Convenience Stores

Statistics Canada says retail sales in Canada posted their biggest monthly decline on record in March and warned that the drop for April will eclipse that loss.The agency says retail sales fell 10.0% to $47.1 billion in March as non-essential businesses began to shut their doors mid-month due to the pandemic.The drop was in line with economists' expectations of 10 per cent, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.Statistics Canada also says a preliminary estimate for April indicates a 15.6% drop for the first full month of the pandemic.The March decline came as sales plunged at motor vehicle and parts dealers, clothing and clothing accessories stores and gasoline stations, while sales at grocery stores soared.Excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales were down 0.4% for the month.

Nova Scotia has approved a new regulatory cap on e-liquids and cigarettes making it the first province to adopt a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre.An order in council signed in May amends the province's Tobacco Access Act regulations and takes effect Sept.

In mid January the British Columbia government announced it was looking at a wide ban on single-use plastic grocery bags to put an end to a piecemeal, city-by-city approach to the problem of plastic pollution.

C-stores across the province are preparing for new amendments to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which brings with it more restrictive rules for operators when it comes to the sale of vaping products.The following regulations come into effect July 1, 2020: The sale of flavoured vapour products will be restricted to specialty vape stores and licensed cannabis retail stores.

Ontario is extending a line of credit of up to $500 million to its lottery and gaming agency.

Several underlying consumer trends have risen to prominence during the COVID-19 crisis, leading to a wave of new behaviours—from online shopping to buying local—that are likely to persist long after the pandemic is over, according to a new study from Accenture.

In a statement outlining its business stance in the wake of COVID-19, Alimentation Couche-Tard says it is adhering to a clear set of guiding principles as its business navigates the COVID-19 outbreak.“During these troubled times, Couche-Tard is committed to being part of the solution in the communities where we work and live.

Bill Pratt hasn't paid some $70,000 in rent for his restaurants in Atlantic Canada since April after having to shutter operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing a “critical” sales drop.