529:) to make regular shipments from the warehouse to stores. In 1999, it was reported that the company's trucks were making deliveries to each store three times a week. In 2001, Reid reported that deliveries were taking place daily: "We have the most efficient shipping and distribution system in the general merchandise field ... It is equivalent to the grocery stores. We deliver to stores five times per week. There is no one else in the general merchandise industry that does that and we do it with our own trucks."
38:
513:. Because larger retail spaces are unavailable in such inner-city neighbourhoods, the merchandise selection at GTXpress stores is more limited than at a full-size Giant Tiger, let alone a big-box store. Traditional lines of Giant Tiger merchandise are further restricted to free up space for an expanded produce, dairy, deli and bakery section. Effectively, a GTXpress store is a discount version of a
29:
517:, characterized by a "focus on what the customer needs today, as opposed to what the customer wants." As the ethnic makeup of individual inner-city neighbourhoods is likely to differ substantially, franchise owner at each GTXpress outlet will have the authority to tailor "product lines to cater to ethnic diversity in the area."
426:(NWC) signed a 30-year Master Franchise Agreement that grants NWC the exclusive right to open and operate 72 Giant Tiger stores in western Canada by 2032. In 2013, thirty-one of these stores were open and NWC was eyeing expansion into older city neighbourhoods and rural towns too small to support a Target or
384:, on May 13, 1961, with a $ 15,000 investment. First year sales of $ 139,781 were far lower than Reid had anticipated, and by the end of 1962, he decided to close the store. Unexpectedly, the rush of customers attracted by his going out of business sale provided enough cash flow to keep the business afloat.
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in 1968. As Reid would explain it forty years later, from the moment the change was made, "the store made money and I didn't have to do anything. did the advertising, he found the location, he merchandised it to suit his customers, he did everything ... And, I thought, 'by golly, that's a good
307:
Key head office personnel were co-owners of Giant Tiger Stores
Limited. Initially, Giant Tiger’s head office was quite small; and ownership was therefore shared among a small number of people. By 1980, ownership had been shared between Reid and ten key employees. Gordon Reid has stated that Canada’s
340:
chains, individual store managers are given wide leeway in ordering decisions and are free to devote their limited floor space to items which sell well in their local market. This flexibility, and a distribution system in which stores are restocked daily, allows stores to "pull" only the inventory
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Reid stated, four decades later, that he had believed, even at this early stage, that it would be possible to build a Canada-wide chain based on this model. Asked by a reporter whether he had ever imagined that Giant Tiger would eventually have the success it was then enjoying, Reid stated, "Yes.
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of Giant Tiger, in favour of Andy Gross, a 25-year veteran with the chain, who started working as a buyer when there were fewer than thirty stores. Gross had, by this time, already inherited the presidency from Jeff York. Gross decided to retire effective August 1, 2014, and was then replaced as
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operated all of Giant Tiger's locations in western Canada under a single master franchise agreement. In March 2020, The North West
Company announced that it would sell 34 of its 46 franchises to Giant Tiger, while closing six underperforming locations, maintaining five in northern markets, and
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That was the original intention. The idea for the business came when I was a travelling salesman. I saw the discounters growing. My original inspiration was the F. W. Woolworth Co., obviously that was a big chain. So this was always the plan."
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was his inspiration for this innovation. Making his employees into part-owners of the company ensured that, as in the co-op movement, all employees would share a common interest in maximizing profits.
433:
The chain has undertaken a major expansion in the
Greater Toronto Area since 2005. It has opened seven stores in Bradford, Brampton, Markham (now closed), Newmarket, Scarborough and Etobicoke.
414:, where 16,500 square feet (1,530 m) of an approximately 100,000 square feet (9,300 m) large Target store was acquired by Giant Tiger. This location opened in the spring of 2016.
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neighbourhood. GT Xpress stores are intended to service less mobile residents of densely populated neighbourhoods, so that residents will not have to leave the neighbourhood to shop at a
455:
In 1968, Giant Tiger opened its first franchise stores, which now account for the majority of locations. The goal was to better serve the customer by having local owners in the stores.
