Canadian Grocer - March/April 2019 by ensembleiq

TOMORROW’S SHOPPER MAKE SUMMER SALES SIZZLE

MARCH/APRIL 2019

THE SALAD SITUATION FROZEN EXPLOSION: HOT TRENDS IN COLD TREATS

Noel Hayward and Justin Schley of Quality Foods

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CONTENTS March/April 2019 Volume 133 Number 2

COVER STORY

RETHINKING THE BOX

OPINIONS

Quality Foods’ new location is no ordinary grocery store (hint: it has a pub!)

05 Front Desk 18 Food Bytes 64 Checking Out PEOPLE

6 The Buzz

Comings and goings, store openings, awards, events, etc.

FEATURES

10 Benjamin Outmezguine, Dino Vassiliou & Noah Bernett

SHURRIE STEPS UP

Meet the guys behind Montreal’s CoolWay

38 An interview with CFIG’s

IDEAS

new chief, Tom Shurrie

13 Q&A with Tom Szaky

TOMORROW’S SHOPPER

15 Global grocery

The TerraCycle CEO gives us the scoop on Loop News and ideas from the world of food retail

41 A look at five big trends

16 M&M, now in more places

predicted to influence future grocery shoppers

How M&M Food Market is expanding its footprint with retail partnerships

SUMMER IS COMING

47 How to make sales sizzle during the summer season

FRESH

57 The salad situation

Grocers are still picking up the pieces in the wake of last year’s E. coli scare

AISLES

59 The frozen explosion

A look at the hot trends happening in cold treats

61 The data on frozen treats

From ice cream to cakes and pies, see what Nielsen’s stats reveal about frozen dessert sales

62 We got the beet!

COVER IMAGE: TANYA GOEHRING

From hot and cold beverages to salsa and sauerkraut, check out these beet-filled innovations

@CanadianGrocer Canadian Grocer Magazine @CanadianGrocerMagazine March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

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PRESIDENT, NORTH AMERICAN RETAIL Jennifer Litterick jlitterick@ensembleiq.com

FRONT DESK

VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER EVENTS Michael Cronin mcronin@ensembleiq.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shellee Fitzgerald

With Amazon’s latest push, will more grocery stores start to look like this one?

sfitzgerald@ensembleiq.com

MANAGING EDITOR Carol Neshevich

cneshevich@ensembleiq.com

ONLINE EDITOR Kristin Laird

klaird@ensembleiq.com

ART DIRECTOR Josephine Woertman

jwoertman@ensembleiq.com

CONSULTING EDITOR George H. Condon condug@sympatico.ca

VICE PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION Derek Estey destey@ensembleiq.com

PRODUCTION MANAGER Michael Kimpton mkimpton@ensembleiq.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR Alexandra Voulu avoulu@ensembleiq.com

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Lina Trunina ltrunina@ensembleiq.com

WEB OPERATIONS MANAGER Valerie White vwhite@ensembleiq.com

SALES ASSOCIATE BRAND DIRECTOR Vanessa Peters vpeters@ensembleiq.com

SR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Chantal Barlow cbarlow@ensembleiq.com

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Jacquie Rankin

HERE WE GO AGAIN

As rumours swirl about another push into grocery, Amazon is keeping the industry on its toes

jrankin@ensembleiq.com

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AMAZON CAUSED many in grocery to fret when it scooped up Whole Foods Market for a cool US$13.7 billion in 2017. In the nearly two years since, every move it has taken has been scrutinized and its missteps, somewhat gleefully, noted. At the close of 2018, a Bloomberg headline proclaimed: “Amazon’s Grocery Push Keeps Stumbling After Whole Foods Purchase,” this, said the article, despite big investments in Whole Foods and its two-hour delivery service. Although Amazon may be finding grocery a tougher nut to crack than anticipated, it remains undeterred. As we were going to press, there was much buzz about the behemoth’s next play. Sparking the frenzy of speculation was a Wall Street Journal report on Amazon’s plans to launch a new retail grocery store business, separate from Whole Foods, with lower prices to appeal to mainstream shoppers. It may also look at purchasing regional grocery stores. And it could happen as early as this year. Amazon hasn’t confirmed any of this, of course, but as that old saying goes: where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

What to do? As many smart people have advised, when faced with the Amazon threat, and all competitive threats for that matter, retailers need to get better at being better. Find their niche and be great at it. In this issue we visit a grocer on Vancouver Island doing just that. For nearly 37 years, Quality Foods has been innovating to stay on top of its game. Its newest store in Nanaimo is no ordinary “box” but an impressive example of what a grocery store can be: a community hub offering topnotch service and solutions for its customers (read about it on page 32). Anticipating the wants and needs of customers is also key to retail success. Starting on page 41, reporter Rebecca Harris sheds some light on how grocers today can prepare to serve tomorrow’s shopper. Happy reading!

Shellee Fitzgerald Editor-in-Chief

sfitzgerald@ensembleiq.com

The grocery industry is changing rapidly. Keep up to date on the latest news by signing up for our e-newsletter. It’s free and we’ll deliver it to your inbox three times a week. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

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March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

THE BUZZ

The latest news in the grocery biz

OPENINGS

Coppa’s Fresh Market opened up its newest location in downtown Toronto at the end of February. Called Market 63 by Coppa’s, the 20,000-sq.-ft. urban store is housed on the second floor of One York Street, a trendy mixed residential and commercial building located right near the Scotiabank Arena. The store’s highlights include a 66-seat, full-service, sit-down, licensed restaurant called Nonna Francesca’s; a premium dry aged beef cooler; an extensive selection of cheeses; and a large in-house bakery. The store has also partnered with celebrity chef Claudio Aprile to put a creative spin on its broad selection of grab-and-go and HMR items. This location brings the number of Coppa’s stores to five, all of which are located in the Greater Toronto Area.

DEALS

TREE OF LIFE CANADA, ULC and NUMAGE TRADING INC, a firm that

specializes in Italian foods with 35 brands, have merged. The transaction to bring together the two companies was completed in February. Numage was founded in 1981 by Gesualdo Mastruzzo, and according to a release, the Mastruzzo family will continue to manage its brands under the Tree of Life umbrella.

Canadian dairy giant SAPUTO has inked a deal to purchase U.K.-based DAIRY CREST GROUP—a producer of cheese, butters and spreads—for $1.7 billion. Dairy Crest employs more than 1,100 people in seven different locations. Saputo says the transaction, subject to approval by Dairy Crest shareholders, will enable it to expand its international presence.

GIVING BACK

The grocery industry turned up in a big way to support kids in February. The Grocery Foundation’s annual Night to Nurture Gala hosted about 3,300 members of the industry, raising much-needed funds for Kids Help Phone and breakfast programs in Canadian schools. Iconic rockers Bryan Adams and Barenaked Ladies entertained the crowd. (Read all about it on page 54) 6

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

Calgary is home to a new SAVE-ON-FOODS. In February, the retailer opened a store in the city’s TransCanada Centre. A mix and match chicken wing bar, a build-your-own candy mix table, a full-service pharmacy and The Save-On-Foods Kitchen are among the store’s features. Sobeys opened a new FRESHCO store in Toronto in late January. Located in the city’s Little Italy neighbourhood, it is the discount banner’s 11th Toronto store.

THE GROCERY FOUNDATION

Celebrity chef Claudio Aprile (left) with Roberto Granata, executive chef of the in-house restaurant in the new Market 63 at Coppa’s in downtown Toronto

THE BUZZ EVENTS

Toronto will host SIAL Canada at the Enercare Centre from April 30 to May 2. For info visit sialcanada.com The National Confectioners Assoc iation’s Sweets and Snacks Expo returns to Chicago’s McCormick Place running May 21 to 23. Visit sweetsandsnacks. com for information.

Cheryl Ong Seng

Dave Mann

COMINGS AND GOINGS

At IRI Canada, CHERYL ONG SENG has been promoted to managing director. Ong Seng, who was previously vicepresident, client service at the company, succeeds DAVE MANN who has retired.

Retail Council of Canada’s STORE 2019 will take place May 28 to 29 at the Toronto Congress Centre. For info visit storeconference.ca The International Dairy-DeliBakery Assoc iation’s IDDBA 19 runs from June 2 to 4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Visit iddba.org to learn more.

IGA, JOHN GOLDSTEIN MEDIA

The DCI Business Summit will take place on June 20 at the Sheraton Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre. For more info, visit dci.events/summit

AWARDS

At the annual Assembly of IGA Grocers recently, PIERRE SÉVIGNY was recognized by his peers with the Grand Bâtisseur award. Sévigny, co-owner of IGA Extra supermarkets in Laval and île-Bizard, Que., has been in the grocery business nearly 60 years, starting off as a bagger at a Steinburg’s when he was 16. The Grand Bâtisseur is awarded once a year by IGA grocers to recognize exceptional performance and accomplishments among their peers.

Last chance to nominate! If you know an outstanding woman in the grocery industry, we want to hear about her for the 2019 Star Women in Grocery awards. Don’t delay! Please complete your nomination today at starwomen.ca.

(L to R): Alain Ménard, Sobeys; Pierre Sévigny, Marché Sévigny; Gaétan Dufresne, Sobeys; and Pierre StLaurent, Sobeys

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PEOPLE

Who you need to know

The Facts Who

Noah Bernett, Dino Vassiliou, & Benjamin Outmezguine Position

Co-founders of CoolWay What’s new?

