Zellers Boosts Private Brands With Anko Launch

Canadian shoppers visiting their local Zellers location now have an exclusive new product assortment to choose from that covers a range of product categories.

The retailer's new Anko brand is positioned by the retailer as a private label offering. With products in home furnishings, housewares and home decor, the Anko brand may be new to those in Canada, but has been a mainstay in Australia.

"As we began to source the assortment for Zellers, we set three criteria on which we wouldn't compromise: design, quality, and value," said Kartik Rathod, senior vice president, Merchandising, Zellers. "We traveled the globe, eventually to Australia, where we met with the Anko team and saw first-hand the popularity of the brand. We knew very quickly that partnering to bring Anko to Canada would be a win for Zellers and our customers."

Anko has developed a reputation for on-trend, responsibly-sourced products, from toys and pets, bed, bath and kitchen, accent furniture and apparel.

"Anko has grown to be a much loved and market leading brand in Australia and we are very excited to launch Anko in Canada, exclusively through Zellers," said Ian Bailey, Managing Director, Kmart Group Australia.

Additionally, the Zellers brand returned to Canada early in 2023 with 25 Zellers store experiences in Hudson’s Bay locations across the country. In 2011, Target acquired 189 Zellers locations from Hudson’s Bay and converted the stores to Target locations. However, this initiative failed spectacularly and by 2015, Target closed all of its Canadian stores. 

Following the sale to Target, Hudson’s Bay operated 64 Zellers locations, but in 2013 closed all stores.