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On May 31, 1996, Giant Tiger purchased and took possession of a 29,000 m (310,000 sq ft) distribution centre on
Walkley Road in Ottawa, previously occupied by
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In 2010, Reid reported that the issuing of no-cost franchises to experienced retailers "was a great way to get experienced people. Over the years we had a lot come from
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268:, Reid first saw discount stores. Discount stores were a new concept at the time. He was particularly impressed by Uncle Bill's, a chain headquartered in
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In
December 2005, Giant Tiger opened a new 3,700 m (40,000 sq ft) distribution centre for frozen and refrigerated products in
272:, which was one of his clients. The discount store concept did not yet exist in Canada, and it therefore represented a business opportunity.
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491:; this store has since been rebranded as Tigre GĂ©ant. In 2017, the last Chez Tante Marie store, in Gatineau, was rebranded as Tigre GĂ©ant.
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As of 2021, the chain reported annual sales of roughly $ 2 billion and employed about 10,000 people. Its headquarters are located on
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from the marketplace presented an expansion opportunity for Giant Tiger. Its first acquisition of a Target store occurred in
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is a
Canadian discount store chain which operates over 260 stores across Canada. The company's stores operate under the
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264:, who was then in his early twenties, was a travelling salesman for an importer in the United States. In the American
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employees, most of whom had been attracted by the same franchise system that he had introduced decades earlier.
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681:"Did you know you're entitled to $ 10 off a wrongly priced item under the Scanner Price Accuracy Code?"
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360:." In the same interview, Reid stated that over twenty Giant Tiger franchises are now run by former
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Because the chain most often has been shoehorned into existing spaces now too small for the major
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in 1961, was company-owned. The first franchised Giant Tiger was opened by Jean-Guy
Desjardins in
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and CEO. A proposal to sell the company was briefly raised in
October 2013, but soon abandoned.
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they immediately need and facilitates greater turnover per square foot of scarce retail space.
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stores. Reid’s own retail experience, dating back to his first job as a teenager, had been in
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As of 2018, there are 230 stores, the most recent three being opened on
October 12, 2018, in
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224:. In 2018, the company opened a 600,000-square-foot (55,742 m) distribution centre in
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In 2018, the company opened a 600,000-square-foot (55,742 m) distribution centre in
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Although the store survived, expansion was slow. A second location, in the small town of
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president and COO by Greg
Farrell, who in turn was replaced on March 1, 2015, by former
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802:"Giant Tiger founder shares secrets of 38-year success" (interview with Gordon Reid).
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rather than in discount, but his mother had worked behind the luncheon counter at a
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continent-wide success, half a century earlier, in creating hundreds of profitable
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In 1987, Giant Tiger launched its own trucking fleet (known internally as
443:, its first (and only) in the United States. This store closed during the
554:, halfway between Montreal and Toronto, at the intersection of Ontario's
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The 200th Giant Tiger store opened in Nova Scotia in October 2010.
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Laurie McBurney, "Giant Tiger roars loud in the discount jungle".
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opened the first Giant Tiger store, on George Street in Ottawa’s
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brand was launched as an alternative format for smaller stores.
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926:"Giant Tiger to occupy part of former Target store in Fergus"
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Haig's appointment was announced in an advertisement in the
617:"Ottawa-born retailer Giant Tiger celebrates 60th birthday"
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Mark McNeil, "Giant Tiger built on lots of cheap goods."
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Gordon Pitts, "Tightwad philosophy keeps Tiger running",
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Gordon Pitts, "Tightwad philosophy keeps Tiger running.
908:"Giant Tiger sees 'opportunity' in Target's departure"
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converting one (Prince Albert) to a different banner.
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outlet at a former Giant Tiger location in Ottawa's
857:"The North West Company: Cross-Enterprise Strategy"
583:Thomas Haig. As of 2015, Reid retains the posts of
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951:"Giant Tiger plans to add stores in rural centres"
889:David Scanlan, "King of the Discount Jungle", in
789:Vito Pilieci, "New CEO grabs Tiger by the tail",
566:Changes in management structure and key personnel
987:"The North West Company Inc. 2014 Annual Report"
260:In the mid and late 1940s, Giant Tiger founder
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439:In 2004, Giant Tiger opened a single store in
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1140:Bert Hill, "Giant Tiger keeps its stripes."
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320:Giant Tiger #1, opened in Ottawa's historic
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1042:"North Battleford Giant Tiger set to close"
1096:"Bye bye Tante Marie, bonjour Tigre GĂ©ant"
1067:"Chez Tante Marie ferme ses portes Ă Hull"
767:"Profiting from the bargain basement," in
275:Reid reports that he was also inspired by
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27:
20:
1016:"NWC sells all but 12 Giant Tiger stores"
969:"Giant Tiger store going out of business"
679:Edwards, Danielle (November 20, 2019).