Ice cream bars in two flavours, and seven new flavours of ice cream

ICE CREAM DREAMS

CoolWay’s founders are heating up the freezer aisle with their low-cal, high-protein ice cream By Carolyn Cooper Photography by Chantale Lecours

PEOPLE

30 SECONDS WITH...

VEN AS TEENAGERS, childhood

friends Benjamin Outmezguine, Dino Vassiliou and Noah Bernett knew they wanted to launch a business together. “I’d grown up being around the ice cream business,” recalls Bernett, whose father, Richard, owns Ripples ice cream shop in Montreal. “However, the inspiration for this product came from another place. All of us were looking to do something other than the traditional path of school. We all had an interest in entrepreneurship. We wanted to do something that would excite us and that would be innovative and creative.” The Montreal-based trio came up with the idea of high-protein ice cream, which wasn’t really in the Canadian market at the time. “We decided to do a few test batches and see if we could actually create it, and it was successful. So we started from there,” says Bernett. That was 2014, when the entrepreneurs were still in their teens. Today, after several reformulations and an extensive rebranding, CoolWay is fast becoming a consumer favourite for its low-calorie, high-protein, rich and creamy attributes, offering ice cream fans a healthier, guiltfree indulgence. The three partners launched their original product under the name CoolWhey as a high-protein supplement alternative, selling through gyms and supplement stores. While business boomed, in 2016 they decided to shift their focus to retail, introducing a 500-mL ice cream that eventually led to the current formula. “It’s a more well-rounded, healthy ice cream, as opposed to a protein-packed ice cream,” explains Bernett. “That was when we really created our core product, a product that we felt confident moving forward with.” CoolWay made a splash when it re- launched its ice cream in April 2018: seven premium-style flavours packaged in bright colours and sporting a fun new logo, with the calorie content emblazoned front-and-centre on each 500-mL tub. Each tub contains 24 to 28 grams of protein and just six to eight grams of sugar from natural sweeteners like stevia

and organic cane sugar. And because CoolWay’s ice creams are made with modified milk ingredients and plant starches (including potato, tapioca and soybean), they’re a source of fibre, and are lower in fat and sodium than most frozen treats. Currently, CoolWay is available at retailers across Canada, including Walmart, Metro and iga. CoolWay uses co-packers in Manitoba and Nova Scotia to produce its ice cream, but has its own Montreal test kitchen where the founders do their own research and development. That includes a lot of experimenting and sampling. “All of us have a lot of ice cream experience at this point—we’re like professional ice cream tasters,” jokes Outmezguine. “We also get a ton of feedback from our customers. We’re always getting messages with flavour requests, so we do listen to that.” In February, the company launched its new ice cream bars in Costco locations in Western Canada. The bars are available in two of CoolWay’s most popular flavours, Cookies & Cream and Salted Caramel, and feature seven grams of protein and just 80 calories. They’re due to launch in select grocery stores across Canada in May. The company is also rolling out seven new ice cream flavours in March. “Our vision is to innovate, to be first to market and to try to create a whole portfolio of healthy frozen products,” says Vassiliou. “People who follow our company are looking for the next innovative product. People, more and more, are also looking for functional alternatives to the foods they’re eating.” While the entrepreneurs hope to grow their presence in the West and in Atlantic Canada in the coming years, they also have loftier goals for the business. “We want to have a positive impact on the world, and help people indulge guiltfree with a healthier product,” says Outmezguine. “We can’t get too specific on what we’re going to be releasing, but the idea really pushes the boundaries of healthy frozen desserts.” So after all that sampling, do they still love ice cream? “Of course!” says Outmezguine. “We still eat it and enjoy it every single day.” CG

BENJAMIN OUTMEZGUINE, DINO VASSILIOU & NOAH BERNETT What was most challenging about starting CoolWay? OUTMEZGUINE: The ice cream industry as a whole is challenging. We were 18 or 19 at the time we started the company, so everything was extremely new. Everything was from scratch, so we had to learn everything ourselves. There was definitely a huge learning curve.

Is it difficult operating a business at such a young age? BERNETT: I think there are benefits and downfalls. Definitely some people take you less seriously, although some people are really excited to get behind us. You’re not able to get a tremendous amount of bank loans, so you have to be very savvy about how to finance. But because you don’t have any other serious responsibilities in your life that take your focus away, you can really go 100% in. That raw ambition really keeps us going.

What do you think is the secret to success? VASSILIOU: If you’re doing consumer goods, your product is everything. Having a great-tasting product is really the No. 1 thing. You also have to watch ongoing trends in the market and be specific about what you’re trying to do.

What do you like most about the food industry? BERNETT: One of the rewards that I think we all agree is fantastic is we get to go to different food shows in different parts of Canada and see what’s coming up next in food innovation. I like food a lot, so it’s a fun aspect of the business.

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

Last call for Nominations NEW THIS YEAR! 3 AWARD CATEGORIES TO ENTER: Senior-Level Stars Rising Stars Store-Level Stars To nominate and for full award details, visit: StarWomen.ca PRESENTED BY

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SAMPLE

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

IDEAS

Retailers, suppliers, shoppers, insights

With Loop, Häagen-Dazs ice cream will offer doublewall stainless steel reusable packaging

REUSABLE PACKAGING

TERRACYCLE

Packaging reimagined Loop, a new platform,takes aim at singleuse packaging. We speak to the company behind the initiative By Danny Kucharsky

n case you haven’t heard, Loop is a new system of shopping designed to eliminate packaging waste and mend our disposable ways. With the new system, consumers will be able buy products ranging from ice cream to laundry detergent in reusable containers, which they can return and refill (more on this on the next page). Created by New Jersey-based TerraCycle, there was much ado when Loop was unveiled in late January and it was touted as a first-of-its-kind platform with

big consumer goods companies (P&G, Nestlé, Unilever and many others) on board. Loop is being tested by retailers such as Carrefour in France and Tesco in the United Kingdom. TerraCycle ceo Tom Szaky, who grew up in Toronto, says a Canadian retail partner will be named in the coming months and the platform should arrive in Canada later this year. Canadian Grocer recently spoke to Szaky about the innovative project. Here are edited excerpts from that interview:

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

IDEAS

For 16 years, TerraCycle has been focused on recycling hard-to-recycle materials, from diapers to cigarette butts, and integrating unique materials back into packaging, like ocean plastics back into shampoo bottles. While this is critically important, it’s not going to foundationally solve the problem of waste. If you have a headache you’ll take a Tylenol. But it’s not foundationally solving the root cause of your headache. We believe the root cause of waste is using something once then disposing of it. The reason Loop is needed is that we’re in a massive waste crisis globally, from ocean plastic to micro-plastic in our drinking water.

Are consumers not recycling enough? Not at the rates they need to be. If you think about the Canadian context, I think just one in every four soda bottles are recycled. And those are things that are highly recyclable. There is a huge, huge amount of stuff that is not recyclable.

What gave you the inspiration for Loop? The root cause of waste is disposability. How do we solve the unintended consequences of disposability while matching or beating the benefits that it brings in terms of convenience and affordability? What’s sort of weird, when we buy disposable goods, is we really want the content but we also end up owning the package. Consumers don’t really want to own the package, so why should they? By shifting ownership from the consumer owning the package to the manufacturer, it’s really amazing. It moves the packaging from being a cost to an asset.

How does it work? Brands, from startups like Greenhouse Juice in Canada to P&G and Unilever, join Loop to enable a durable [reusable] version of their product. Loop is also an engine for retailers. Consumers go to the retailer’s website and buy durable versions of their favourite products that they get delivered to them. Once the product is empty—this is very important—there’s no cleaning whatsoever, you simply throw it back into durable bins you may have and

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

Tom Szaky

request a pickup. We pick it up and clean what’s inside, ship it back to the manufacturer who refills it, and around it goes. It works the same when it goes in store. Carrefour, for example, will have an aisle dedicated to durable, package-free products. You buy it at the store and when it’s finished, bring it back to get your deposit back.

Will the cost be the same for consumers? There are two types of products in Loop. There is the stuff in the container model and there is what we call disposable-durables. The stuff in the container is like orange juice, ice cream, laundry detergent. The price of the content will be about the same as what you normally pay. The only difference is you temporarily have a deposit on that durable package equal to the value of the durable package, which can be anywhere from 25 cents to $10, which you get back when you return it. What’s neat is the disposable-durables, which are effectively everything else—baby toys, clothing, the handle of a razor blade. You’ll see garments in Loop about a year after launch. Let’s say it’s a $10 T-shirt for a baby. You would pay a $5 cost and a $5 deposit, which means if you choose not to return it, you’ve paid the same 10 bucks. But if you return it, you’ve only paid half. You can effectively save 50% on those items, a massive savings, and what’s really cool is the manufacturers of those products are not motivated to make it as cheap as possible but inversely to make it as long-lasting and durable as possible.

Why should grocers be part of Loop? It can help them bring their consumers unparalleled sustainability. The idea of the package-free aisle, a lot of grocers are being asked to bring that type of service. Loop allows them to do it in a way that’s profitable, bringing major brands into the process. Consumers now get a better packaging experience that potentially is way more functional. Take ice cream: in Loop, Häagen-Dazs is moving from coated paper to double-wall stainless steel, which keeps your ice cream frozen for multiple hours on the go and is more beautiful.

CHEF SURVEY

What’s hot on the menu? WHETHER YOU ARE A FULL-ON GROCERANT

or just looking to amp up your hmr offer, you might be interested

to know what the hot dining trends are across the country. Restaurants Canada’s 2019 Chef Survey reveals what’s trending now and what’s coming next:

craft beer/ microbrews sous vide house-made condiments/sauces plant-based burgers & sausages locally sourced foods paper straws food smoking charcuterie/house cured meats sustainable seafood pickling What’s next? According to the chefs surveyed cannabis/CBDinfused drinks and foods top the list of “up & comers,” a list that also includes zero-waste cooking and protein-rich grains/seeds.

TERRACYCLE

Why the need for Loop?

IDEAS

GLOBAL GROCERY

News and ideas from the world of food retail GREENHOUSES IN GROCERY

French supermarket chain Auchan is testing an in-store greenhouse at a location in Turin, Italy. The retailer partnered with Italian firm Agricooltur on the greenhouse installation. While other retailers have experimented with greenhouses and vertical farms, what’s unique here is that the store’s customers can themselves harvest the herbs and salad greens produced by the contraption.

PALM OIL-FREE SHOPPING For some time now, shoppers on Ocado’s website have been able to click a button to instantly call up all of the site’s glutenfree, dairy-free or a host of other free-from product options. Now, Ocado has made it easy for shoppers to find palm oil-free items as well. The online grocer has added a palm oil-free department on its site where shoppers can find thousands of products ranging from frozen pizza to potato chips to croissants and cereals, all made without the contentious ingredient.

The Million Pound Challenge

AGRICOOLTUR, M&S, WAITROSE, ATOMO

Beanless coffee With climate change threatening coffee beans—and the functionality of worker bees everywhere!—a Seattle-based company is coming to the rescue. The wizards at Atomo Coffee have reverse- engineered “or hacked” the coffee bean to create a “per fect” cup of Joe that replicates the taste, aroma and mouthfeel of coffee but is made of naturally derived, sustainable ingredients—just no beans.

