‘Albertans love Valentine’s Day’: Chocolate and flower shops seeing huge boost in business

Flower and chocolate shops are seeing an influx of customers as lovers look to finish up Valentine’s Day shopping, even with cost-of-living challenges.

A few Calgary flower store owners and chocolatiers have every reason to love Valentine’s Day.

Wild Orchid, a flower store in Bow Valley Square downtown, has seen an influx in business leading up to Valentine’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day is always a great time for us,” said the store’s owner, Diego Molina.

“These busier days especially, you know? Valentine’s and Mother’s Day and all these heavier days are very important for business.”

Orders range in price from $30 to $300.

The store expects to sell approximately 300 bouquets, more than four times an average week.

“We’re still getting in a lot of orders,” said Molina.

According to data from Moneris, that is in line with what Albertans spent on last year’s Valentine’s Day.

“Florist spending was up 522 per cent on Valentine’s Day, which kind of makes sense when you think about there are five times as many roses bought on Valentine’s Day versus a non-Valentine’s Day type of event,” said Sean McCormick, Moneris vice-president of business development, data services.

The data also highlighted the fact that Albertans spent 35 per cent more eating out versus the week before while total Valentine’s Day spending was up 53 per cent.

“Albertans love Valentine’s Day. There’s no question, as an event, goes, it gets people out shopping,” said McCormick.

At Cochu Chocolatier, staff were preparing for their busiest Valentine’s Day to date.

“Valentine’s Day is third after Christmas and Easter. It’s very, very busy,” said Cochu founder Anne Sellmer.

People are head over heels for their chocolate, with sales tripling a normal weekend.

“People were purchasing Valentine’s items mid-to-late January,” Sellmer said. “They started to go. People (really) wanted to make sure they got things before they sell out.”

Moneris data also highlighted that 2025 Valentine’s Day week over week spending increased by 88 per cent nationally.

It pointed to couples potentially opting to spend Valentine’s Day in with date nights at home, Valentine’s Day gatherings, singles events or full family activities.