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 CANADA
FRANCHISE NEWS ARCHIVE
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: : Jan-Jun 2003
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Canadian Tire Bank gets federal approval. Canadian
Tire Bank has received federal approval and will begin operations
on July 1. .... [more]
27 Jun, 2003
Hotel franchiser AFM Hospitality announces financial chief's
departure. AFM Hospitality Corp., the exclusive Canadian master
franchiser for Howard Johnson's and several other hotel brands, said
Friday its chief financial officer is leaving effective July 4. ....
[more]
27 Jun, 2003
Sobeys profits fall to $40.7M in Q4. Supermarket operator
Sobeys Inc. made $40.7 million in its fourth quarter, with results
being hurt by a five-week strike that ended last month at an Ontario
warehouse. .... [more]
25 Jun, 2003
SARS takes big bite out of retail sales. Consumers in
the Greater Toronto Area stayed out of shopping centres and restaurants
in droves as fears of contracting the fatal new illness SARS peaked
in April, new data show. .... [more]
24 Jun, 2003
Don Cherry toasts Quiznos Sub sandwiches to mark chain's 200th
store opening celebration. Quiznos Sub, Canada's fastest-growing
quick service restaurant chain, reaches a milestone today with the
opening of its 200th store in Canada. .... [more]
23 Jun, 2003
La Senza posts $3.8M loss in Q1. Lingerie retailer
La Senza Corp. has reported a quarterly loss of $3.8 million amid
flat same-store sales, a loss on its interest in the Wet Seal retail
chain in the United States, and a $1-million foreign exchange loss
as the Canadian dollar bulked up. .... [more]
20 Jun, 2003
Quiznos launches sub attack. The sub wars are heating
up in Mississauga - literally. Even with hockey tough guy Don Cherry
singing the praises joy of Quiznos' signature toasted bread sandwiches,
it looks like a David and Goliath fight against Mr. Sub's and Subway.
.... [more]
15 Jun, 2003
La Senza unloads Suzy Shier. Lingerie retailer La Senza
has sold its Suzy Shier women's clothing division to YM Inc., a Toronto
company that operates the Stitches, Sirens and Urban Planet retail
chains. .... [more]
13 Jun, 2003
Sour dough. Great Canadian Bagel was once the hottest
chain in the country. But its business plan went stale fast - and
many franchisees were left holding the bag. .... [more]
11 Jun, 2003
Sports retailer Forzani eyes U.S. expansion, diversified products.
Sporting goods retailer Forzani Group Ltd. is pondering an expansion
south of the border as well as a more diversified product line, company
founder and president John Forzani said Wednesday. .... [more]
4 Jun, 2003
Tim Hortons same-store sales rise. Tim Hortons outperformed
its parent company, Wendy's International Inc., for the month of May,
posting a 4-per-cent jump in sales, compared to Wendy's 2-per-cent
drop. .... [more]
2 Jun, 2003
CEO resigns at large Canadian Domino's franchise company.
Mark Waldron, president and CEO of Calgary, Alberta-based Comac Food
Group Inc., a 220-store Domino's Pizza franchisee, has left the company.
.... [more]
30 May, 2003
Cara reports Q4 loss on writedown of 'doubtful' Air Canada accounts.
Cara Operations Ltd. said a $15.4-million provision for a debt it
may never collect from insolvent Air Canada resulted in a loss for
its most recently completed quarter, despite overall growth in operating
earnings and sales. .... [more]
29 May, 2003
Franchise fracas. Ontario's 2001 Wishart Act aimed to
end confusion in the franchise industry. But as James Daw explains,
the litany of lawsuits flying around the '3 for 1' pizza
chain suggest it isn't working. .... [more]
25 May, 2003
Food fight: Dunkin' Donuts says Quebec franchisees' lawsuit
full of holes. Dunkin' Donuts says a $7-million lawsuit by
some of its Quebec franchise holders is full of holes. .... [more]
21 May, 2003
Mac's Milk beefs up with prime partner. M&M Meat brings
premium steak to your corner store Relationship of convenience in
increasingly blurred sector. .... [more]
20 May, 2003
Quebec Dunkin' Donut franchisees launch $7-million lawsuit against
parent co. After facing competition for its share of the market,
now Dunkin' Donuts is being sued by some of its best Quebec franchisees.
.... [more]
20 May, 2003
Canadian mad cow case hits McDonald's, Wendy's, Tyson stocks.