The U.K.’s Waitrose & Partners has launched Plan Plastic, a challenge to cut plastic pollution in the country. The supermarket chain put the call out to groups to pitch innovative projects designed to reduce the use of plastic and also the impact of plastic pollution “now and in the future.” Waitrose has committed to awarding a total of £1,000,000 (about CDN$1.8 million) in the form of grants to fund projects for one year. Winners will be announced in May.

Plastic-free produce departments

The plastic purge is well underway at U.K. supermarkets with retailers continuing to launch initiatives to reduce single-use plastic. U.K. grocer Marks & Spencer (M&S) is testing a plastic-free produce department at one of its suburban London stores. More than 90 lines of fruit and veggies sold at the store are free of plastic packaging including soft fruits and berries, which are sold in compostable punnets. As part of the trial, M&S has deployed trained greengrocers to the store to help shoppers select produce and also dispense advice on how to best preserve the items and prevent food waste at home. March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

M&M FOOD MARKET EXPANDS ITS FOOTPRINT Through partnerships, the frozen-food company is setting up shop at convenience and drugstores By Rebecca Harris

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

TWO YEARS AFTER undergoing a major rebrand, M&M Food Market has launched the next phase in its evolution: partnerships with other retailers. The company, formerly known as M&M Meat Shops, has launched M&M Food Market Express, a branded frozen- food section at various retail chains. The concept is currently in 32 Rexall drugstores in Toronto, around 40 Beaudry-Cadrin (Beau-soir) locations in Northern Quebec and 10 Avondale Food Stores in Southern Ontario. M&M Food Market also has partnerships with Nunavut-based retailer and distributor Eskimo Point Lumber Supply, which sells a wide range of goods including groceries; and two convenience/gas station operators: MacEwen in Ontario

and Quebec and kar Holdings in Western Canada. The Express concept is also set up at 11 Canex military stores. There are two main goals behind the new concept, says M&M Food Market ceo Andy O’Brien. “We wanted to go into smaller communities where it doesn’t make sense to put a full-size [M&M Food Market] there. For example, for populations below 15,000,” he says. “The second reason is we really want to get some presence in urban markets in Canada,” where M&M doesn’t have a lot of traditional stores, he adds. Though the partnership with Rexall doesn’t extend beyond the Greater Toronto Area, O’Brien says the company is evaluating other urban markets. Participating Rexall stores carry between 75 and 100 M&M products and the range is tailored to specific locations. For example, in areas with a lot of condo-dwellers, there’s a bigger dinner program, including meal kits, chicken pad Thai and beef low mein. Another planogram is more geared towards office workers who most likely are going to buy single-serve items at lunchtime. With each retail partner, M&M is the only frozen food player in the stores, other than frozen novelties, says O’Brien. “We offer a complete selection, from appetizers to desserts, to centre plate to side—so all the frozen products for them,” he says. The in-store set up is typically three or four freezer doors and sometimes a bunker as well, depending on the store setup. M&M Food Market is aiming to have the Express concept in 200 stores—all existing retail partners—by the end of its fiscal year, which is July 2019. “The reason we can do these programs with these partners is because of the change that we made to our business,” says O’Brien. “Rexall has a very strong health platform. The fact that we removed all the artificial colours, flavours and sweeteners in our products; changed our packaging and pack sizes; and improved our products and flavours made a massive difference in terms of the appeal that we have to consumers.” M&M Food Market is also planning to expand its traditional stores. “It all comes down to finding the right piece of real estate at the right economics, but we hope to open between five and 10 traditional stores a year—hopefully closer to 10,” says O’Brien. CG

M&M FOOD MARKET

IDEAS

Plant-based protein

perfect for BBQ season A growing preference for plant-based meals drives double-digit growth in meat alternatives

s warmer temperatures and longer days approach, most of us can’t wait to fire up the BBQ for traditional fare like burgers, hot dogs and sausages. But what can you pop on the grill for the vegans, vegetarians and those who want to consume less meat? For a growing number of consumers, the answer is meat-free burgers, hot dogs and sausages made from plant-based protein. Today’s innovative flavours, formulations and variety of offerings not only satisfies consumer demand for nutritious and appetizing plantbased foods, but also provides grocers with new sales opportunities. “Flexitarians are on the rise and the plant-based protein category has really taken off,” says Jackie Phillip, senior brand manager for Hain-Celestial Canada, which markets the Yves Veggie Cuisine brand. “Plant-based protein products are on trend and our customers feel it is a trend that’s here to stay. We’re seeing double-digit growth for our brand and for the category as a whole.” A study from Dalhousie University in 2018 found over 6.4 million Canadians have dietary preferences that reduce or eliminate meat consumption. As well, 32.2% of Canadians are thinking of reducing their meat

consumption over the next six months. Canada’s new Food Guide’s emphasis on plant-based foods also bodes well for continued growth in the meat alternative market. Yves Veggie Cuisine, the category leader for meat alternatives, is a well-recognized brand that’s been on the market for 30 odd years. “There are new players in the category but for two years in a row, Yves has been voted the number one most trusted vegan food brand by BrandSpark International,” says Phillip. “Our Canadianmade lineup offers the widest variety of delicious plantbased meals and ingredients in the country. The range of choices, which include soy and products made without soy, covers most dietary requirements and preferences.” New packaging featuring mouthwatering photographs shows consumers how easy it is to incorporate Yves’ products into a busy lifestyle, Phillip adds. “Many products are heat and serve and our new burgers and sausages are especially good for the BBQ.” Yves recently introduced Sweet Potato and Black Bean Patties, as well as two new sausage formulations: Mediterranean Harissa and Kale and Caramelized Onion. “There is definitely a shift to meat alternatives,” says Phillip. “With a loyal following, Yves is delivering on what today’s consumers are looking for.”

MARCH 2013 | canadianGrocer.com SpeCiAl pRoMotionAl feAtuRe in canadian Grocer–MARCH/ApRil 2019

special promotional feature

FOOD BYTES

Joel Gregoire

RIDING THE WAVE OF CONVENIENCE

Technology is ushering in a whole new set of tools to make the grocery shopping experience easier WHEN AMAZON purchased Whole Foods, a collective shudder could be felt from grocers across North America. The online behemoth was making its intentions known by entering the grocery space. While the acquisition received a great deal of media attention at the time, the greater disruption may end up being the launch of its Amazon Go concept store in Seattle at the beginning of 2018. Amazon Go’s cashierless model showcases a revolutionary shopping experience. No need to wait in line to pay; shoppers can grab what they want from the shelf and just walk out. The purchase is recorded on the Amazon Go app by syncing with sensors located throughout the store. Those who have shopped there have reported that it’s so seamless it feels as though they are shoplifting. Amazon is reported to have plans to expand Amazon Go’s presence, scaling up the number of locations to 3,000 by 2021.

Amazon Go’s arrival is a reflection of broader market forces that will increasingly impact the grocery space as the expectation for easier and more curated in-store experiences grow. As Netflix changed the media landscape making traditional television seem increasingly like a relic, grocers need to be wary of experiencing a similar fate. The integration of technology with the shopping experience proves particularly important to Generation Z. Representing the emerging shopper base, consumer feedback collected for Mintel’s recently published Grocery Retailing in Canada report shows young adults are more likely to cite interest in a shopping experience that is quicker and easier. Furthermore, technology is shown to play a particularly important role in achieving these outcomes for younger consumers according to earlier Mintel reports. An added benefit of greater integration

THE NEED FOR SPEED, AND EASE Young adults’ interest in seeing more quick and easy shopping experiences n 18-24 n 25-54 n OVER-55s

46 40% 32% 34% 26% %

WAYS TO CHECK OUT FASTER

13%

GRAB-AND-GO ITEMS

SOURCE: LIGHTSPEED/MINTEL, MAY 2018 || BASE: 1,914 INTERNET USERS AGED 18+ WHO ARE GROCERY SHOPPERS IN THE HOUSEHOLD

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

of personal technology can be found in either reducing labour costs or by reallocating labour to more value-added functions within the store. This can include giving shoppers more personalized attention when they have questions or staffing-up in other departments to provide more fresh, prepared items—an area where grocers often realize higher margins on a per-purchase basis. U.S. grocery chain Albertsons’ recent agreement with Microsoft to leverage its cloud-based expertise shows that the race is on to create more technologically-integrated, in-store shopping experiences. In the Albertsons example, the grocer has been testing “Amazon Go-like” technology providing cashier-free shopping. The partnership with Microsoft could provide critical expertise in scaling up such technology. Other retailers, such as Walmart here in Canada and Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom, are also investing using scan-and-go technology that allows consumers to make purchases in under a minute. So, what’s next? While difficult to predict, it may involve the grocery store becoming more mobile. U.S.-based startup Robomart plans to bring groceries, baked goods and prepared foods to the customer’s door via self-driving vehicles. This envisions a future where the phone is at the centre of more streamlined shopping experience, both in and out of the grocery store. Despite online shopping’s rise, brick and mortar grocery stores aren’t going away. That said, a growing reliance on personal technology means grocers will need to invest in evolving the tools they offer to provide shoppers with a more convenient, informed experience. CG

Joel Gregoire is associate director, Food & Drink at Mintel, the world’s leading market intelligence agency. Based in Toronto, Joel researches and writes reports on Canada’s food and drink industry. @JoelDGregoire

We are

PRODUCE Grow your business at Canada’s largest event dedicated to the fruit and vegetable industry.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN REGISTER ONLINE AT CONVENTION.CPMA.CA

MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC

April 2-4, 2019

convention.cpma.ca #CPMA2019

How do you lead the produce industry for 125 years? Enthusiastic obsession over the details. At Del Monte, we’re fresh-fruit fanatics, which means we’re also quality fanatics. Sustainability fanatics. Reliability fanatics. Full-service fanatics. And we’re even value-added fanatics, with complete category management and marketing support.

