Laura Secord falls to Yanks. Is Canada losing its identity?

[samsonyuen]

Laura Secord Indulges in a Dramatic Makeover
Canada's largest chocolatier announces a new look and 20 enticing new flavours.


Canadians love chocolate and are consuming more of it each year. Now Canadian Godiva, Laura Secord, is undergoing a major renewal that will include new products and packaging and remodeled stores.

Just in time for the holidays, chocolate lovers can enjoy more than
20 new chocolates including Raspberry Marilla, Fresh Lemon, 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate and Pistachio Marzipan. All these sweet treats are included in Laura Secord's signature "Miniatures" and classic "Assorted" chocolate collections.

Laura Secord's new packaging features a tone-on-tone ivory design which
is contemporary and elegant. Inside the box, each chocolate has been carefully selected to tantalize the taste buds and delight the eyes. The

Laura Secord's stores also underwent a facelift, with rich wood design elements, colourful mosaic tiles and the enticing aroma of waffle cones baked on the premises.

"Laura Secord is a beloved Canadian icon with a rich heritage as a
chocolatier," said Jamie Ardrey, chief executive officer, Laura Secord.
"We are indulging more often," confirms vice president of marketing, Andrea Graham.

 

[cdl42]

Laura Secord was bought out by the Americans.

Ironic? I think so.

 

[dan e 1980]

canada is losing its identity.

 

[spmarshall]

I look at Laura Secord the same way I look at Tim Hortons - they have become the (Canada) subsidiary of a US giant, and in a way, what is more Canadian than that?

I'm only half kidding.

 

[EnviroTO]

It's sad that there isn't more Canadian businesses taking over US companies. Unfortunately the conservative business practices in Canada don't put as large a focus on international expansion as they seem to in the US. Our restaurants and retailers tend not to go into the US and if they do they don't tend to do well and pull back. East Side Mario's and La Senza both went into the US and didn't fare too well. I don't really see why HBC, Loblaws, Cara Foods, etc hasn't made serious pushes into the US market or into Europe or Asia. Our financial institutions and Bombardier often seem to be our only international companies.

 

[spmarshall]

There's only a few good examples that I can think of - and two of them are Quebec firms - Les Alimentation Couche-Tard and Pharmacies Jean-Coutu, both of which bought up convenience stores and drug stores, mostly in New England, New York State, etc. The big banks have also been pretty aggressive about moving into the states, at least in brokerage firms and investment companies (ie TD Waterhouse), as have some real estate firms such as Brookfield.

I couldn't see HBC pushing into the US market - the retail sector is littered with failed entries to the States - such as Canadian Tire's purchase of Whites' in Texas, La Senza, and so on.

 

[Archivistower]

One way that Canadian firms tend to get bought up by Americans is after they move in on the US turf. If they see success, they eliminate the competitor.

The jury is not out yet, I believe, on the two Quebec firms. Particularly Jean Coutu, it sounds like they are running into problems with the chain they bought.

 

[samsonyuen]

La Senza and Aldo are great examples of good overseas ventures. La Senza franchised out its foreign territories and is all over Europe and the Middle East. Aldo is quite popular in the US and UK now, and I believe they have stores in Europe as well! Roots has a few stores that seem to be doing well too, as did Danier (though I read they weren't doing so hot last year). Le Château has a handful of NYC area stores that they stubbornly won't close, but that's all I can think of of Canadian companies in the US.

Laura Secord is owned by a Canadian company again. It was sold to a NB-based chocolatier last year (whose name escapes me...Ganong?) and so it's in Canadian hands again.