International retailers that entered Canada in 2022

An array of brands offering a breadth of products and experiences continue to enter the country, further bolstering Canada’s diverse retail landscape >> By Craig Patterson

Retail Insider has been tracking international brands entering the Canadian market by opening stores since 2014. The list for 2022 is a robust one, all things considered, given that Canada is coming out of a pandemic situation which significantly disrupted retail leasing. Things are coming back on track with us counting 21 international brands that had opened first-to-market standalone stores in Canada in 2022.

The numbers for 2022 were the same as in 2021 when Retail Insider tallied 21 international brands that opened first-to-market stores in the country. That was up significantly from 2020 when there were only 13 new entrants, the lowest number since Retail Insider began keeping track about eight years ago.

In the years that Retail Insider published the international entrants lists prior to 2020, the number of first-to-market retailers had ranged from 20 to over 50 international retailers that entered the country over a 12-month period. In 2019, for instance, we reported that 30 retailers had entered the country by opening stores, which was about the same number as in 2018. In 2017, a record-breaking 50+ international brands entered the Canadian market by opening stores (and quite a few have since closed). In 2016, Retail Insider wrote a special edition piece for Retail Council of Canada’s publication Canadian Retailer, where we counted 21 international retailers that had come to Canada by opening stores that year. In 2015 we reported that 28 retailers had opened their first freestanding locations in Canada that year. And, in 2014, we counted 20 international brands that entered Canada by opening stores.

more first-to-Canada retail locations than anywhere else, and in 2022, about 33 per cent of all of the new openings for Canada were in that one mall.

Our breakdown of geography in terms of the first-to-Canada retailers is as follows:

Toronto/GTA: 13 Vancouver: 4 Edmonton: 2 Montreal: 1 St. Catharines: 1

The following is Retail Insider’s count of the international brands that entered Canada in 2022 by opening standalone stores. The list is chronological from the earliest to the most recent openings.

Thule (Park Royal, West Vancouver, B.C.): Swedish designer/manufacturer of roof racks/carriers, Thule, opened its first retail location in Canada at the Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver in January of 2022. The 2,000 square foot space gives visitors the opportunity to explore the entire breadth of Thule’s active lifestyle portfolio and aims to build awareness of newer categories. Retail Insider reported that Vancouver-based retailer Rack Attack was opening the store in a retail space with an expected December opening date extended into January.

Maison Kitsuné (Gastown, Vancouver, B.C.): Paris-based fashion and music brand Maison Kitsuné opened its first Canadian location in January of 2022 at 157-159 Water Street in Vancouver’s Gastown area. Included is a fashion store featuring a range of branded clothing for men and women as well as a separate adjacent café space branded Café Kitsuné. It’s not known if more locations will open in Canada at this time.

Carlo’s Bakery (Port Credit, Mississauga, ON): U.S.-based Carlo’s Bakery, made popular by the TLC hit TV show ‘Cake Boss’, opened its first standalone Canadian location in the Port Credit area of Mississauga in January 2022. It joins numerous Carlo’s Bakery vending machines that can be found in shopping centres in Canada. A second standalone bakery recently opened on Bellair Street in Toronto’s Yorkville area, and more are expected to come.

Marc Jacobs (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): New York City-based fashion brand Marc Jacobs opened its first Canadian store in early 2022 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. A second opened at Square One in Mississauga, and more are expected according to staff in the store. The new Marc Jacobs stores carry some women’s ready-to-wear as well as bags and accessories. Marc Jacobs was founded by the designer of the same name in 1984 and the brand is now owned by LVMH.

Ebeano Supermarket (St. Catharines, ON): St. Catharines, Ontario became home to the first Canadian location for Nigeria-based grocery chain Prince Ebeano Supermarket in early 2022. The chain carries a range of food, spices, sauces, fruits and vegetable from Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. It’s not known yet if more locations will open in Canada.