Visit us at CPMA Booth #1201 FRESHDELMONTE.COM

@DelMonteFreshProduce

1-800-950-3683

@DelMonteFresh

FRUITS.COM

@DelMonteFresh

Welcome Message

t is my pleasure to once again extend a warm greeting to all those attending the Canadian Produce Marketing Association’s (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show, taking place this year in Montreal, Quebec. The CPMA Convention and Trade Show is the largest annual event in Canada for the fresh produce industry and Montreal is a premier city with plenty to offer all attendees. A cultural hotspot with vibrant streets and rich flavours, Montreal is a major hub for produce. The CPMA Convention and Trade Show is a tradition deeply engrained in the culture of the Canadian produce industry, attracting attendees from across Canada and around the globe. In our 94th edition, the CPMA Convention and Trade Show will feature a wide variety of educational opportunities, networking occasions, social gatherings, and of course, the leading new products and trends in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. Starting on Tuesday morning, the retail tour will visit several unique vendors in the Ron Lemaire, President Montreal area. Later that evening, CPMA Chair Les Mallard will host the Chair’s Welcome Canadian Produce Reception in the beautiful Le Parquet atrium at the Édifice Jacques-Parizeau, showcasing Marketing Association the distinctive tastes of Canada’s Eastern provinces. On Wednesday, keynote speaker Justin Kingsley, marketing guru and New York Times bestselling author, will be taking the stage at the Delegate and Companion Breakfast. The Trade Show officially opens early that afternoon, and will be followed in the evening by networking events for young professionals and women in the produce industry. Wednesday night The CPMA Convention and culminates with CPMA’s garden After Party – the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues and Trade Show is a tradition deeply business associates. engrained in the culture of the Thursday gets underway with our Awards Brunch, Canadian produce industry, and continues with day two of the Trade Show. The week wraps up with our Annual Banquet, where attracting attendees from across four-time platinum artists and YouTube sensations Canada and around the globe. with over 800 million views, Walk Off The Earth will headline the show. New to the show this year, we will see presentations of industry innovations at our Delegate Lunch on Wednesday, and the announcement of our first winner of the CPMA Corporate Culture Award at the Awards Bruch on Thursday. As always, the week will also include many learning opportunities, with business sessions highlighting innovation, analytics and digital, learning lounges running throughout both days of the Trade Show, and the Dieticians Session on Thursday. We would like to thank Canadian Grocer for sponsoring the New Product Showcase. Their support and profiling of the new products is tremendously valuable to the CPMA Convention and Trade Show. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn about the New Product Showcase in the coming section. We’re excited to be welcoming over 300 unique exhibiting companies and over 4,000 individual attendees representing over 1,300 companies from across the world. We look forward to welcoming the produce community when we meet in Montreal in April.

Ron Lemaire President, CPMA

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Program at a glance Monday, April 1, 2019 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Registration Area Open

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Location

Room

Palais des congrès

Viger Hall

Location

7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Registration Area Open

Palais des congrès

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Retail Tour

8:00 a.m. Departure from Palais des congrès

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Annual General Meeting

4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Half Your Plate Hockey Game

8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Chair’s Welcome Reception

11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Hospitality at Westin Hotel Bar

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Viger Hall St-Antoine

Westin Hotel

( 9th floor)

Concordia University

Ed Meagher Arena

Édifice Jacques-Parizeau

Le Parquet

Westin Hotel

Gazette Bar

Location

Room

7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Registration Area Open

Palais des congrès

Viger Hall

8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Delegate and Companion Breakfast

Palais des congrès

517 C/D

9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Retail Produce Manager Session

Palais des congrès

524 A/B

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Business Sessions

Palais des congrès

518

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Companion Program

11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Delegate Lunch

Palais des congrès

517 C/D

1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Trade Show Opening Ceremony

Palais des congrès

Outside Hall 220

1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Trade Show

Palais des congrès

Hall 220

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Learning Lounge

Palais des congrès

Trade Show Floor

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Young Professionals Reception

Palais des congrès

519

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Women in Produce Reception

Palais des congrès

521

9:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

After Party

Westin Hotel

Montreal

Location

Room

Thursday, April 4, 2019

OFF SITE

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Registration Area Open

Palais des congrès

Viger Hall

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Awards Brunch

Palais des congrès

517 C/D

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Freggie Children’s Program

Palais des congrès

523 A/B

11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Dietitians’ Session

Palais des congrès

518

11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Trade Show

Palais des congrès

Hall 220

12:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Learning Lounge

Palais des congrès

Trade Show Floor

6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

Annual Banquet Reception

Palais des congrès

517 B

7:20 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Annual Banquet and Entertainment

Palais des congrès

517 C/D

*Program subject to change

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Visit us at CPMA BOOTH #700

/MC

New Recipes with Fewer Calories

On Trend Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressings Consumer Convenience

WWW.LITEHOUSEFOODS.COM/CA

Fresh Del Monte Produce (Canada) Inc.,

Double Diamond Farms

Canadawide The new Frescadel family box is made from 100% recycled material and is compostable. Its appealing visual draws customer’s attention and the quantities offered are convenient for retailers. Frescadel.com Booth #523

With kid-friendly characters like Panda Peppers, Croco Cukes and Gecko Grapes, Double Diamond's new pouch bags are sure to inspire the imaginations of your little ones, and to get them eating healthy.

Freshdelmonte.com Booth #1201

Doublediamondacres.com Booth #1901

Fresh Direct Produce

Del Fresco Produce Ltd. A trustworthy buying choice, the LivingCube™ LIVING LETTUCE blends is always fresh, nutritious and flavorful. Our packaging is a pure and dependable safe house for our leafy greens, guaranteeing freshness from seed to shelf! DelFrescoPure.com Booth #2203

Earthbound Farm Mighty Greens are packed with nutrient-dense super greens. Rosé Blend &Red Baby Butter's beautiful red color and flavor comes from an abundance of antioxidant anthocyanins. Organic blends made to love, by farmers you can trust. Earthboundfarm.com Booth #316

EarthFresh

Del Fresco Produce Ltd. The LivingCube™ BASIL microgreens are the next super food! Our packaging is customized for consumers’ adventurous palates and showcases our different varieties. BASIL microgreens make dishes delicious and efficient - no need to chop, just sprinkle! DelFrescoPure.com Booth #2203

Dole Food Company Dole Bountiful™ Kits feature a Bountiful Blend™ of salad-ready grains that are perfectly paired to deliciously go with each salad. Add Dole’s Own Dressings, and it's everything you need to create a Bountiful Salad! Dole.com Booth #1509

The newest member of our pineapple product range, Del Monte® Honeyglow® pineapple, is hand selected to ensure a high shell color, delighting consumers who associate ripe, premium pineapples with a bright, golden shell.

These organic baby potatoes are full of flavour and come in an assortment of colours. Baby potatoes can be used in any cooking application and are great for appetizers and side dishes.

Fresh Direct introduces new items to our “Simply” family: “Simply Ripe™” Organic mangoes and avocadoes; and “Simply Fresh™” Asian Choy Mue and Shanghai Choy Mue. Visit booth #601 to enjoy their true colors and freshness! Freshdirectproduce.com Booth #601

Gourmet Garden A perfect blend of finely chopped lemongrass, ginger, cilantro and chili pepper, Gourmet Garden™ Thai Seasoning Stir-in Paste allows you to whip up authentic Thai meals whenever inspiration strikes!

Gourmetgarden.com Booth #404

Earthfreshfoods.com Booth #809

Emerson Canada GO Real-Time Flex Tracker is an affordable and flexible solution that enables customers to tackle the most complex, in-transit perishable monitoring scenarios. Key features include probe for internal temperature monitoring and real-time tracking via Oversight. Emerson.com/Cargo Booth #1425

Highline Mushrooms Highline Mushrooms was founded in 1961 by Dr. Murray O’Neil in Leamington, Ontario. With growing facilities across Canada and a distribution center based in Montreal, Highline is Canada’s first coast-to-coast fresh mushroom grower and shipper, and the largest organic mushroom grower in the world. Highlinemushrooms.com Booth #606

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Come see us at booth # 1223!

PURE. BELGIAN ENDIVE FROM THE HEART OF EUROPE For those who embrace freshness. Who welcome quality. And who simply love endive—one of the most eminent representatives of Belgium’s delicious fruit and vegetables. Find your supplier at www.premiumtasteofeurope.com

Visit us at CPMA Montréal April 3th – 4th Booth 2009

T h e c o n t e n t o f t h i s a d v e r t i s e m e n t r e p r e s e n t s t h e v i e w s o f t h e a u t h o r o n ly a n d i s h i s / h e r s o l e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y. T h e E u r o p e a n C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e C o n s u m e r s , H e a lt h , A g r i c u lt u r e a n d F o o d E x e c u t i v e A g e n c y ( C H A F E A ) d o n o t a c c e p t a n y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r a n y u s e t h at m ay b e m a d e o f t h e i n f o r m at i o n i t c o n ta i n s .

Mastronardi Produce/ SUNSET

Houweling's Group Become your own mixologist using our fresh, tasty cucumbers and tomatoes to make the drink of your choice. Mix up a Bloody Mary that will impress all your friends, or a guilt-free, heart-healthy vegetable juice. Houwelings.com Booth #2209

Mann Packing Co. Inc. Caulilini® Sweet Stem® Cauliflower, a member of the brassica family, has its long edible stems and blond open florets. Sweetly succulent in flavor, it’s “perfectly imperfect” shape adds both flavor and texture to side dishes, crudité platters, or entrées builds.

Need a dose of sweetness? Enter Sweet Bites® Pail, brimming with our sweetest little snacking tomatoes. Each pail also contains a bonus SUNSET® Snack Pack, the perfect tomato carrier for lunches and on-the-go adventures!

Sunsetgrown.com Booth #1015

Veggiesmadeeasy.com Booth #1201

Martin's Family Fruit Farm

Lakeside Produce This mini San Marzano tomato is a nostalgic treat that consumers will love! Named after its originating town in Italy, the unique shape and hearty flavors will transport snackers back in time to grandma’s kitchen. Lakesideproduce.com Booth #2109

Litehouse Litehouse, Inc., a 100% employee-owned company, is excited to bring Apple Cider Vinegar Vinaigrettes to the markplace as well as showcase our DAIRY FREE Organics and convenient Homestyle Ranch snackpacks.

Martin's Saladitions are crunchy, healthy salad toppers made from dehydrated apples, sweet potatoes, beets, onion and pumpkin seeds. Saladitions boost your salad with a wholesome crunch without adding the empty calories of a traditional crouton.

Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET Small but mighty, these unique micro-grape tomatoes explode with sweet flavor. Perfect for salads or for grabbing by the handful for a healthy snack, these babies will delight kids of all ages. Sunsetgrown.com Booth #1015

Martinsapples.com Booth #1921

Marzetti NEW LOOK, SAME GREAT TASTE! Marzetti’s great taste encourages consumers to buy more produce. Today, all Simply Dressed Dressings are made with Non-GMO oils, sugar and vinegar…a commitment to continued growth! Marzetti.com Booth #1815

Litehousefoods.ca Booth #700

Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET Sweet, sweeter, sweetest... where do we go next? Organic! Born from the world’s sweetest grape tomatoes and ripened on the vine in our pristine greenhouses, these natural wonders will have you thanking the heavens.

Mastronardi Produce/SUNSET These slim peppers are hiding a ﬂavorful secret. Nine out of ten are mild and savory, with a hint of citrus. But one in ten packs a burst of heat that fires up any dish. Sunsetgrown.com Booth #1015

M.L. Catania Co. Ltd. Scoop n' eat your kiwi. The easy, tasty and healthy snack for adults and children! Available all year round!

Cataniaworldwide.com Booth #2305

Sunsetgrown.com Booth #1015

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Cultivate with Care™

As part of the company’s Cultivate with Care™ initiative, Naturipe Farms is committed to conducting business in a way that minimizes environmental impact. Eco-friendly packaging, waste reduction and water conservation are just a few of the areas of research being conducted to establish best environmental practices. Contact us today! sales@naturipefarms.com

Mucci Farms Smaller, crunchier and more convenient than the original, CuteCumberTM Poppers are the new one-bite snack that you just “pop” in your mouth! Offered in assorted pack styles. Muccifarms.com Booth #1715

NatureFresh™ Farms For 20 years, NatureFresh™ Farms has delivered fresh and sustainably-grown produce to our partners. From our Organic growing practices to environmentally-friendly packaging solutions, we are committed to being sustainable at every level of our operation. Naturefresh.ca Booth #408

Mucci Farms Your quick and healthy fix! Fresh Mix offers convenience for any situation. Whether you need a quick snack or entertaining party guests, Fresh Mix offers variety and multiple pack styles to suit any occasion! Muccifarms.com Booth #1715

Naturipe Farms Naturipe Farms represents their farmer-owned heritage and communicates freshness with their new branding and tagline, “Farmed Fresh Since 1917”. The new packaging utilizes bold, bright colors to reflect the fresh, high quality produce inside. Naturipefarms.com Booth #1601

Mucci Farms Offering sustainable packages and multiple varieties of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, Natural Organics are certified Organic by Pro-Cert and USDA, ensuring our products are wholesome and delicious.

SIMPLE Snack SIMPLE Pack! This “GreenERhouse” package is made of cardboard and 100% recyclable film. Enjoy your favourite Mucci Farms snacking items in a simply sustainable container. Sustainable Innovation Made Purposely for our Living Environment.

Arctic ApBitz™ dried apples are uniquely fry-cut making them a fun and healthy snack for even the littlest apple lovers. Crunchable, delicious and perfect for lunch kits. Now available in Golden and Granny varieties. Arcticapples.com Booth #111

Okanagan Specialty Fruits Arctic® apples are nonbrowning which means fewer apples are wasted and more apples get tasted! Arctic® apple fresh slices make a convenient and healthy readyto-eat snack. Available in 10 oz. bags of Goldens or Grannys. Arcticapples.com Booth #111

Pure Flavor® Quick & easy, bite sized veggies that kids will love! Try our NEW Mini Munchie Tomato Snack Pack! 4, easy to access cups, kids can enjoy sweet Red, Yellow, and Orange Grape Tomatoes!

Pure-flavor.com Booth #2219

Pure Flavor®

Muccifarms.com Booth #1715

Mucci Farms

Okanagan Specialty Fruits

naturSource Inc. Dress up your salad in seconds with a savory and nutritious Salad Topper atop your favourite greens and dressing. Original, Crunch, Crunch Sriracha and Organic. Natural ingredients, No artificial flavours, No preservatives, Low in sodium. Natursource.com Booth #217

Bitesize, Organic Mini Sweet Peppers are the perfect healthy snack to get you through the day. A break-time sweet or recess treat, these veggies are loaded with vitamin C and as tasty as can be.

Pure-flavor.com Booth #2219

Muccifarms.com Booth #1715

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Star Produce / The Star Group Red Sun Farms From the equally sweet folks at Red Sun Farms comes the delicious new Sweetpops and Sweetpeps. Get ready to experience a whole new level of flavor and sweetness with Sweetpops tomatoes or Sweetpeps mini peppers! Redsunfarms.com Booth #1501

We ripen our pears to pear-fection so you can enjoy the best of the Okanagan without the wait. Available in top-seal and flow-packed tray for superior protection and freshness. Thestargroup.ca Booth #1607

Family meal size, ready to eat microwaveable package of delicious PEI Russet Potatoes ready in 8.5 minutes with zero preparation. Convenient, Nutritional, Whole Food grown with care in Canada’s Green Province.

Thestargroup.ca Booth #1607

Sunkist.com Booth #1315

The Little Potato Company Introducing our newly designed Microwave and Oven-Ready value-added kits with a more compelling look, vertical orientation for improved in-store merchandising, eco-friendly packaging and two new flavors. To learn more, visit us at booth #401. Littlepotatoes.com Booth #401`

Thomas Fresh

Rollobaypotato.com Booth #522

Schur Star Systems. Inc. Dual Compartment bag, containing farm fresh produce, and all the seasoning you need in one bag, the seasoning in the top compartment is released at the exact time to insure your product Is perfectly seasoned.

Star Produce / The Star Group Inspired Greens has opened a second Canadian greenhouse with new categories of greens, like living baby celery, spicy cress, and baby beet-tops to name a few; continuing our line of clean and trusted Canadian products. Thestargroup.ca Booth #1607

Sev-Rend Sev-Rend is excited to announce our recyclable produce packaging material program. These items are designed to meet the demand of the market for a more sustainable packaging material that is recyclable.

New at Thomas Fresh, our 8-count bag of foil wrapped russet potatoes. This eye catching product offers value-added potatoes for everyday meals, weekend barbecues and unexpected guests! Thomasfresh.com Booth #1401

Veg-Pak Produce

Schur.com Booth #1900

Sev-rend.com Booth #618

Sunkist® has a new look for specialty citrus packaging – flavor forward, high graphic, bold and eye-catching! Create a citrus destination with coordinating display bins and boost citrus sales this season.

Star Produce / The Star Group Try our new Supercharge Superfood and Crunchy Fusion salads, featuring on trend ingredients like hemp hearts, beets, and wasabi peas, with Canadian made dressings. Made with Inspired's trusted Canadian greenhouse lettuce.

Rollo Bay Holdings Ltd

Sunkist Growers, Inc.

Star Produce / The Star Group Grown in the ideal climate of Culiacán, MX by 3rd generation farmers, we grow a tomato so saucy it will knock your socks off! Packed on site for ultimate freshness; 1lb-clam, 2lb-bag, and a 2lb-top-seal.

Harvest Fresh Riced Cauliflower is a delicious low carb alternative to regular rice! Easy to cook and ready in just 5 minutes, our product line includes Butternut, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli as well! Harvest-fresh.ca Booth #105

Thestargroup.ca Booth #1607

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

Windset Farms® Village Farms Village Farms Organically Grown program is USDA and Oregon Tilth certified one of the oldest certifying programs in the country. Tomato varieties include Lip Smackn' Grape®, Juicy Beefsteak®, Delectable TOV®, Heavenly Villagio Marzano®, Maverick Mix®. Villagefarms.com Booth #1405

Windset Farms® Salads will never be the same after tasting Windset’s Symphony® Lettuce Bouquet. With a combination of your favourite greens, including butter and red oak, this living lettuce will have you coming back for more! Windsetfarms.com Booth #901

Windset Farms®

VLAM Belgian fresh produce is a mix of highest quality and tradition: our peppers are firm and uniform in colour, our endives are fresh with a nicely closed top and our leeks are sweet and mild.

Introducing Symphony® Herbs, an aromatic blend of gourmet herbs bundled into one living plant. The options are endless with this delightful trio that is sure to compliment all your culinary creations.

Looking for a convenient, kid friendly and healthy snack? With three individual compartments, our Fresco® Cocktail Cucumber and Concerto® Grape Tomato Snack Pack checks all the boxes. A simple and all-natural treat that everyone loves. Windsetfarms.com Booth #901

Wonderful Citrus Wonderful Halos, North America’s #1 mandarin brand, is back with our “Grove of Goodness” display program featuring the Halos Tree and Fruit Stand. Stores with displays see a 2X lift in velocity vs stores without! Halosfun.com Booth #801

Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds Natural Raw Wonderful Pistachios are the closest you can get to snacking straight from our California orchards. One ingredient. No salt. No roasting.

Windsetfarms.com Booth #901

Europeanvegetables.ca Booth #2009

getcrackin.com Booth #801

9 DON’T MISS THE ANNUAL BANQUET FEATURING JUNO GROUP OF THE YEAR WINNERS WITH OVER 1 BILLION YOUTUBE VIEWS

WALK OFF THE EARTH convention.cpma.ca

Special promotional feature in Canadian GroCer–march/april 2019

#CPMA2019

COVER STORY

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

“Upstairs” is Quality Foods’ new lounge concept; (Right) Justin Schley and Noel Hayward

Rethinking the box

Not just a place to grab bread and bananas, the newest Quality Foods is a community hub complete with a café, patios, conference rooms and even a pub

By Shellee Fitzgerald • Photography by Tanya Goehring

group of thirty-somethings sit casually shooting the breeze on oversized leather couches while drinking local craft beer and B.C. wine. Nearby, a trio of students, fuelled by Starbucks coffee, are deep in animated conversation. On the other side of the room, a man sits at a high table leafing through a newspaper while sipping on a pint of beer. It’s a typical Saturday afternoon pub scene. What’s not so typical is the location of this pub—a grocery store on Vancouver Island. Aptly called “Upstairs,” the pub occupies part of a 10,000-sq.-ft. space above the grocery store and is roomy, comfortable and decked out with upscale, modern furnishings, soft lighting, a few big-screen TVs and a large fireplace. It’s a new concept from Quality Foods and the showpiece of the chain’s newest location, which opened in Nanaimo last September. The concept is also part of the folks at Quality Foods’ larger strategy to create a social hub in the community. “You need more reasons for people to come into the store,” explains Noel Hayward, Quality Foods’ president and ceo and one of the founders of the 13-store chain that has been a fixture on Vancouver Island since 1982. “It can’t just be aisles of products; it can’t be a box with just groceries customers can get anywhere. With sales growth at about the rate of inflation, we have to figure out ways to create value, create an experience so customers will come to us instead of the big box.” Pulling off the Upstairs pub was not without its challenges; it wasn’t even part of the plan for the store originally. In fact, construction was already underway when the call was made to halt building at the site. “We always wanted to do something like this,” says vice-president and cfo Justin Schley as he gives a tour of the space, adding, “So we decided, why not do it now?” The concept was put together before they even knew if they could get a liquor license. “We took a lot of risk,” admits Schley, who adds that the Jim Pattison Group, which acquired the company in 2017, was very supportive of the plan. The risk appears to have paid off. On this afternoon the lounge is doing a steady business with a dozen or so patrons chilling out in the space. Promotions like Football Sundays and Wing

