High Tide Expands Canna Cabana Footprint in Ontario and Alberta

CALGARY – High Tide, Inc. announced plans to open three new Canna Cabana stores in the coming weeks, adding dispensaries in North York and Etobicoke, Ontario, and Fort McMurray, Alberta. The move pushes the company’s total to 210 locations nationwide, with 88 in Ontario and 89 in Alberta.

The North York site sits in a bustling Toronto suburb, drawing from a dense urban population of more than 650,000 residents within a 10-kilometer radius. Etobicoke, another Toronto enclave, targets similar demographics, including young professionals and families in a community of roughly 370,000. Both spots anchor in high-traffic retail strips, near major highways and shopping centers that see heavy foot traffic daily.

In Alberta, the Fort McMurray location fills a gap in the oil sands hub, a town of about 68,000 that swells with seasonal workers and tourists. Company officials note its position near hotels and attractions will serve both locals [many in energy jobs] and visitors, building on an existing store at the town’s north end. This setup mirrors High Tide’s strategy of pairing new outlets with proven markets to capture steady demand.

High Tide has added stores at a brisk clip this year, opening 13 since January and surpassing 200 locations by May. The pace reflects steady sales growth; same-store revenue climbed 7% in the latest quarter, outpacing the national average of 4%, thanks to the Cabana Club loyalty program that draws repeat customers with discounts. Ontario and Alberta account for nearly 85% of the chain’s footprint, underscoring a focus on these provinces where legal sales generated almost $3 billion last fiscal year.

Analysts point to the openings as a sign of maturation in a sector still grappling with oversupply—Canada’s licensed producers shipped 25% more flower than retailers could move in 2024. High Tide counters this by emphasizing accessories and branded goods alongside flower, which made up 40% of its Q2 revenue. Yet competition stiffens: Ontario alone holds over 1,800 stores, forcing operators to refine site picks and pricing to hold ground.

The expansions come as High Tide’s shares trade around $3.6 on Nasdaq, down 15% year-to-date amid broader market jitters over U.S. tariff talks. Still, the company reports positive cash flow from operations, a rarity in Cannabis retail, and eyes further growth into Quebec next year.

For High Tide, these stores represent calculated steps in a competitive field, where volume meets efficiency. As the chain expands to 210 doors, the test lies in turning new traffic into lasting loyalty, a challenge that every major player faces when consumer demands shift and the market moves into its next phase.