Shares of big U.S. hamburger chains, and Canadian and U.S. meat processors
fell Tuesday following the disclosure of the first case of mad cow
disease in Canada in a decade. .... [more]
20 May, 2003
Krispy Kreme on a roll in Canada. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Inc. has just opened its fifth outlet in Canada, with another 50 in
the works. .... [more]
16 May, 2003
Canadian Tire reports 5.8% rise in Q1 profits, reaffirms 2003
outlook. Canadian Tire Corp. outlined an aggressive buildout
plan to shareholders Wednesday after reporting a 5.8 per cent increase
in first-quarter profits and affirming its 2003 earnings outlook.
.... [more]
14 May, 2003
Small business shying away from training. Most Canadian
small businesses are still not offering formal training to employees
for a variety of reasons, including high costs, un-co-operative workers
and the fear that employees will want a raise after it's over, according
to a survey released yesterday. .... [more]
13 May, 2003
La Senza in 'advanced' talks to strip away Suzy Shier; May sale
expected. Lingerie retailer La Senza is in an "advanced stage"
of discussions to sell its Suzy Shier casual young women's clothing
division and expects to announce a sale by the end of the month. ....
[more]
9 May, 2003
Shoppers Drug Mart announces a secondary offering of common
shares. Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. announced Tuesday a secondary
offering of common shares by some of the drug store chain's existing
shareholders. .... [more]
6 May, 2003
Rona back to market for more. Canadian home improvement
retailer Rona Inc. is going back to the market for the second time
in less than a year to raise money for its aggressive expansion plans.
.... [more]
2 May, 2003
Loblaw continues to see opportunities for growth. Loblaw
Cos. Ltd. sees continued opportunities for growth throughout the country,
but yesterday also issued a veiled warning of restraint to its unions,
citing steeper competition from non-union, global rivals such as Wal-Mart.
.... [more]
1 May, 2003
Krispy Kreme to expand further in Canada. Krispy Kreme
Doughnuts Inc. said it aims to grow more in Canada, increasing the
territory of KremeKo Inc., the company's franchisee in Eastern Canada.
.... [more]
29 Apr, 2003
Rona buys 20-store Reno-Depot chain from Kingfisher PLC for
$350 million. Rona Inc. is building up its position as a leader
in Canada's home-renovation market by nailing down a $350-million
cash purchase of the 20-store Reno-Depot chain from Kingfisher PLC
of Britain. .... [more]
23 Apr, 2003
Jean Coutu Group earns net profits of $42.4 million in third
quarter. The Jean Coutu Group drug store chain reported higher
profits and revenues in the third quarter as the Montreal company
continues to cash in on its U.S. expansion. .... [more]
15 Apr, 2003
Richtree files claim against Movenpick over alleged breach of
contract. The owner and operator of Movenpick Marche and Marchelino
restaurants in Canada and the United States is suing its Swiss-based
franchisor and licensor over an alleged breach of contract. .... [more]
7 Apr, 2003
Filling up on Canadian grocery chains. Loblaw's and
Sobeys are fit to compete with Wal-Mart's arrival. .... [more]
6 Apr, 2003
Fear of SARS boosts business at retailers that offer delivery.
Some retailers that provide delivery are experiencing a boost in business
as consumers try to stay home and away from crowds to avoid the possibility
of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), companies
say. .... [more]
2 Apr, 2003
Van Houtte U.S. division buys 5 coffee businesses. Coffee
services firm Van Houtte Inc. says its U.S. subsidiary, Filterfresh
Coffee Service, is paying $3 million (U.S.) for five businesses sprinkled
across the United States. .... [more]
1 Apr, 2003
Couche-Tard buys U.S. outlets. Convenience store chain
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. said Friday it has acquired 92 more
Dairy Mart stores in the midwestern United States for US$3.2-million.
.... [more]
21 Mar, 2003
War shakes sports retailer Forzani's sales, but weather a bigger
concern. Forzani Group Ltd. said Friday that sales have been
temporarily hurt by the outbreak of war in Iraq, but the arrival of
spring will have a bigger impact on Canada's largest sporting goods
retailer. .... [more]
21 Mar, 2003
Royal Host Real Estate Investment Trust Announces AGM.
Royal Host Real Estate Investment Trust announced that it will hold
a Special and Annual General Meeting on Monday, May 26, 2003. ....
