Select Shoppers Drug Mart stores throughout Toronto will be offering fresh groceries such as meat, vegetables and fruit starting from September 20. The Toronto Star has reported that the store on Dundas St. West between Jane St. and Runnymede Rd. will stock pork chops, beefsteak tomatoes and fresh salads for customers, as well as fresh sushi, artisan breads and baked goods. The store also features meat and seafood, produce, prepared meals, and dairy.

“The question that we’re asking ourselves… [is] can we sell more? Can we sell some fresh foods? Could we sell bananas? Could we sell meals that are ready to go? Is that something the Canadian consumer would embrace or would be interested in?” said Loblaw Executive Chairman and President Galen G. Weston at the company’s annual meeting in May.

The testing out process follows Loblaw’s acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart in a $12.4 billion deal a year ago.

This year’s Grocery Innovations Canada show will provide many ways for retailers and suppliers to network and connect with each other between the days of September 29 and 30. The grocery trade show and conference event will take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and will be organized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG).

There will be new pavilions focusing on categories that have had big growth, such as the Visa Global Food Festival area aimed at the international food scene, Asian trends, and other global grocery products. Local products will be featured at the Choose Ontario pavilion, offering everything from Ontario farm pork to goat milk. The Sustain Lane pavilion will offer environmentally friendly products. There will be contests and new products launched. For more information, visit groceryinnovations.com.

MusclePharm, a performance lifestyle sports nutrition company, has announced it has signed a multi-year endorsement agreement with golfer Tiger Woods, which officially began on July 1, 2014.

As part of the agreement, Woods’ golf bag has been emblazoned with the MusclePharm logo, and he will appear in advertisements and commercials for the company. He will also make brand appearances and promote the company via social media.

“One of the keys to success as an athlete is making sure you are fueling your body properly, which is at the core of MusclePharm’s mission,” says Woods in a statement issued by MusclePharm. “This golf bag venture is a great way to launch this partnership. I look forward to working with MusclePharm to help people achieve their peak physical form.”

MusclePharm also endorses Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has a line of sports nutrition products with the company, and NFL players Eric Decker and Colin Kaepernick.

Richard Levy has been hired at MusclePharm Canada as a senior account manager. He brings over 25 years of retail experience to the role, including his most recent experience as senior brand manager at Victory Brands and over 12 years at GNC Canada as its Director of Retail Sales and Operations, where he overlooked seven regions, over 170 retail locations and over 800 employees.

As a senior account manager, Levy will build more brand awareness and further build the team across Canada through the company’s Brand Ambassadors and athletes living the MusclePharm lifestyle. He will also work with larger retail chains to develop programs and promotions for the brand while furthering its reach through new and innovative retail locations.

Campbell Canada has hired Ana Dominguez as its new president, effective August 25. The former general manager of SC Johnson steps into the role vacated by Philip Donne.

Dominguez spent 17 years in marketing and management at SC Johnson, and was the head of the company’s Puerto Rico and Caribbean operations before being promoted to general manager of SC Johnson Canada in 2011.

In her new role, Dominguez will oversee all of Campbell Canada’s brands, including its Campbell’s soup, V8 and Pepperidge Farm brands.

“She has a strong track record of delivering growth and will continue to work to build our position as an industry leader by strengthening our core and expanding into new growth areas,” says Campbell North America President Mark Alexander in a statement.

Nielsen has announced the promotion of two members of its leadership team.

John Lewis is now global president of the company, moving up from the role of president, Americas, while also being responsible for leading Nielsen’s Watch and Buy growth strategy in Latin America, and managing North America’s Nielsen Buy’s business performance and strategic direction. Prior to his most recent role, Lewis headed up North America Buy at the company.

Karen Fichuk has been promoted to president, North America, after being with the company for over two decades. Prior to her promotion, Fichuk was the North American commercial go-to market leader, where she updated service models to cater to client needs in the CPG marketplace. Prior to that, she was the leader of the North American Nielsen retail business.

Retailers everywhere, including hugely popular big-box retailers, are competing for business. While the competition is stiff, these retailers are looking to build loyalty from consumers by trying to entice them to return using tactics such as lowering prices or surprising shoppers with gifts just for being in the store.

“It’s much tougher for brands these days to build ongoing loyalty, especially in an environment where most competition is defaulting to price more than anything else,” says Bryan Pearson, president of consultancy firm LoyaltyOne, to Profit Guide.

According to Pearson, Canadians belong to about eight to 12 loyalty programs on average, with the most popular being Air Miles, the Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum program and Canadian Tire money, according to a survey of over 1,000 Canadians by Environics Research.

Are loyalty programs helpful in increasing store traffic? Do you think there is a better way for retailers to get consumers through their doors?

Sound off below!

The Globe and Mail reports that Montreal-based Metro Inc. shares are experiencing all-time highs despite increasing competition in the grocery industry, a flat profit, and a one per cent increase in same-store sales. Analysts pointed out that rivals Walmart, Target and Loblaw and their competitive prices might pose a threat for Metro.

Metro shares have doubled in the last five years, with the stock trading at an all-time at just below $76 in July.

“Metro continues to be impacted by the highly competitive grocery environment. It’s a steady story, but not something we’re super-excited about,” Accountability Research analyst Kevin Chu told Grocery Business.

The Globe and Mail reports that CIBC World Markets analyst Perry Caicco says Metro Inc. continues to engineer its earnings but needs to improve its performance and position in Ontario. This follows the recent news that Metro appointed Carmen Fortino as its new senior vice-president for its Ontario division.

UPS and Canada Post are expecting a double-digit increase in shipment volume for the upcoming holiday season as online shopping continues to gain popularity. UPS Canada plans to hire 2,000 temporary and seasonal workers during the season to keep up with the expected demand, which is double the amount they usually hire.

Last Christmas, United Parcel Service Inc. had a large amount of packages shipped to the U.S. that exceeded their expectations. The company had upset customers that received their gifts the day after Christmas after being promised that they would arrive on time.

“What’s really changed a lot in our business is the e-commerce phenomenon,” UPS Canada President Michael Tierney told the Financial Post. “The conventional ways of projecting volume have really changed because now you’ve got folks who are ordering online any time of day or night.” The company is paying extra attention to prepare for the volume and the delivery service that they will offer this holiday season.

Canada Post has also been preparing for the upcoming holiday season by announcing plans to start offering their weekend delivery service earlier leading up to Christmas, as well as same-day delivery in the GTA.

Walmart Canada has plans to expand hundreds of its locations to supercentres by the end of this year. Sales across 380 locations throughout Canada have experienced a three per cent rise from March to June. As Walmart competes with rivals Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys, it has experienced customers spending more time at the locations that offered food aisles.

“We’re encouraged by our performance in food and consumables, driven by supercentre expansions,” Walmart said in a statement to Grocery Business.

However, there was a decrease in operating profit in that three-month period. Walmart has cut prices on food and general merchandise products in an effort to gain more customers.