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Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Loblaw pulls Folgers coffee from shelves over 'unjustified' cost increases
Published Jun 05, 2025 • 2 minute read Packages of Folgers coffee are displayed on a shelf at a grocery store on June 5, 2014 in San Rafael, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Shoppers at Loblaw Cos. Ltd.'s stores will soon no longer be able to get a coffee fix by purchasing Folgers-brand products after a pricing dispute prompted the grocer to pull them from its shelves. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In an email sent to retailers on Wednesday, Loblaw said it decided to delist all Folgers products after talks with the coffee maker's manufacturer couldn't solve the impasse. 'After several weeks of negotiations, we were unable to reach an agreement with the manufacturers of Folgers coffee regarding their significant and unjustified proposed price increases,' said the email signed by Loblaw category director Suren Theivakadacham and obtained by The Canadian Press. 'We are doing this because we are on the side of customers, and doing what we can to keep prices low … This decision to delist Folgers coffee reflects our commitment to providing value for customers by not accepting unreasonable cost increases that would hurt Canadians.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The email contained an attached list of alternative coffee products the grocer offers as stores prepare to update their shelves. The move comes as coffee prices continue to rise in Canada. Last month, Statistics Canada reported the price of coffee and tea was up 13.4 per cent in April on a year-over-year basis _ outpacing both the 3.8 per cent increase in the cost of groceries that month, as well as Canada's overall inflation rate of 1.7 per cent. Experts say higher coffee prices are in part due to recent extreme weather and changes in temperature, which have caused some producers to experience lower yields. Other pressures include a weak Canadian dollar, making it more expensive to import coffee to Canada from other countries, along with the fact coffee is one of the products still subject to Canada's retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. While the U.S. isn't a major producer of coffee, Canadian distributors often purchase it from American brokers. Folgers products are made by the Orrville, Ohio-based J.M. Smucker Co., which raised prices of its coffee offerings both last June and October in response to higher costs it is facing. President and CEO Mark Smucker told analysts on the company's quarterly earnings call in February that more coffee price increases were likely on the way. He said pricing decisions are dictated by costs it faces. 'Although we haven't laid out when other pricing is going to happen, we do expect it's going to happen in the next fiscal year, probably in the first half,' Smucker said at the time. The company did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas said Folgers' proposed cost increases were 'unreasonable and unjustified based on underlying costs' and that the grocer felt it was important to push back as many Canadians continue to struggle with unaffordability. 'Despite several attempts to address this with the manufacturer, we were not successful,' Thomas said in a statement. 'We will not accept or pass unjustified cost increases on to customers and therefore we have removed Folgers from our shelves … We recognize this may create some inconvenience for customers and for that we apologize but again, we will do what is right to help address price increases.' Thomas added Loblaw expects most of its stores to be out of stock of Folgers products over the next week or two. Columnists Columnists NHL Columnists Toronto & GTA
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
California Reservoir Update as Lake Nears New Milestone
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lake Oroville is only one foot shy of reaching its capacity of 900 feet and marking the first time in its history of doing so for three consecutive years. A spokesperson for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) told Newsweek that "no major rain is forecasted but snowmelt driven runoff will continue through June and somewhat in July as forecasted." Why It Matters In summer 2022, many reservoirs across California reached concerningly low levels after years of drought, including Lake Oroville. However, since the winter of 2022-23, the lake's water levels have significantly recovered. Above-average snowfall in the winters of 2023 and 2024 helped the reservoir recover. Although less snow fell this year, the lake is expected to reach its capacity this spring as snow melts, signaling positive news for California. What To Know As of Thursday, documented Lake Oroville's water level at 899 feet, one foot from full capacity. A boat navigates the waters of Lake Oroville on June 15, 2023, in Oroville, California. A boat navigates the waters of Lake Oroville on June 15, 2023, in Oroville, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty When compared to 2023 and 2024, Lake Oroville's current water levels are the highest they've been for this time of year. On May 22, 2024, its levels were 898.83 feet, according to Lakes Online, and on the same date in 2023, they were at 891.25 feet. During the past two years, the lake's water levels continued rising into the first half of June. California DWR data shows Lake Oroville at 99 percent capacity, which is 122 percent of its historical average for this time of year. Lake Shasta, California's largest reservoir, also is in good shape. At 94 percent capacity, it sits at 112 percent of its historical average for this time of year. However, drought is still widespread across California. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map, released on Thursday, shows that nearly 60 percent of the Golden State is considered abnormally dry. Almost 40 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought, with nearly a quarter of it facing more severe drought, mostly focused in Southern California. The drought is unlikely to improve much in the summer, as the state is entering its dry period. What People Are Saying A DWR spokesperson previously told Newsweek: "Lake Oroville is likely to reach full capacity this year. This will be the first time the reservoir has reached full capacity three years in a row." DWR Director Karla Nemeth said in a press release: "It's great news that our state's snowpack has recovered from several weeks of extremely dry conditions in the heart of our winter storm season. However, it's not a wet year across the entire Sierra Nevada. The north has great snowpack, but snowpack is less than average in the central and southern part of the mountain range. That snowpack ultimately flows to the Delta, and the regional disparity affects how much water the State Water Project will be able to deliver." What Happens Next Lake Oroville will likely continue rising into June, as evidenced by past years. Typically, lake levels will begin falling in mid-June and continue falling into November, when they begin to rise again.