[more]
19 Mar, 2003
Couche-Tard earnings up 38% in third quarter. Convenience
store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. reported a 38 per cent
increase in third-quarter profits today as the company added stores
with its acquisition of Dairy Mart in the United States. .... [more]
18 Mar, 2003
Rona building: plans $30-million Calgary warehouse, 2,500 seasonal
hires. Home renovation retailer Rona is spending $30 million
to build a massive new distribution centre in Calgary as the Montreal
company expands its business and brand in Western Canada. .... [more]
11 Mar, 2003
Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund and Boston Pizza International
Announce Victory. Boston Pizza International Inc. and Boston
Pizza Royalties Income Fund announced today that the Federal Court
of Appeal has ordered the expungement of the trade-mark registration
for "Boston Chicken". .... [more]
11 Mar, 2003
Gold's Gym looks north for new opportunities and franchises.
In a recent move intended to develop new expansion opportunities in
eastern Canada as well as better serve existing franchises in western
Canada, Gold's Gym has entered into a Master Franchise agreement with
Northland Fitness Inc. .... [more]
10 Mar, 2003
MEDIchair Opens 58th Franchise Store. Located in Markham,
Ontario, the new store, known as MEDIchair Main Home Health Care,
is MEDIchair's 58th franchise store. .... [more]
7 Mar, 2003
CoolBrands Agrees to Purchase Ice Cream and Distribution Assets
from Dreyers and Nestle. CoolBrands International Inc. announced
today an agreement for the sale and purchase of certain ice cream
and distribution assets. .... [more]
4 Mar, 2003
Royal Host Announces Hotel Acquisition. Royal Host
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has announced today that it has
agreed to purchase the Calgary Best Western Village Park Inn. ....
[more]
28 Feb, 2003
Realstar to franchise Accor hotel brands in Canada.
Realstar Group will become the exclusive Canadian franchisor of Accor
North America's top hotel brands, including Novotel, Studio 6 and
Motel 6. .... [more]
27 Feb, 2003
New café perks up B.C. java wars. Vancouver may boast
more coffee shops per capita than any other city in Canada, but according
to Jay Garnett, there is a gaping hole in the market that has left
latte lovers woefully underserved. .... [more]
24 Feb, 2003
Fast-food discounting hard to swallow. When Burger
King launched its BK Value Menu last fall, it was gambling that 99-cent
burgers and $1.59 chili would bring back customers who were abandoning
fast-food joints. .... [more]
24 Feb, 2003
Budget to have vehicle rental kiosks at Canadian Tire stores.
Canadian Tire Corp. and Budget Canada have announced a five-year agreement
to set up car and truck rental kiosks at as many as 100 Canadian Tire
stores. .... [more]
20 Feb, 2003
RELATED - Small business loves budget. Canada's small
businesses found plenty to applaud in yesterday's federal budget,
but large companies complained they will see their biggest gains phased
in too slowly. .... [more]
19 Feb, 2003
New Giant Tiger Store to ROAR into Regina. The North
West Company today officially announced plans to open its two newest
Giant Tiger stores in Winnipeg and Regina. .... [more]
17 Feb, 2003
Re/Max and Competition Bureau settle dispute over advertising
agents' fees. Re/Max and the federal Competition Bureau have
settled a dispute over the real-estate organization's restrictions
on the way its franchisees or their associates advertise commission
rates or fees. .... [more]
17 Feb, 2003
Weather cools Canadian Tire's hot year. Mild weather,
slower than expected sales of high-margin "giftables" and a lacklustre
Christmas took the edge off Canadian Tire Corp.'s otherwise red-hot
performance last year, the company said yesterday. .... [more]
14 Feb, 2003
Court sides with doughnut sellers. An Ontario court
judge has awarded damages of $400,000 - an unusually high amount -
to two Toronto owners of a Country Style Doughnut shop. .... [more]
13 Feb, 2003
Grocery chain Loblaw eyes western growth as 2002 profit jumps
29%. Loblaw Cos., Canada's largest supermarket chain, sees
"all kinds of fabulous opportunities" to grow in Western Canada with
little risk, says chairman Galen Weston. .... [more]
7 Feb, 2003
EVENT - The Franchise Show. Canada's largest franchise
show is being held on February 7-9, 2003 at the Toronto Congress Centre.
.... [more] 7 Feb, 2003
Canadian Tire to overhaul its gas bar convenience stores.
Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd. plans to expand and improve convenience stores
at its gas stations in a bid to shake up the so-called "c-store" market
and pump up business. .... [more]
6 Feb, 2003
Van Houtte's profit dips 3.5% in third quarter. Coffee
services company Van Houtte Ltd. says its third-quarter profit simmered
down 3.5 per cent to $5.13 million, but its outlook is improving.