Benkei Hime (CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, ON): The unique Asian Benkei Hime fashion and bubble tea concept store opened its first North American location in March of 2022 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre in Toronto. A second location opened in the summer at CF Markville Mall in Markham, and the retailer is looking at the Ottawa and Vancouver markets to open more locations. The popular youth-culture concept features trendy clothes and Instagram-worthy beverages as well as a range of unique items in an environment that is colourful and kitchy.

GANNI (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Danish women’s fashion brand GANNI opened its first Canadian storefront at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in April of 2022, after launching a wholesale presence at Hudson’s Bay and Holt Renfrew. The standalone Yorkdale GANNI storefront features a range of women’s clothing, bags and accessories in a pastel-coloured retail space in Yorkdale’s newest luxury wing. More stores are expected, and Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants is handling leasing negotiations on behalf of the retailer.

Lafayette 148 (Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto, ON): Upscale women’s fashion brand Lafayette 148 opened its first standalone Canadian storefront at 130 Bloor Street West in Toronto in June of 2022. Prior to the opening, the brand was carried only at Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. Prices can be steep for the brand’s quality clothing, footwear, and bags. It’s not known whether or not more stores will open in Canada as Lafayette 148 declined requests for interviews.

Vilebrequin (Westmount/Montreal, QC): French luxury swimwear brand Vilebrequin opened its first standalone Canadian storefront in May of 2022 at 4912 Sherbrooke Street West in the affluent Westmount area of Montreal. The store carries a range of swim styles for men, women, boys and girls as well as ready-to-wear, accessories and beach day essentials. The Westmount storefront is owned by franchisee Cheryl Glense, who has been a staple in Montreal and Westmount fashion for decades. No other Canadian locations are said to be planned at this time.

Allbirds (Kitsilano, Vancouver, B.C.): Sustainability-focused San Francisco-based footwear brand Allbirds opened its first Canadian storefront at 2256 West 4th Avenue in Vancouver’s Kitsilano area in June of 2022, followed by the opening of a location in August at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Included within the store is a range of Allbirds’ sustainably-sourced footwear, including original styles and the company’s newest design, the Tree Flyer. Apparel, socks and underwear are also available in the store. Co-founder Tim Brown said in an interview in the summer that he’s not sure whether or not Allbirds will open more Canadian stores.

Emporio Armani (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Italian luxury brand Giorgio Armani’s sub-brand, Emporio Armani, opened its first Canadian storefront in July of 2022 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The impressive retail space houses a collection of men’s and women’s lines, including Emporio Armani ready-to-wear, accessories, and small leather goods as well as watches, jewellery and sunglasses. Ceilings in the store are clad with wood, and wooden panels continue onto the walls and alternate with wallpaper-covered sections that provide a backdrop for the display of the products within the space. It’s not yet known whether or not more Emporio Armani stores will open in Canada — and technically this isn’t the first time that the brand has had stores here. Holt Renfrew operated standalone stores for Emporio Armani on Bloor Street in Toronto in the 1990s and into the early 2000s.

IT’SUGAR (West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, AB): U.S.-based candy concept IT’SUGAR opened its first Canadian location in August of 2022 at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton. The flashy and kitchy retail space houses an expansive assortment of candies. IT’SUGAR has become one of the largest retailers of its kind in the world, with its website stating that it’s “known for their absurd sugar innovations that celebrate lighthearted rebellion”. CEO and founder Jeff Rubin says that several more Canadian locations will be opening in major markets across the country with Toronto being an important target for multiple store locations.

Psycho Bunny (CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, ON): Men’s fashion brand Psycho Bunny opened its first Canadian store in August of 2022 at CF Toronto Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. That was followed by full-priced stores at CF Carrefour Laval near Montreal and a flagship at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, as well as an outlet store at Toronto Premium Outlets. The edgy fashion brand was founded in 2005 in New York City. Interestingly, the brand’s headquarters was recently relocated to Montreal, essentially making it a Canadian brand even though it was founded in the U.S.. Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants is handling leasing negotiations for Psycho Bunny in Canada.