607:
1168:"Giant Tiger exploring option to sell"
656:
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642:"Giant Tiger discount chain growing".
570:In October 2010, Reid stepped down as
501:In 2008, Giant Tiger opened its first
239:It is a participant in the voluntary
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1212:Retail companies established in 1961
615:Williston, Victoria (May 3, 2021).
1232:Privately held companies of Canada
745:. Edmonton Journal. Archived from
743:"A retail giant earns its stripes"
597:List of Canadian department stores
14:
1122:Giant Tiger reopens community hub
771:, (Ottawa), vol. 4, no. 5 (1981).
471:In 1977, Giant Tiger established
310:agricultural cooperative movement
1014:Cash, Martin (March 12, 2020).
1237:1961 establishments in Ontario
741:Hugh Paterson (May 10, 2010).
1:
16:Canadian discount store chain
1217:Department stores of Canada
1071:Le Droit (Gatineau, Quebec)
880:, November 29, 1999, p. D3.
806:. September 20, 1999, p. 7.
241:Scanner Price Accuracy Code
76:; 63 years ago
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1144:September 15, 1999, p. D1.
893:, October 18, 1991, p. F1.
728:. October 27, 2001, p. B2.
406:. The 2015, withdrawal of
159:Giant Tiger Stores Limited
22:Giant Tiger Stores Limited
1222:Discount stores of Canada
1207:Companies based in Ottawa
422:In 2001, Giant Tiger and
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245:Retail Council of Canada
1157:, March 2, 2015, p. B3.
833:Canada’s national Tiger
804:Ottawa Business Journal
572:chief executive officer
458:Between 2001 and 2020,
42:A Giant Tiger store in
994:The North West Company
838:March 4, 2016, at the
646:. May 11, 2021, p. B2.
467:New brands/trade names
460:The North West Company
424:The North West Company
973:Watertown Daily Times
955:winnipegfreepress.com
930:www.guelphmercury.com
822:, September 27, 1980.
710:, September 27, 1980.
585:chairman of the board
1073:. September 12, 2015
846:, November 17, 2007.
521:Trucking/warehousing
418:Geographic expansion
187:Prince Edward Island
1020:Winnipeg Free Press
793:, October 15, 2010.
303:Ownership structure
134:Number of employees
124:Gino DiGioacchino (
23:
1174:. October 4, 2013.
906:Robert Bostelaar.
726:Hamilton Spectator
666:www.gianttiger.com
1131:, March 15, 2008.
515:convenience store
441:Potsdam, New York
293:downtown Montreal
285:department stores
277:Frank Woolworth’s
156:
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103:2480 Walkley Road
44:Espanola, Ontario
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316:Franchise system
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99:Headquarters
51:Company type
18:
560:Highway 416
556:Highway 401
451:Franchising
378:Gordon Reid
338:hypermarket
289:Woolworth’s
262:Gordon Reid
256:Inspiration
234:Highway 416
230:Highway 401
207:Tigre GĂ©ant
201:banners in
179:Nova Scotia
163:Giant Tiger
93:Gordon Reid
1201:Categories
1100:Info07.com
603:References
541:Brockville
507:Hintonburg
475:stores in
389:Brockville
356:and later
329:system.'"
209:banner in
165:banner in
148:gianttiger
120:Key people
1051:March 21,
1025:March 21,
753:March 17,
552:Johnstown
503:GT Xpress
447:in 2009.
396:Saskatoon
346:Woolworth
226:Johnstown
195:GTExpress
1126:Archived
999:July 23,
836:Archived
591:See also
481:Gatineau
404:Hamilton
326:Maniwaki
171:Manitoba
61:Industry
1106:June 7,
1077:June 7,
861:hbr.org
577:Zellers
545:Ontario
485:Lachute
428:Walmart
400:Windsor
368:History
362:Walmart
358:Zellers
266:Midwest
203:Ontario
183:Ontario
167:Alberta
143:Website
114:K1G 6A9
111:Ontario
89:Founder
79: (
71:Founded
55:Private
1172:cbc.ca
628:May 3,
489:Quebec
350:Kresge
222:Ottawa
211:Quebec
107:Ottawa
65:Retail
1046:paNOW
990:(PDF)
354:Kmart
138:8,000
1108:2018
1079:2018
1053:2020
1027:2020
1001:2015
937:2015
755:2012
694:2021
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