmers sell produce directly to traders, retailers

Current system seen reducing farmer bargaining power

New Delhi | Reuters — India is to allow farmers to sell produce directly to bulk buyers such as trading companies, food processors and large retailers, the farm minister said on Wednesday. This would obviate the need for farmers to bring their produce to India’s more than 7,000 regulated wholesale markets and let buyers buy



The legalization of cannabis is expected to create thousands of new jobs — from production workers to office staff. Shown here is an Ontario marijuana facility.  (Photo: Reuters/Blair Gable)

Ontario delays start date of retail cannabis sales

Toronto | Reuters — Ontario’s newly elected Tory government said Monday it will delay the start date of recreational marijuana sales in the province and will allow private retailers to sell cannabis rather than government-run stores. Ontario will allow private retailers to sell recreational marijuana starting on April 1, officials from the province’s Progressive Conservative

WinField United Canada will operate out of Saskatoon, serving about 60 independent ag input retailers. (LandOLakesInc.com)

Mergers spawn expanded supply network for input dealers

A wholesale buying network set up by and for independent Prairie crop input retailers, against a rising tide of industry consolidation, is now growing through consolidation. The Prairie retailers, who in 2010 set up Grow Community of Independents to collectively build up their retail and agronomic offerings, are now independent members of a new entity,