COVID-19 has changed consumer shopping habits for the foreseeable future. This is especially true in the grocery sector. Dalhousie Universities’ spring study revealed that only 24% of Canadians felt comfortable with the idea of in-store grocery shopping.[i] In addition, there has being a surge in online food sales. This is significant given before COVID-19, Canadians […]
Read More ›
The brand is a business’ most valuable asset, especially given the competition cannot copy it. Yet, it seems most small to medium size businesses put more of their time and effort into their product offering and not their brand identity. Though a great concern regardless, most concerning during COVID-19. Before COVID-19, brands had 5-7 seconds […]
Read More ›
Growing up is was common practice for the milkman to deliver our milk directly to our home. When my dad designed our new home, he created a milk slot which was open to the outside, but locked in the inside. When finished we would put our empties back and the milkman picked them up. Though […]
Read More ›
COVID-19 is a pandemic for the ages. It is one most of us have never experienced and every day I pray we will never experience again. Many have compared this pandemic to the Great Depression. For Quarter 1, 2020, Canada’s economy contracted at an annualized pace of 8.2%. [i] When the Canadian economy will rebound […]
Read More ›
COVID-19 is a pandemic we have never experienced in our lifetime and one I pray to God each day we will never experience again. It has taken its toll on the economy. The Conference Board of Canada has predicted real GDP is projected to contract by 4.0% this year, down from a gain of 1.7% […]
Read More ›
The Canadian retail sector is extremely competitive given the choices consumers have. This is especially true for new brand entrants who face the daunting challenge of generating word of mouth and promoting their brand through open public relations (PR). Not all brands can be like Beyond Meat which has been in the headlines the past […]
Read More ›
We have been learning about greenhouse gases, global warming, and climate change through the news. This past year a National climate emergency was declared by the Canadian House of Commons. It declares a national climate emergency and supports the country’s commitment to meeting the emissions targets outlined in the Paris Agreement. Though the oil sands […]
Read More ›
Dollar stores are a well-known entity in Canada. The first store was a Dollarama that was introduced in Quebec in 1992. Two and a half decades later they have become a household name with over 1,200 locations nationally. One of their newest locations is my hometown of Streetsville. It is projected in a few years Canada will […]
Read More ›
Each year, thousands of ambitious food entrepreneurs start new businesses. In 2018, 11% of small business start-ups were in the food/restaurant business.[i] These entrepreneurs feel bright and full of hope and have the dream of having their products listed by a major grocery retailer. What once may have been a slam dunk, today the challenge […]
Read More ›
This past week I went to my local Loblaws for toothpaste. They devote 16’ of shelf space to this category that features 7 different brands and over 50 product offerings. With so much competition regardless of the category, how do the smaller brands compete and stay listed? According to what I have read and heard; […]
Read More ›