Offline by Aerie (West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, AB): U.S.-based fashion brand Aerie launched its Offline by Aerie concept stores in Canada in September 2022 with a first location at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton. A second location opened shortly thereafter at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre with a number more expected to open in the near future. The brand focuses on athleisure and comfort clothing and will compete with retailers already in the market - Offline launched in the US in 2020. The female-focused brand sells on a range of products including leggings, sports bras, tops, workout dresses, skirts, hats, bags, water bottles, headbands, socks and some footwear. Fabrics used in designs are said to be soft as well as sustainable.

Fendi (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Italian luxury brand Fendi opened its first standalone Canadian storefront in September of 2022 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Fendi already had a retail presence in Canada through concessions at Holt Renfrew including boutique spaces in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. The standalone Yorkdale Fendi is said to be a two-year pop-up that will eventually relocate to a new space in the mall, and other standalone Canadian locations are expected given that Fendi is no longer permitted to sell fur items in its Holt Renfrew concessions. DWSV Realty negotiated the Yorkdale lease on behalf of Fendi.

Alo Yoga (Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto, ON): U.S.based athleisure brand Alo Yoga opened its first Canadian location at 60 Bloor Street West in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville area in September of 2022. A second location opened in the winter at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre, and another is expected for West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton in 2023. Stores feature a range of branded products including clothing and accessories for men and women. Prices are similar and even a bit higher than competitor Lululemon.

ACNE Studios (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Edgy Swedish fashion brand ACNE Studios opened its first Canadian storefront in the fall of 2022 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The unique retail space, featuring a pastel interior, unusual furniture and a short wide entryway, carries a range of pricey fashions for both women and men as well as accessories and footwear. The store is located in the mall’s newest luxury wing. Hilary Kellar Parsons of Aurora Realty Consultants negotiated the lease deal for the Yorkdale location on behalf of ACNE Studios.

Diptique (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Upscale French fragrance and candle brand Diptique opened its first standalone Canadian storefront in September 2022 at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre. The boutique is in the mall’s new luxury wing and carries a range of pricey fragrances, candles, home items, and skincare. More Canadian locations are expected with Jeff Berkowitz of Aurora Realty Consultants handling leasing on behalf of the retailer.

Atelier Munro (Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto, ON): Amsterdam-based custom suit brand Atelier Munro opened its first standalone Canadian location at 19 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto in October of 2022. The impressive three-level space features a range of custom apparel options for men as well as some ready-to-wear, footwear, and also included is an entertainment component on the third floor. More locations will be opening in Canada including Calgary and Vancouver and likely other markets including Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal where Harry Rosen currently has storers - prior to stepping out on its own, Atelier Munro entered Canada through Harry Rosen, recently exiting to do its own thing.

VinFast (Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON): Vietnamese electric automaker VinFast opened its first retail showroom in Canada at Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre in November. Several opened soon after as VinFast attempts to rapidly gain market share by reaching consumers in physical spaces. VinFast’s electric SUVs are on display in the new spaces, including the VF 8 and VF 9. VinFast says that its showrooms are a way to connect with consumers while building confidence in the brand. Tailored customer service and education are part of the experience. About 40 Canadian showrooms are expected as part of the rapid expansion.

Karl Lagerfeld (McArthurGlen Outlets, Vancouver, B.C.): A brand with an iconic name opened a standalone Canadian storefront in December of 2022 at the McArthurGlen Outlets beside Vancouver International Airport. Despite his death in 2019, the Karl Lagerfeld brand lives on with a fashion line that includes the recently opened storefront.

Aside from the retailers mentioned, Retail Insider also reported on several first-to-Canada food and beverage concepts that entered Canada in 2022.

Retail Insider will continue to track international retailers entering Canada in 2023. It’s not yet known what’s expected in terms of overall numbers as we exit the pandemic and potentially into a recession. And while we’re not yet sure what 2023 will bring, we’re expecting a flurry of leasing activity and announcements in 2024 with the completion of the Oakridge Centre redevelopment in Vancouver and Royalmount in Montreal. In the coming years, both may see first-to-Canada retailers open stores there, mirroring the importance of Yorkdale as a launch destination over the past decade.