Strategy

While the Convenience industry agrees with Health Canada's mandate to reduce youth vaping, Ottawa's new proposed vaping regulations aimed at reducing the level of nicotine in vapour products will stand in the way of adult smokers looking to quit, while putting unrealistic expectation on c-store operators.In a statement, Imperial Tobaccos said the proposal "will severely hinder the federal government’s ability to reach its stated objective of reducing the smoking rate in Canada to less than 5%  by 2035."Health Canada announced Friday it is proposing to lower the maximum nicotine concentration allowed for vaping products that are manufactured or imported for sale in Canada to 20 mg/ml.

The federal government has proposed rules for its Clean Fuel Standard that producers and distributors would have to follow under its climate plan.

Routific, the route planning and delivery management platform for small businesses, is reporting growth of 2.4X in 2020, driven by changing consumer habits amid the pandemic.

Rabba Kitchen by Paramount will feature the best of both brands, says Rabba Fine Foods president Rick Rabba Rabba Fine Foods and Middle Eastern restaurant chain Paramount Fine Foods are creating a bespoke prepared food offering for the grocery chain’s newest store in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood, set to open next year.

2020 has been an extraordinary year for the convenience industry, which stepped up as an essential service to provide Canadians with the goods and services needed during the pandemic.

Since spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way most people live throughout the world and directly impacted retailers and the way they operate – especially those deemed essential, such as convenience stores.

Between the pandemic and evolving regulations on key categories, it’s been an extraordinary year of changes and challenges for the convenience industry.

Retail shrinkage, due to employee theft, shoplifting and errors, is an ongoing issue for c-store operators.