Exactly. This is basically the reality for everyone stuck renting.

I saw McDonald’s use this tactic in The Founder. They franchise (No Frills) to remove additional costs for themselves, but it also means they can bully owners with the leasing rates. win-win

For real. This “our profit margin hasn’t increased” argument is BS. If it’s a percentage, it’s increased at the rate of YOUR inflation. That’s why you can simultaneously make the profit margin argument, while toting record profits at investor’s meetings.

If I sell lettuce at $1 and make $0.10 profit, I have a 10% profit margin. Mark every step of the way up to my store and sell the same lettuce for $10 and make $1 profit, I STILL have a 10% profit margin. But now I can also tell my investors I have increased profits 900%

I’m sure there’s lots of arms length vertical integration to spread these higher costs around to as well. Example: Rogers stores, service techs, etc are all “technically” subcontractors. Numbered companies with Rogers logos on everything.

I’d be pretty damn surprised if Loblaws et al don’t have their hands in the logistics ends of their businesses. ___