.... [more]
6 Feb, 2003
Cara boosts dividend by 25 per cent following big earnings,
sales increase. A big increase in quarterly revenue and earnings
has allowed Cara Operations Ltd., one of the country's largest restaurant
and food services companies, to boost its annual dividend by 25 per
cent. .... [more]
4 Feb, 2003
Boston Pizza Keeps Winning Awards. Richmond, B.C.-based
Boston Pizza International Inc. has won the Hans Bueschkens Award
of Merit for its outstanding service, dedication and social advancement
of the Canadian hospitality industry. .... [more]
3 Feb, 2003
Taco Time Canada Picks Radio to Spread its Fiesta Platters Message.
Calagey-based Taco Time Canada has launched a 36-week, national radio
campaign with 'Girl at Party', a 30-second national spot to promote
the addition of five full-meal Fiesta Platters to its menu. .... [more]
3 Feb, 2003
Tim Hortons U.S. division of Wendy's International posts first
annual profit. The Tim Hortons U.S. division of Wendy's International
posted its first annual profit in 2002 while the parent company and
Tim Hortons Canada rang up record results. .... [more]
31 Jan, 2003
Krispy Kreme coming to Quebec. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
will be opening their first franchise in Quebec this spring. ....
[more]
30 Jan, 2003
Mr. Handyman to the rescue. It's nearly noon on an unseasonably
warm January day, and the open garage door shows a major "honey do"
project. .... [more]
29 Jan, 2003
1-800-GOT-JUNK? Opens Eight More Cities. 1-800-GOT-JUNK?,
has increased its franchise count from twenty-seven to thirty-five
in less than three months. .... [more]
28 Jan, 2003
Ultramar closing stations because of price regulation.
Ultramar Canada officials confirmed Thursday that they're terminating
at least nine retail gas outlet contracts in western Newfoundland.
.... [more]
24 Jan, 2003
Jean Coutu Group profits rise 24 per cent in Q2. The
Jean Coutu Group today reported a 24 per cent jump in profits for
its fiscal second quarter as revenues rose sharply at both its Canadian
and U.S. drug store divisions. .... [more]
22 Jan, 2003
Popeyes(r) Chicken & Biscuits Launches Search for 'Team Canada'.
After a record-breaking franchising year in 2002, Popeyes(r) Chicken
& Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises, Inc., is hoping to continue
the momentum with a focus on Canada. .... [more]
20 Jan, 2003
Cotton Ginny granted bankruptcy protection. Cotton Ginny
Ltd., a national chain of women's casual clothing boutiques, says
it has been granted bankruptcy protection and may close up to 100
stores. .... [more]
16 Jan, 2003
The Athlete's Foot expanding in Canada. The Athlete's Foot
is expanding its footprint into Canada with up to five stores throughout
Calgary, Alberta. .... [more]
14 Jan, 2003
Holiday sales up for Forzani sporting goods but down at corporate
stores. Total holiday sales at sporting goods retailer Forzani
rose in 2002 but sales at its corporate stores declined, which the
company blamed on warm weather in Western Canada. .... [more]
8 Jan, 2003
AFM Hospitality Completes Acquisition of Trigild Services.
AFM Hospitality Corporation today announced it completed the previously
announced acquisition of the assets of Trigild Services, Inc. ....
[more]
6 Jan, 2003
Holiday sales leave retailers in good cheer. Consumers took
longer than usual to start their Christmas shopping and when they
finally got to the stores they found some items were already sold
out and very few prices had been marked down. .... [more]
4 Jan, 2003
RadioShack aims to fine-tune. RadioShack is looking to change
its image so that customers will think of its stores for the big-ticket
items as well, rather than just the accessories. .... [more]
3 Jan, 2003
RELATED - Coffee group wants Fair Trade marker. An Ottawa-based
group that certifies coffee is not produced under exploitive conditions
is trying to trademark the term Fair Trade, a plan that is being watched
closely as far away as Colombia. .... [more]
3 Jan, 2003
AFM Hospitality sells Canadian rights to Ramada Hotel franchise.
AFM announced Thursday it had sold the rights to Ramada Franchise
Systems Inc., a unit of Cendant Corp., a U.S.-based global conglomerate
that provides hotel, real estate, car rental and financial services.
.... [more]
2 Jan, 2003
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