Why American Giants Like Nordstrom and Target Bombed in Canada — And How Chick-fil-A Is Cleaning Up the Mess

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Welcome, Can-America fans! Pull up a chair, grab your double-double, and let’s unpack why some of America’s biggest brands came storming into Canada — only to fumble spectacularly — while others learned to play nice in our backyard.
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Nordstrom and Target: The Retail Titanic Meets Canadian Icebergs

It’s a classic story of American retail swagger meets the cold, harsh reality of Canada. Nordstrom rolled in thinking their luxury goods would fly off the shelves like maple syrup in February. Spoiler alert: they didn’t. Why? Because they made the rookie mistake of thinking Canadian shoppers are just mini Americans — when really, we have our own tastes, budgets, and patience threshold for overpriced scarves.

Then there was Target’s epic Canada adventure: 133 stores in less than two years. That’s like trying to run a marathon without training — lots of enthusiasm, zero execution. Empty shelves, higher prices, and supply chain chaos made Target about as welcome as a snowstorm in July. Canadians quickly learned that Target Canada was more “target practice” than “bullseye.”

Chick-fil-A: The Comeback Kid With the Secret Sauce

Enter Chick-fil-A, the southern fried chicken chain that first dipped its toes in Canadian waters in the ’90s — flopped, and quickly retreated. But as any good story goes, the comeback is sweeter than waffle fries dipped in honey BBQ sauce.

Starting fresh in 2019, Chick-fil-A has been smart: no crazy fast expansions, no assuming Canadian taste buds match those in Atlanta. They’re slowly winning us over with finger-lickin’ good chicken, friendly service, and local community love. The brand gets it — Canada isn’t the U.S., and that’s okay.

Here’s the Takeaway:

If you’re a business trying to slay in Canada, stop thinking of us like your smaller, polite American cousins. We have a unique market, and respect goes a long way here. Grow slow, adapt fast, and don’t underestimate the potato chip aisle in Regina.

Want more snappy insights on cross-border business misadventures, retail wins and fails, and Canadian consumer culture served with a side of sass?

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Written with a wink by your friendly neighborhood sass analyst, inspired by the one and only Sherry Sanchez style.