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

The new Hare wood Quality Foods features a large produce department and a full-service Butcher Shop, while the Kitchen houses a commercial smoker and pizza oven

COVER STORY Local B.C. products are important both downstairs and Upstairs, where local craft beers are on tap

“We have to figure out ways to create value, create an experience so customers will come to us instead of the big box” Wednesdays have proven popular ways to draw customers to the pub. “We’ll continue to program as time goes on,” says Schley (whose dad, Ken, is also one of chain’s founders), adding, “We’ve already booked three private functions up here.” When asked how they went about creating the space, Schley said the goal was that it wouldn’t look like something you’d find in a grocery store. “It had to have a feel that was totally different so you almost get lost up here.” For inspiration, the team went on a tour of Vancouver’s craft brew pubs with a stop at Starbucks Reserve, the coffee chain’s high-end format. And just as the wine and craft beer on offer is local, the Quality Foods’ team also reached out to local firm ca Design, from nearby Qualicum Beach, to design the space. The need to stand out from the crowd March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

COVER STORY

Kitchen gadgets and housewares can be purchased at the A Step Above gift shop; The Perk Ave. Café serves up meals all day—and has a patio, too!

is crucial anywhere these days, and no less so in the competitive Nanaimo market. All of the big players have set up shop in the fast-growing city, just across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver. That said, many of the big boxes (Walmart, Costco, Real Canadian Superstore) have opened at the North end of the city; Quality Foods is betting its decision to invest in a location further south in the city’s up-and-coming Harewood neighbourhood will pay off. Quality Foods has two other stores in Nanaimo and previously operated a smaller location just up the road from the new site. Hayward says there was excitement in the community when the Harewood store opened. “There hadn’t been a new store in the area for years,” he says, adding there also wasn’t a place in the neighbourhood for people to grab a drink—not since the local Harewood Arms Pub shuttered back in 2014. “People feel comfortable coming here and having a drink.” While the pub is the most striking aspect of the new Quality Foods, it’s certainly not the only impressive thing about the store. It has all the typical departments (bakery, floral, a robust produce department, sushi bar, etc.) as well as unique features such as two outdoor patios, the A Step Above gift shop where housewares and higher-end kitchen gear are available for purchase, and two conference rooms that community groups can use free of charge. Downstairs, the 40,000-sq.-ft. space is home to Perk Ave. Café, which offers meals through the day and has become a popular breakfast spot

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

for locals. In fact, this year Hayward says Quality Foods expects to serve up more than 200,000 breakfasts at the eight locations that have a Perk Ave. Café. A commercial smoker in the deli (for the store’s rib program), as well as a pizza oven also confirm the store’s credentials as a grocerant. And the focus on providing in-store experiences is evident in the store’s investment in a full-service “Butcher Shop,” which Hayward says is inspired by the old-style meat shops popping up all over the country. “The butchers have a relationship with the shopper,” says Hayward. “If you’re just selling packaged meat in the case, Walmart and Costco will sell it cheaper.” The team at Quality Foods has never shied away from trying new things. Back in 1991, it launched the Q-Card, the first electronic loyalty card in the country. A few years later, it started selling groceries online and it was developing mobile shopping apps much earlier than most. But firm believers in the notion that complacency kills, the Quality Foods team has undertaken an ambitious revamp of its app, which about 50,000 of its customers currently have on their phones. Over the last year-and-a-half they have been upgrading the app to make it faster and enable the delivery of

personalized offers. The goal is to provide value to customers and help grow sales, says Hayward. “You can walk through the produce department and you might see bananas and they’re 89 cents a pound; well, you’re a good customer [the app has identified you as such]—we’ll send you a personalized offer and you’ll get your bananas for 49 cents a pound this week,” explains Hayward, who adds that the team drew inspiration and the idea of rewarding your best customers from U.K. grocer Tesco. The new app, which is currently being tested by Quality Foods’ employees and will launch in April, also incorporates My Daily Special: a hugely popular feature at the store where, for years, customers with Q-Cards have been able to get a discount or “special” on a product of their choosing by scanning the product at a special kiosk in-store. The new app will also include something called ad Watch, where customers can create a list of products within the app and if any of these items comes on special, the customer will receive a notification. “We’re really excited about this and hope it’s best in class,” says Hayward. “It’s all the things the big guys are doing, but that’s what it takes nowadays. You’ve got to stay ahead.” CG

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S H U RS RT I E EP S U P

Continuing to champion the independent and fighting for a fair and transparent grocery market place are among the new CFIG chief’s goals By Shellee Fitzgerald • Photography by Daniel Alexander

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

Q & A

like so many folks in this business ,

Tom Shurrie’s introduction to the grocery industry came early. In his case, it was at age 16 when he landed a job at the A&P in Stratford, Ont. After university he continued to work in the food biz, racking up experience at a string of cpgs (Conagra, Parmalat), retail (Longo’s) and on the broker side (Acosta), too. In 2017, he joined the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers ( cfig ) and last December was named president and ceo of the 57-yearold association. We caught up with Shurrie recently to discuss what’s next for the organization, the outlook for Canadian independents, and more. Here are edited excerpts from the interview:

As you stepped into this role, what was the best advice you received? I would summarize the best advice as follows: Be yourself, listen to all, understand issues with facts, develop perspective and partnerships with many, and make decisions with a goal to provide options and solutions for the membership.

What are CFIG’s goals, both immediate and long-term? Our long-term goal is to enhance cfig and for it to be noted as the single voice of the independent grocer across Canada. We can achieve this by growing our current partnerships and creating new ones in the areas of advocacy, member services programs and commercialization opportunities. Within these partnerships we will be advocating for a fair and transparent grocery marketplace where independent grocers and suppliers can compete on a level playing field. With constant change and disruption in the industry, it’s crucial we provide a united voice and representation across all regions and jurisdictions on policy matters. A recent example of growing partnerships that not only helped independent grocers but many small businesses was when cfig led the Small Business Matters Coalition fight for a small business tax reduction. The rate was reduced, effective this January, to 9%, which I have been told is the lowest small business tax rate in the G7.

What would you say are the big challenges facing independent grocers today? There are many challenges that come up every day; however, one major challenge is the impact consolidation and competition

is having not only on independent grocers but also with the supplier community and the industry overall. cfig’s view has been that a code of conduct is now needed to restore fairness within our industry. Other countries, such as Australia and the U.K., have developed codes of conduct, which has helped reset the retailer/supplier trading standards and relationships. We believe that within government, there will be support for our industry and government to develop such a code.

How are independents positioned to tackle the competitive challenges they face? I feel that as entrepreneurs they are positioned well to succeed, especially when a fair and transparent industry landscape is achieved. Independents are also in a great position to be ahead of the trends and can differentiate, customize and adapt their services to the market in which they compete. Just look at our current chair, Christy McMullen, and her thriving Summerhill Market, which has been expanding its fresh, health and wellness, floral and store-made product offerings to meet customer demand in a highly competitive Toronto urban marketplace. We also see this ability to adapt quickly in some of our newest members Blue Sky, Al Premium and Pacific. All three of these unique retailers provide an extensive eat-in/takeout food offering as well as an array of fresh items selected for the diverse communities they serve.

What are the opportunities for independents? Opportunities lie where independents have always been the best: knowing and serving their customers. Independents must use their size, federation voice and partnerships to their advantage and do this better than ever before. From knowing their demographics and working with their suppliers to satisfy the preferences of their customers, to using customer data from their loyalty programs, to the old-fashioned meeting and greeting of customers; it’s all about getting back to the basics. Independents can also drive opportunities by enabling new technologies that could provide them with the tools to compete against the biggest Goliaths in the industry. From more effective shelf management to using technology to provide ecommerce options, the key is independents will have to continue to adapt quickly.

What would you say is the best part of your job? Every day is different and never boring. CG March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

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FUTURE TRENDS

TOMORROW’S SHOPPER O Five consumer trends that will shape grocery in the future, and how retailers can respond to these shifts today By Rebecca Harris the grocery store of the future will

look a lot different than it does today. Think automated checkouts, food tailored to individual diets, produce grown in stores, and a lot less plastic packaging on the shelves. Here’s a look at the big trends predicted to influence future grocery shoppers, along with strategies that can help retailers futureproof their businesses.

1 THEY’LL WANT AN EXPERIENCE

With more consumers shopping online, grocery retailers will need to give customers a compelling reason to shop in-store. “If you want them to invest their time in a shopping experience, it’d better be an experience,” says Eric Matusiak, partner, it solutions & national retail leader at bdo Canada. “Otherwise, they can just click and have it show up at their door.” What will make for a great experience? Matusiak suggests grocers look at doing “try-before-you-buy stations” and reconsider the layout of their stores to make

them more interactive and adventurous. “Why are all grocery stores effectively just rows of aisles?” he asks. “Why aren’t we drawing people into a store for an actual food or shopping adventure?’’ Toby Pickard, head of innovation and futures at igd in London, U.K., says we’ll start to see improved in-store displays, particularly with fresh produce, as well as more in-store information and entertainment. He gives the example of the new Le 4 Casino concept store in Paris, which has a gourmet grocery aisle, a large organic and vegan offering, exclusive products from guest brands and chefs, and a state-of-the-art wine cellar. “They’re also using technology like augmented reality to make the shopping experience more fun and more exciting,” says Pickard. The “grocerant” trend will also continue to proliferate. Mike Lee, founder of futurist food lab The Future Market, gives the example of Whole Foods, which is adding wine bars and sports bars to some locations, complete with televisions and a March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

FUTURE TRENDS range of food options. Rather than being a place to grab a quick bite when you’re shopping, “they’re trying to turn it into a place where people can come, watch a game, and get a beer and a pizza,” says Lee. “I think the whole restaurant-within-retail is going to continue to accelerate to more elaborate and epic formats.” To respond to the experiential trend today, Lee says retailers can start experimenting. “If you’re trying to prepare for the future, carve out ways to test smaller-scale things where you can have a little bit of a larger appetite for risk,” he says. “Try things out, see what sticks, and then work on formally scaling that up.” It’s also important for retailers to go even deeper into data collection and analysis. “That will enable retailers to understand their shoppers better than ever before,” says igd’s Pickard. “Data has been the heart of the industry for a long time, but as we get more data about shoppers, it will be an important part of improving the shopping experience.”

