Loblaws is reporting better-than-expected earnings and revenue today (Wednesday, May 6, 2015) driven largely by its retail operations (food and pharmacy) and raised its dividend by about 2%. Revenue beat the C$9.45 billion analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting. The company also bolstered its quarterly dividend payout to 25 Canadian cents a share from 24.5 Canadian cents. “Although the grocery industry remains highly competitive and health care reform continues to challenge our pharmacy business, we are maintaining stable business performance, gaining incremental efficiencies, delivering synergies on schedule, deleveraging the balance sheet and achieving continued earnings growth,” Executive Chairman Galen G. Weston said in a statement.

MarketWatch

Well-known entrepreneur Karen Becker will run new outlet from the Vancouver area children’s chain. Check it out. 

Maclean’s asks what the backers of a failed effort on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter will do now that the project and their money have gone nowhere The South Bayview Bulldog likes “Smarten Up” as a quick bit of advice. The entire online concept of sending money  on impulse — especially to start a company about which you know nothing — is evidence of a society with more money than brains. ZPM Espresso claimed its Nocturne coffee maker was the world’s first smart espresso machine for the home because of a programmable control chip, more common in commercial machines, that would allow consumers to create the perfect shot of concentrated java by precisely controlling water pressure and temperature. Uh-huh.

Who is Rachel Notley? Her stunning emergence as a political powerhouse in Alberta has been a while in the making. She born two years after her father Grant helped founded the Alberta NDP. She was four when her father, Grant, became the tiny party’s leader. He died in 1984 in a plane crash but his hard-working daughter will now honour his memory in spades. Rachel. Notley 

Karen Becker — not goodbye

Karen Becker, the dynamic owner for so many years of Moms-to-be-and-more, will operate the seventh location in Canada of the children’s chain West Coast Kids. Ms Becker confirmed this news to The South Bayview Bulldog Tuesday (May 5, 2015). West Coast Kids will take space at the corner of Bayview and Manor Rd. E where Moms has operated.

The West Coast Kids website reflects a considerable similarity to the wide range of inventory carried by Moms.  Ms. Becker’s announcement also appears in an online forum although the news hasn’t quite made it to the windows of her store, which has yet to finally close.

“I am thrilled to announce that they will be bringing you a new shopping experience to Toronto!” she says. West coast Kids (which also calls itself WCK) has six other locations in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

If you spent last night at Five Guys Burgers and Fries or even Against The Grain, we want you to see this. The Costume Institute Benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art took over the Big Apple last night. CBS2’s Jill Nicolini report.

Longo’s Nutella promotion will roll into Leaside at the Laird Drive store during the week of Monday, May 18 to Sunday, May 24. This is an itinerant kitchen and happy gang of crêpe makers who are visiting all the Longo’s stores in Ontario this Spring. Nutella has a valuable and time-honoured trade name. It is good at promoting it too. A couple of weeks ago we had Nutella doughnuts at Tim Horton’s.  The fact is the recipe is quite simple and President’s Choice and others have been able to put hazelnuts and chocolate together too. It may be madness, but some people have been known to make it at home. Anyway, this Crêperie should be worth a visit to the good people at Longo’s

With high schools on strike in Peel Region, an online poll in the Mississauga News indicates that 72% of parents there believe that teaching in the public school system should be an essential service. It is a question often asked when employees in the public sector (that includes teachers) go on strike. Teachers were given the right to strike about 50 years ago along with other pubic services. Since then the right to strike has been withdrawn, most recently from transit workers. The Mississauga News polls shows 72 percent in favour of teaching being an essential service, 26 percent opposed and 3 percent didn’t know. Meantime, no details are being offered by the Elementary School Teachers on just where and what they will do next week in Ontario. This is their “Special Strike Action”. It seems like a pretense to let them catch schools and parents by surprise  Globe and Mail

A public meeting tonight at St. Lawrence Hall on the future of the Gardiner Expressway has heard considerable opinion that the expressway should be saved, but that the portion east of the Don Valley should be torn down. There is nothing definitive to be decided tonight. The expensive task of fixing the Gardiner would be lessened by removing the eastern part. It would apparently permit desirable development. This option would also maintain the rather busy link not just from downtown but distant points to the west with South Bayview and other parts of the City.

The world probably does not need an excuse like Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you) to find the sequel of interest.