Auto dealership chain expands

Ag equipment dealerships are now dominated by multi-store retailers. Some of them, such as the Rocky Mountain CNH dealership chain in Canada and Titan in the U.S., have grown to become dominant in several regions, pushing dealership networks to previously unheard-of sizes. The same is becoming true in the automotive world. Edmonton-based Go Auto, which […] Read more

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Major grocery chains agree to help stabilize prices, feds say

Any moves must not undercut farmgate prices, government warns

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada’s five major grocery chains have agreed to help the government in its bid to stabilize soaring prices, a senior minister said on Monday, following talks to address an issue that is hurting the ruling Liberals. Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne made the announcement after two hours of what he said were […] Read more


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

Trudeau summons top grocers over rising food prices

Major grocers' level of profit 'does not make sense,' PM says

Ottawa | Reuters — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday said he had summoned the country’s top grocers to help find solution to the surging food prices and vowed to cut federal taxes on new rental buildings, as he fights an affordability crisis that has dented his party’s opinion poll ratings. After meeting with Liberal […] Read more

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Canada’s combine sales up in April

Small tractor sales drag on total retail movement

Retail sales of combines in both Canada and the U.S. showed a marked increase in April this year while the market for sub-compact tractors continues to soften, new data shows. The count for April 2023 from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) puts self-propelled combine sales in Canada at 166, up 50.9 per cent from […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Food sales grew but margins tightened in 2022, FCC says

Modest further growth expected this year

Food and beverages sales increased in Canada last year, even as margins hit an historic low and consumers chose Canadian less. According to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report, released Tuesday, sales increased 11 per cent to $156 billion in 2022. These gains came largely from higher export values and strength in the grain […] Read more

NDP ag critic Alistair MacGregor speaks Feb. 3, 2023 in the House of Commons. (Alistair MacGregor video screengrab via Facebook)

Federal NDP ag critic to handle food inflation file

Mini-shuffle follows new critic portfolio

Canada’s federal New Democrats have appointed their critic for agriculture and agri-food to a new point position on a major issue for the fourth-ranked opposition party. After the House of Commons resumed sitting last Monday (Jan. 30), NDP leader Jagmeet Singh on Friday named Alistair MacGregor, MP for the Vancouver Island riding of Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, to […] Read more


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, […] Read more

Cannabis plants at a licensed indoor production facility in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canada to review impact of cannabis legalization four years on

Review will also look at regulatory challenges in pot sector

Ottawa | Reuters — Canada on Thursday launched a review of the country’s legalization of recreational cannabis use four years ago to evaluate its impact on youth, Indigenous minorities and others, and analyze its effect on the economy and the illegal marijuana market. Canada became the first developed nation to legalize use of recreational marijuana […] Read more


File photo of a Loblaw-owned Real Canadian Superstore location in Winnipeg. (Dave Bedard photo)

Loblaw beats estimates for quarterly revenue

Reuters — Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos. beat market estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, as demand for groceries and other essential items stayed strong. The pandemic-led trend of cooking at home has sustained even as COVID curbs have eased, continuing to help sales at grocery stores that benefited during last year’s lockdowns. Companies such as […] Read more

(M+M Food Market video screengrab via YouTube)

On The Run operator to buy M+M Food Market

Parkland Corp. to pay $322M for frozen-food retailer

A well-known Canadian food retailer selling flash-frozen meals, entrees, side dishes and desserts direct to consumers is headed to expansion-minded new owners. Calgary-based Parkland Corp., which operates fuel and convenience retail chains and bulk fuel distribution businesses in Canada and elsewhere, announced Tuesday it’s signed an agreement to buy M+M Food Market for about $322 […] Read more