Foreign-based retailers are under-represented in Quebec

Just how big is the “U.S. invasion” of our retail sector? A 2011 study by Groupe Altus for Quebec’s Economic Development Department estimated sales by foreignbased retailers (almost all of them American) in Canada in 2010 totalled $62.6 billion — that’s almost 15 per cent of all retail sales in the country, a considerable market. Exclude grocery chains, gas stations, car dealerships and pharmacies — where American and other foreign firms are largely absent — and the market penetration is much higher: almost 41 per cent of all total retail sales are done by companies based across the border or in countries like Spain (Zara) and Sweden (IKEA, H&M). Quebec is under-represented, however. Precise sales figures are unavailable, but the Altus report showed that while Quebec has 23 per cent of the total Canadian population, only 17 per cent of retail floor space in Quebec is occupied by foreign-owned firms (again, almost all American).