TORONTO, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Loblaw has issued its February Food Inflation Report, with context around what’s impacting food prices and what it expects in the future. At a high level, inflation cooled slightly in February. Overall CPI was 1.8%, down from 2.3% in January. The price of food purchased from stores also dropped, down 70 basis points from January at 4.1%. The price of food purchased from restaurants rose 7.8% in the month – a meaningful increase, especially considering prices also ...

BRAMPTON, Ontario, March 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- No Frills®, one of Canada’s leading hard-discount grocery retailers, is excited to announce the opening of Komoka’s first No Frills®, located at 370 Crestview Drive. While the new store is the beginning of an evolution for No Frills®, it continues to deliver the same everyday low prices customers expect. This opening of Mike & Grace’s No Frills® introduces a new look to the community, featuring an innovative hybrid timber and steel design that creates a ...

With a market cap of $22.4 billion, New York-based Loews Corporation (L) provides commercial property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally through its subsidiaries. It offers a wide range of specialty and standard insurance products, along with risk management services, catering to businesses, professionals, and the healthcare sector. Companies valued more than $10 billion are generally considered “large-cap” stocks, and Loews fits this criterion perfectly. Beyond insurance, th ...

Core Viewpoint - Loblaw Companies Limited is investigating a data breach involving unauthorized access to basic customer information, including names, phone numbers, and email addresses [1][2]. Group 1: Incident Details - The company identified suspicious activity on a non-critical part of its IT network, leading to the investigation [1]. - The breach did not compromise passwords, health information, or credit card data, and PC Financial was not affected [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Loblaw Companies Limited is recognized as Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and it is the largest retailer and private sector employer in the country, employing over 220,000 colleagues [3].

Core Insights - The Loblaw®–Flashfood partnership has successfully saved over $295 million and diverted more than 105 million pounds of food from landfills since its inception [1][4] - In 2025 alone, the partnership diverted over 21 million pounds of food and saved customers more than $58 million [2] - The program allows customers to save up to 50% on various grocery items, enhancing customer value while addressing food waste [3] Partnership Impact - The partnership has expanded its reach, welcoming over 92,000 new Flashfood shoppers across Canada [2] - Flashfood is available in over 900 Loblaw® grocery stores and franchise locations, including various store banners [5] - The initiative supports Loblaw®'s goal of sending zero food to landfills by 2030 [4] Customer Engagement - Customers can purchase discounted food nearing its best-before date through the Flashfood app, with convenient pickup options [3][5] - The program emphasizes practical solutions for reducing food waste, making it easy for customers to participate [5] Company Overview - Loblaw® is Canada's largest retailer, offering a wide range of products and services, including food, pharmacy, and financial services [7][8] - The company employs over 220,000 individuals across more than 2,800 stores [7] - Flashfood, a B-Corp certified company, has rerouted over 145 million pounds of food from landfills and saved shoppers more than $370 million [9]

Core Insights - Loblaw Companies Limited reported solid fourth quarter results for 2025, with a revenue increase of 11.3% to $16,382 million, driven by strong customer traffic and e-commerce growth [3][8][23] - The company continues to focus on strategic growth initiatives, including expanding its store network and enhancing its digital engagement platforms [19][21][22] Financial Performance - Revenue for the fourth quarter increased by $1,657 million, or 11.3%, with a comparable 12-week revenue growth of 3.5% [8][23] - Retail operating income rose by 43.0% to $1,134 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 11.3% to $1,775 million [8][23] - Net earnings available to common shareholders were $656 million, reflecting a 42.0% increase, with diluted net earnings per share rising by 44.7% to $0.55 [8][23] Sales Growth - Food Retail same-store sales increased by 1.5%, while Drug Retail same-store sales grew by 3.9% [8][23] - E-commerce sales saw a significant increase of 19.6%, highlighting the importance of omnichannel convenience for customers [3][8] Strategic Initiatives - The company opened 77 new stores in 2025 and ramped up its automated distribution centers to enhance operational efficiency [4][21][22] - Loblaw is focusing on its loyalty program, PC Optimum, to drive customer engagement and retention [19][21] Market Position - Loblaw's strong performance in the fourth quarter contributed to market share gains across its banners, supported by a focus on value, quality, and service [3][4] - The company is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of Canadians, with a commitment to retail excellence and strategic investments for future growth [19][20]