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
Alphabet's Waymo wins approval to expand driverless ride-hailing service to San Jose
A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images Alphabet's Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose. In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo's driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula. 'We're very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!' the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. 'While this won't change our operations in the near-term, we're looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.' READ SOURCE
Toronto Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Dick's Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for $2.4B
Published May 15, 2025 • 3 minute read The Dick's Sporting Goods logo is displayed on the floor of a store on September 4, 2024 in Daly City, California. Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Dick's Sporting Goods is buying the struggling footwear chain Foot Locker for about $2.4 billion, the second buyout of a major footwear company in as many weeks as business leaders struggle with uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Dick's said Thursday that it expects to run Foot Locker as a standalone unit and keep the Foot Locker brands, which include Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and Japanese sneaker brand atmos. 'Sports and sports culture continue to be incredibly powerful, and with this acquisition, we'll create a new global platform that serves those ever evolving needs through iconic concepts consumers know and love, enhanced store designs and omnichannel experiences, as well as a product mix that appeals to our different customer bases,' Dick's CEO Lauren Hobart said in a statement. Both companies are led by women. Hobart became CEO at Dick's in 2021, while Mary Dillon has served as CEO of Foot Locker since 2022. Foot Locker announced a turnaround plan in 2023 in part to help improve its relationship with big brands. Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Retail Round Up Conference last month, Dillon said that Foot Locker is working closely with Nike, specifically in categories including basketball, sneaker culture and kids. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Earlier this month Skechers announced that it was being taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital in a transaction worth more than $9 billion. The retail industry has been growing increasingly concerned over Trump's trade war with other countries, particularly China. Athletic shoe makers have invested heavily in production in Asia. Shares of sporting goods and athletic shoe companies have been under pressure all year. Foot Locker's stock has plunged 41% this year. It is also facing pressure elsewhere, with major athletic companies like Nike and Adidas shifting their sales strategies. Skechers had fallen almost 8% this year. About 97% of the clothes and shoes purchased in the U.S. are imported, predominantly from Asia, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Using factories overseas has kept labor costs down for U.S. companies, but neither they nor their overseas suppliers are likely to absorb price increases due to new tariffs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Foot Locker, based in New York City, offers Dick's a lot of potential, namely its huge real estate footprint, and would give the Pittsburgh company its first foothold overseas. Foot Locker has about 2,400 retail stores across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It also has a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company had global sales of $8 billion last year. Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski said that about 33% of Foot Locker's sales come from outside the United States. He anticipates that the combined company would generate approximately 12% of sales internationally on a pro forma basis. The deal also broadens Dick's customer base, with sneaker collectors anxiously anticipating new drops from Foot Locker. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in an emailed statement that Foot Locker, which has a 4.3% share of the sporting goods market, would give an immediate boost to Dick's. 'It would also give Dick's substantially more bargaining power with national brands, especially in the sneaker space,' he added. Foot Locker shareholders can choose to receive either $24 in cash or 0.1168 shares of Dick's common stock for each Foot Locker share that they own. Dick's said that it anticipates closing on the Foot Locker deal in the second half of the year. The transaction still needs approval from Foot Locker shareholders. Dick's stock dropped more than 10% before the market open, while shares of Foot Locker surged more than 82%. Toronto Maple Leafs Relationships World Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
There are more ways to make West Virginia healthy
The Biden administration finalized a rule to require utilities to conduct an inventory of water lines, and to replace ones made of lead. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan | Getty Images) I'll hand it to West Virginia lawmakers for being on the forefront of a national movement during the recent legislative session, and educating me while doing so. I hadn't thought much about artificial food dyes, or problems associated with them, until a bill to ban them started gaining traction in February. The synthetic dyes have been a target of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement because they are petroleum-based and have been linked to adverse effects in children. The dyes are found in a range of foods particularly marketed to children, including cereals, candies and drinks. Growing up, I recall often, while bored, reading the nutrition labels as I ate, despite not really understanding the ingredients I saw. Following the legislation's passage and considering what comes next, Del. Adam Burkhammer said, 'we need to look at everything.' If that's true, I encourage people under the Make America Healthy Again umbrella and West Virginia lawmakers to consider ways to address toxins that we've known for a long time are harmful and have been hurting West Virginians. Take lead poisoning, for example. Lead can be found in soil and in some pipes that pump our drinking water. It also was used in paint before 1978. Much of the housing stock in Appalachia is old, and old chipped paint and dust poses a big risk to toddlers. There's no safe level for lead exposure. It can cause behavior problems and mental defects in children. One way to know where lead is a problem is to screen children. And we're not doing that enough. Back in 2021, Clarksburg saw a sharp increase in the number of children who had high lead exposure, likely due to lead service lines. In a presentation on the state's response, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said low screening rates and lack of awareness about the harms of lead poisoning were challenges. They recommended that the state incentivize lead screenings and formulate a state action plan. The Biden administration finalized a rule to require utilities to conduct an inventory of water lines, and to replace ones made of lead. This will be hard work; home and business owners can be hard to reach. Then, typically the utility will be on the hook for replacing the lead pipe up to the home. The owner would have to replace the pipes in the home, which can be costly. Where do policymakers fit into this? The Legislature could allocate more funding to health departments to create and implement lead action plans, including intense screening outreach and education. The state could also identify ways to create (and actually put money into) a fund to help homeowners replace their lead pipes. This lead example has taken a lot of space. So I'll spare the reader similar explanations on other environmental and public health issues that come to mind where I think common ground can be found with the MAHA movement. Those are: Power plant arsenic and mercury emissions that seep into water Groundwater pollution from oil and gas drilling, transportation spills, and manufacturing Air pollution for people who live near factories, plants, major roadways Tobacco use Black lung disease and other workplace injuries and illnesses PFAS, or forever chemical, contamination (which the state did take action on, but unfortunately has been put on pause thanks to the Trump administration) I hope food dyes are just a start. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