2 THEY’LL WANT SPEED & CONVENIENCE

Busy consumers won’t need every trip to the supermarket to be an adventure: there’s still the need for speed and convenience. Much of this will be enabled by technology. Payments Canada and Leger Marketing research reveals 43% of Canadians are interested in invisible checkout payments such as those offered by Amazon Go, and 53% said they had abandoned a purchase either in store or online because of “friction” at checkout, meaning anything that slows down a payment.

As Amazon’s fully automated concept Amazon Go scales up—it reportedly plans to open 3,000 stores by 2021—grocers will need to step up their game. “They’ll realize the self-checkout is not enough,” says Joel Gregoire, associate director, food and drink at Mintel. While not every retailer can afford to follow in the footsteps of Amazon Go, there are plenty of ways to make the in-store experience more convenient. Gregoire suggests one way is with in-store apps that utilize wayfinding or augmented reality technologies that allow users to map their shopping route, locate specific products and get more product information. In the future, retailers will also leverage technology to automate both in-store and online purchases. “This is somewhat related to speed, but it’s also related to the hassle factor: more mundane and routine things are going to get automated, to the point where you can imagine your home assistant making a shopping list for you,” says bdo Canada’s Matusiak. “It knows that you’ve run out of paper towels and will put that on your shopping list. It may even order it for you directly and it just shows up at your door.” Consumers also want convenience on the food front, which will continue to be a focus for retailers. “As lifestyles become increasingly hurried, cpg manufacturers and retailers have an opportunity to reach consumers who are increasingly looking for fast and easy solutions,” says Isabel Morales, consumer insights manager at Nielsen. “These may include anything from easy-to-prepare meal kits,

grab-and-go snacking solutions or readyto-serve meal solutions.” Gregoire adds that when it comes to convenience foods, retailers can’t sacrifice quality. “The notion of convenience is going to be tied to also having premium, fresh and healthy foods.”

3 TECH WILL INFLUENCE THEIR SHOPPING TRIPS

Paris’s new Le 4 Casino supermarket uses cutting-edge tech to make the in-store experience more fun

O O

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

report notes that retail is in the middle of wide-scale technology disruption, driven by the evolution of mobile commerce and changes in consumer shopping habits. It suggests retailers keep a close watch on technologies such as automation and AI, virtual and augmented reality, beacon technology, mobile pay and predictive data analytics. Whether it’s in-store or online, technology is going to make shopping much more seamless, says Matusiak. “Even though in some respects it feels kind of

ABOVE: SHUTTERSTOCK/ZAPP2PHOTO, FRANCOIS DABURON

bdo Canada’s latest “Retail Trends”

O seamless today, it will essentially be a more accelerated version of what we’re already starting to experience.” And while it’s easy to get excited about shiny new things, one important consideration for retailers is the human factor. “People still have to use [these technologies], so I think people are actually the toughest part of technology change,” says Matusiak. “There’s getting your own staff used to a particular technology and how it works, then there are customers themselves. As much as we like to feel like we’re in a world of constant change, some people’s habits don’t change that quickly. You have to educate shoppers and say, ‘Here is a new way of doing things.’” The Future Market’s Lee says in the longer term, technology will allow grocery stores to become sites of production, not just distribution. “We’re already seeing this with indoor controlled farming, where grocery stores have started to build

new facilities inside the store,” he says. For example, a Brooklyn, N.Y. Whole Foods Market partnered with Gotham Greens to build a commercial-scale greenhouse farm on the roof of the store. The 20,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art, climate-controlled greenhouse supplies Whole Foods locations throughout New York City. “As the technology becomes cheaper and proliferates a bit more, it’s going to be easier for grocery stores to integrate [indoor farming],” he says. Grocery stores won’t just grow their own produce—they could one day grow their own lab meat. “We’ll no longer need to have a giant farm to grow cows and it’s sort of mind-bending that you could conceivably have [meat] grown in the back of your grocery store one day,” says Lee.

4 THEY’LL BE FOCUSED ON THEIR HEALTH

While the health trend has been going strong for years, there’s a coming shift

towards eating healthy not only to feel better physically, but also for emotional and mental health. Consumers will seek a balance between all three areas, says Christina Bowden, senior director of consulting at Bellevue, Wash.-based The Hartman Group. “We’ll start to see more products that support mental wellness, help people get the energy they need, and help manage the stress around dayto-day activities.” On the brain front, the buzzword is “nootropics,” ingredients that can help improve cognitive function, including memory and focus. “We’re going to see products across categories that incorporate nootropics ingredients, including caffeine, L-theanine, B-vitamins, choline and omega-3s,” says Mintel’s Gregoire. Ingredients that reduce stress and promote relaxation will also gain attention. Mintel’s list of “ingredients to watch” include CBD—the non-psychoactive March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

FUTURE TRENDS compound found in cannabis and hemp that can help reduce stress and anxiety. There’s also adaptogens—plants and herbs that support the adrenal system and can help people reduce stress, focus and recharge. The key strategy for grocers will be to optimize their product portfolio across these areas, says Bowden. “They can demonstrate that they are connected to the physical and emotional side of what wellness now means to consumers.” In addition to the right product mix, grocers can offer personalized services to help people live healthier lifestyles. IGD’s Pickard points to U.K. grocer Tesco, which partnered with Spoon Guru, a food tech platform, to help customers with specific diets and food preferences quickly find relevant food choices. And Netherlands grocery retailer Albert Heijn launched My Nutritional Value, which is an online service that gives customers the nutritional values of products they have purchased and recommends products for specific health and dietary needs. “Retailers are tailoring the shopper journey based on the nutritional requirements of the shopper,” says Pickard.

5 THEY’LL BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS

As environmental issues continue to get attention, tomorrow’s shoppers will be very serious about eating green. “A new era of sustainability is rising and it’s touching every corner of the world,” says Nielsen’s Morales. One of the biggest issues is food loss and waste. A recent study by Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International found 58% of food produced in Canada—about 35.5 million tonnes—is lost or wasted every year. Of that, more than 11 million tonnes is edible food with a financial value of nearly $50 billion. According to research from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity, 69% of Canadians believe they are most responsible for reducing food loss and waste, followed by restaurants (65%), grocery stores (61%), and food processors (58%). Grocers will need to ramp up their efforts to reduce waste and communicate their efforts to customers. “Consumers will patron the types of businesses where they know that there is a focus on minimizing food waste,” says The Hartman Group’s Bowden.

Pollution is another growing concern, which has put a big focus on reducing plastic and packaging waste. “The retail and manufacturing industries are collaborating with governments to make major commitments to reduce waste—particularly single-use plastics,” says Morales. Consumers will also likely do their part to reduce the impact on climate change. Gregoire says while the connection between food and climate change is a bit harder for consumers to grasp, there is growing awareness about eating meat because of the environmental impact of meat production. “The interesting developments in terms of innovation are around plant-based meat and lab-grown meat, not only from smaller startups, but larger companies as well,” he says. Morales says the more companies embrace sustainability, the more they will change the product and retail landscape. “Consumers are constantly reacting to and evolving in this space, and growing more sophisticated,” she explains. “To stay relevant, companies will need to ensure they are putting consumer needs at the centre and doubling down on their marketing and execution strategies.” CG

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Canada’s cattle have hidden talents

Beef cattle belong in Canada’s landscape, doing their job to maintain healthy ecosystems. The environmental benefits of cattle is a powerful untold story that needs to be herd (pun intended). There’s a secret life to cattle that doesn’t tend to make the headlines…

Cattle keep grasslands going.

Cattle are key to healthy soil.

Don’t take grass for granted. Canada’s pasture and prairie store up to 1.5 billion tons of carbon, equal to the emissions from 3.62 million cars annually. Cultivation of grasslands can lead to a 30-35% loss of soil organic carbon.

Healthy soil is the secret to life. Cattle sustain soil with the nutrients from manure for healthy grass. Healthy grass = ground cover protection from blazing sun and pounding rains. Cattle are the ultimate manure spreaders. No bull.

Cattle help birds.

Cattle are ‘upcyclers’.

Birds live in the grasslands that cattle sustain. Cattle maintain 68% of the wildlife habitat capacity that comes from our agricultural land. Many bird species would lose their habitat to overgrowth without cattle grazing. Keep calm. Graze on.

Cattle do amazing things – they eat and digest grasses and crop by-products we can’t, turning them into one of nature’s most powerful proteins.

Cattle are a perfect fit with Canada’s climate, pasture and prairie ecosystems. With 74% of Canada’s native grasslands already lost to cultivation, grazing cattle are key to preserving these important spaces. For more info visit: canadabeef.ca/whycanadianbeef

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SUMMER SALES

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

SUMMER SALES summery nut-based cheeses, pea protein and the promise of Beyond Meat’s latest gamechanger, Beyond Sausage. Plant-based protein sales outpace animal-based protein in every market, according to Nielsen. And their 4% volume growth was quadruple that of animal protein in the 52 weeks ending Sept. 15, 2018. The new Canada’s Food Guide’s focus on plant-based proteins didn’t hurt things in this patch of the field, either.