Core Insights - Loblaw Companies Limited plans to invest $2.4 billion in 2026 as part of a 5-year strategy to invest a total of $10 billion in Canadian communities by 2030 [1][3] - The investment aims to expand and renovate the store network, enhance supply chain capabilities, and create approximately 9,700 jobs across Canada [2][4] Investment Details - In 2026, Loblaw will open 70 new stores, including 34 Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix pharmacies and care clinics, and 31 No Frills and Maxi stores [2] - The company will also renovate 191 existing stores and continue construction of a 1.2 million square foot automated distribution center in Caledon, Ontario [2] Economic Impact - This investment reinforces Loblaw's role as a significant contributor to the Canadian economy and aims to provide better access to value for customers [3][4] - The job creation will be distributed across various regions: Eastern Canada (4 new stores, 600 jobs), Quebec (15 new stores, 1,985 jobs), Ontario (27 new stores, 3,775 jobs), and Western Canada (24 new stores, 3,400 jobs) [7]

Core Insights - Loblaw Companies Limited has announced a collaboration with Google to enhance shopping experiences for Canadians through conversational AI [1][2] - This partnership positions Loblaw as the first major retailer in Canada to enable product purchases via Google's AI mode, indicating a shift towards agentic commerce [2][3] Group 1: Collaboration and Technology - The collaboration will allow Canadians to shop for health, beauty, and apparel products directly through AI Mode in Google Search and the Gemini app [2] - The Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) will facilitate secure shopping, booking, and payments across various channels, enhancing the overall shopping experience [4] - Loblaw plans to scale its use of Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform, which has already been integrated into various retail functions, to further its transformation into an AI-native enterprise [5] Group 2: Strategic Vision and Leadership - The CEO of Loblaw emphasized the company's commitment to leveraging technology and AI to improve customer experiences and operational efficiency [6] - The Chief Digital Officer highlighted the evolution of shopping preferences and the importance of personalization in enhancing customer engagement [6] - Google Cloud's Chief Product and Business Officer noted that Loblaw's AI integration serves as a roadmap for retailers to convert technological innovations into measurable business value [7] Group 3: Company Overview - Loblaw is recognized as Canada's food and pharmacy leader and the largest retailer in the nation, operating over 2,800 locations and employing more than 220,000 individuals [8]

Core Insights - Loblaw Companies Limited announced a transaction involving the sale of President's Choice Bank and affiliated entities to EQB Inc., along with a long-term strategic relationship with EQB [1] - The company has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (ASPP) to facilitate the purchase of EQB Common Shares [2] Group 1: Transaction Details - The ASPP allows Loblaw's broker to purchase up to 1,220,000 EQB Common Shares, including shares acquired prior to the ASPP [2] - The ASPP will terminate once the maximum amount is purchased or upon closing of the transaction, whichever comes first [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Loblaw is Canada's largest retailer, providing a wide range of products and services including grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, and financial services [3] - The company operates over 2,800 locations and employs more than 220,000 individuals, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers [3] Group 3: Company Purpose and Offerings - Loblaw's purpose is to prioritize the needs and well-being of Canadians, facilitating approximately one billion transactions annually [4] - The company offers a diverse range of grocery stores, pharmacies, financial services, and popular consumer brands [4]

Core Insights - Loblaw Companies Limited has launched a new shopping app integrated with ChatGPT, aimed at enhancing the shopping experience for Canadians by making it simpler and more efficient [3][7] - The partnership with OpenAI allows Loblaw to leverage advanced AI technology to provide personalized shopping experiences and improve operational productivity [9][10] Group 1: Product and Service Innovation - The PC Express app in ChatGPT enables Canadians to explore meal ideas, curate ingredients, and select products from local stores, enhancing the grocery shopping experience [7] - Loblaw is also implementing ChatGPT Enterprise for its employees to boost productivity and innovation across various business functions [8] Group 2: Strategic Positioning - Loblaw aims to position itself as a leader in AI innovation within the North American retail sector, focusing on digital customer experience and technology adaptation [9] - The collaboration with OpenAI is intended to bridge the gap between AI capabilities and the value delivered to customers, making shopping more personal and efficient [9]