Grocery-anchored retail centres continue to attract investors, report says

Grocery-anchored retail centres continue to be a preferred asset for private and public investors in Canada.

Remax Canada’s 2025 Commercial Real Estate Report, released Tuesday (June 10), found that retail plazas continue to outperform, especially in suburban areas.

The potential for future mixed-use redevelopment and/or intensification also makes these centres an attractive investment opportunity, Remax said. 

The report examines first-quarter activity across 12 major markets across the country, with multi-family and industrial being the top-performing asset classes, followed by retail.

Overall, retail is “resilient,” the real estate company said, despite persisting challenges at smaller, traditional malls. 

Western Canada’s commercial markets, alongside Newfoundland-Labrador, led the country in terms of  commercial growth in 2025, buoyed by an increase in population, greater investment activity and solid economic performance, Remax said.

“Canada’s commercial real estate market is shifting to fundamentals this year,” said Don Kottick,  president, Remax Canada, in a press release. “What we’re seeing is a pivot to purpose and practicality, prompting  revitalization, a flight to quality, and a more discerning buyer pool. Institutional investors and Real Estate Investments Trusts (REIT) are cautiously re-entering the market—focused on acquisition, not  disposition—as they target assets that promise long-term value in today’s more complex operating  environment.”