Mario Fiorucci, founder of Toronto-based organic meat retailer The Healthy Butcher. It’s an incendiary statement, but he stokes its flames with common sense. “When you’re covered in snow for months and the sun finally starts shining, you enjoy every minute of it.” Here’s a look at some of the key opportunities to fire up sales in the months ahead. MEAT AND ALTERNATIVES Its alternatives notwithstanding, meat continues to rule, with Nielsen reporting 22% growth in unit sales for beef in the latest 52 weeks. Summer’s bestselling proteins, says Fiorucci, are steaks, sausages and, of course, burgers. But the nose-to-tail movement of the last several years continues, and consumers’ sense of adventure has lifted cuts like flank, flat iron and tri tip out of the basement. Same goes for grass-fed options, which offer three times as many omega-3 fatty acids as their grain-fed counterparts. Just ask anyone at Beretta Farms, the Ontario organic meat producer that’s launching a grass-fed 100% Canadian beef program this summer. Spurred on by positive market tests, Beretta will introduce four main SKUs: lean ground beef, striploin steak, ribeye steak and a stewing beef. What else is growing in this category? A crop of plant-based proteins, of course. Think

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

THE FIXINS’ Long gone are the days when the hot dog’s adornments were limited to fluorescent mustard and plain-Jane mayo. Modern condiments are dressed up, and according to Bruce Hanna, grocery merchandising manager for Buy-Low Foods and Nesters Market in Vancouver, this category is shining with summer innovation. Think flavoured mayos and mustards, spicy ketchups and walls of hot sauces. For the 12 months ending Feb. 5, 2019, pickles grew by 4%, as did seasonings and salad toppers, as well as salty snacks. Seasonal novelty is doing well in the refrigerated section, too, where dips and fresh salads continually expand their breadth. Brandie Daicoff, sales director for Canada at Fontaine Santé, calls barbecue season a friend to her company’s offerings, which include—just in time for backyard entertaining—a new summer guacamole. For grilling season, says Daicoff, retailers should stay on top of topped hummus (with caramelized onion, roasted garlic, roasted red pepper and so on), a potential summer winner whose presentation makes it a natural for entertaining during this period. Cross-promoting dips with such shelf-stable complements as pita chips and rice crackers encourages high purchase interactions, as do combination deals that link a dip with a cracker. And sampling, says Daicoff, “is huge, huge, huge,” particularly with a category whose recent growth curve has more flight to it thanks to Health Canada’s plant protein push. THE GEAR/ACCESSORIES If the grill is the summer superstar, it takes the stage in the company of a strong supporting cast. The co-stars gaining traction are those which are kinder to the environment. That means more sustainable, disposable cutlery, plates and straws. Buy-Low Foods in Vancouver has delisted all Styrofoam products from its warehouse, adding in their place lines of bamboo and compostable straws, and an ecofriendly everyday tableware brand made from 100% recycled plastic. They also offer a thriving camping section

SUMMER SALES featuring a packaging-free portable campfire. “It’s important for retailers to have options to plastic,” says Erin Jane, grocery merchandising coordinator at Buy-Low Foods in Vancouver. “People don’t want to buy a bunch of disposable stuff that’s going into a landfill.” At her store, such mindful innovation lends itself well to “pick of the month” territory, where the store calls attention to natural,

organic and local products and backs the effort up with social media and signage. “It’s an opportunity to have consumers try products from smaller companies that they might have missed because they’re not national brands.” THE DRINKS On hand to wash down all the summer fare is an ever-growing selection of liquids—both of the boozy and non-alcoholic varieties. One challenge of this category is the bulkiness of these products. This season’s mini-can push, however, takes a poke at the bulk. A freestanding end display featuring these and summer staples—tomato, cranberry and Clamato juice—should be situated close to dedicated barbecuing and entertaining displays, says Hanna. But space requirements call for selectivity: “Stick to trendy items.” Innovation is hopping in the alcohol category. Boozy blends will be big this summer, predicts George Parry, key account manager for Ontario retail at Moosehead Breweries. Think Radlers (where beer meets grapefruit juice in equal proportions), Big Tiki (a Hawaiian Punch-infused lager from Moosehead’s Hop City Brewery) and Twisted Teas (a flavoured beer made with malt alcohol that’s half lemonade, half iced tea). Sour beers are another growing seasonal segment, and ciders are consistent summer winners—especially in Western Canada, says Parry. Moosehead, whose semi-sweet Angry Orchard is the No. 2 cider in North America, will enhance the line this summer with Angry Orchard Rosé. Rosé in general will be “a huge trend this summer,” Parry predicts, also making an appearance in seltzer waters like Truly Rosé,

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

available in Western Canada and Quebec. The challenge for merchandising alcohol is the requirement that it abide provincial standards, which vary wildly countrywide (with many provinces not permitting alcohol sales in grocery stores at all). In Ontario, for example, regulations are strict when it comes to the location of alcoholic beverage displays in the store—all alcohol must be kept to the same section, which limits opportunities for cross-promotion. Where possible, however, retailers should try hooking alcohol with food, pairing beers with meat or charcuterie boards and offering discounts on related products, like buns. SAY CHEESE! Cheese is such an obvious summer player, given its enduring marriage to grilled items like burgers and the entertainment opportunities that spring from its many varieties. This summer, Agropur is launching products specifically tailored for the season, including marinated grilling cheese for the barbecue and salad-friendly goat cheese. Isabelle Méplon, manager of digital and content strategy for Agropur’s Canadian operations, suggests that retailers try cross-merchandising cheese in other departments in the store such as meat (grilling cheese and slices), produce (goat cheese) and bakery (cheese platters). At Summerhill Market, co-owner Christy McMullen encourages consumers to try “fancier cheeses” on burgers by cross-promoting the meat with Gouda, brie and Emmenthal. And no one should overlook the humble bun, which, this year, says McMullen, consumers are asking more of than ever. Look for potato buns, pretzel buns and even buns that double as waffles and pancakes. But all of these ideas would light up even more, in the eyes of consumers, with an on-site open-fire grill. Supermarkets should host barbecues regularly to spark consumer interest in grilling. “Grocers don’t realize the power of the tactile and taste connection enough,” says Beretta Farms’ founder and brand ambassador Cynthia Beretta. She thinks grocers should host them all summer—and with manufacturer specialists instead of demo companies, to take advantage of the former’s superior product knowledge. Above all, retailers looking to sell the season need to push the virtues of eating at home over going out. People can get intimidated when it comes to grilling, says Beretta, and Canadian grocers can play a part in allaying their anxieties. “If the retailer could make it a more welcoming and inviting experience, that might change.”

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MAKE A COMMITMENT If your store has space, celebrate the season by erecting a secondary display close to the meat department where you can tie in shelf-stable complements and give shoppers a one-stop shop for their summer meals. And, says Bruce Hanna, grocery merchandising manager for Vancouver-based Buy-Low Foods and Nesters Market, keep celebrating the season for as long as it’s on. “Don’t just leave it up for two weeks,” he scoffs. “It is not a temporary display.” By maintaining this summer-long homage to hot dog buns, pickles, hot sauces and relish, the store will benefit from customers who learn that they can get everything there. “Keep it looking impactful, keep it looking full and keep it up,” Hanna urges.

WAVING THE FLAG

Merchandising efforts should always be undertaken with one eye on the calendar. This way, retailers can capitalize on events that lend themselves to food and drink pairings. Canada Day, for example, waves all kinds of flags. Clever retailers can highlight a patriotic product pile, for example, that salutes Canadian brands. Or they might feature ingredients for preparing Canadian classics like butter tarts and Nanaimo bars, complete with redand-white signage. Where possible, stores can feature Canadian beers to swig under the fireworks. That way, says Moosehead’s George Parry, “you can put a Canadian beer with a Canadian food and advertise it as a Canadian experience.” And don’t forget valueadds like sunglasses, burger flippers, baseball hats and bottle openers—particularly if they’re draped in the flag.

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

DOUBLING UP If you haven’t heard about the Beyond Meat burger, you’ve had your head inside a cow. “It was big for us last year,” says Christy McMullen, co-owner of Summerhill Market in Toronto. Last summer, McMullen spread this vegan superstar across—count them—four locations in her store: the vegan section, the freezer, a cooler by the checkouts and in the highlight bunker. She’ll do it again this year. Customers often knew of the burgers—available in just a handful of stores— and were thrilled to find them, says McMullen. And in such abundance. The repeating did the trick, she says. “You see something a bunch of times when you’re walking around the store? It works.”

THE GATEWAY LEGUME Brandie Daicoff, sales director for Canada at Fontaine Santé, says retailers ignore the eyes’ natural tendencies at their peril. Enter brand blocking—which Daicoff calls “a big new idea”— and the power it has to encourage multiple purchases. In brand blocking—common and successful in the States— retailers merchandise a manufacturer’s entire oeuvre rather than separating display areas by product type. This approach, which butts tzatziki against babaganoush against supergrain mixes, attracts customers with a flagship and then, once they’re in the harbour, introduces them to the rest of the vessels. In dips, hummus is the category boss, commanding almost 60%. Displaying this “gateway into the dip category” with its brand brethren, says Daicoff, means you “open consumers’ eyes to other possibilities.” CG GETTY IMAGES/JAMMYDESIGN

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Night to Nurture

Canada’s grocery industry turns up to show its support for The Grocery Foundation and Kids Help Phone more than 3,300 industry members

2019 9

1 The Grocery Foundation’s executive director Shaun McKenna addresses the crowd 2 Sponsors from across the grocery and CPG industries helped make the evening a success 3 Canadian music icon Bryan Adams was a crowd pleaser, inviting some attendees to join him on stage near the end of his performance 4 Barenaked Ladies played all their greatest hits, which had the crowd dancing and singing along 5 The winner of the raffle for a 2019 Lexus was Mark Oord 6 The new concert-style format for the entertainment had everyone smiling 7 One of the silent auction items was a Barenaked Ladies experience: a signed guitar and the opportunity to meet the band back stage 8 More than 3,300 industry members were in attendance at this year’s gala 9 Artists were painting brand new creations during the reception as part of the silent auction

THE GROCERY FOUNDATION

attended the 2019 Night to Nurture Gala in early February at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Staged annually by The Grocery Foundation, Night to Nurture has raised more than $40 million since 2000, with proceeds going to Kids Help Phone as well as breakfast programs in Canadian schools. “This event is a clear example of the potential our industry has in making a difference,” says Tom Gunter, chair of the Foundation. “If everyone could witness the impact made in providing kids with the fuel to succeed each day in school, we could likely double our goal each year.” The 2019 gala was particularly special as this year is the 40th anniversary of The Grocery Foundation and the 30th anniversary of Kids Help Phone. “To celebrate, we decided to shake up the format and host the entertainment in a concert format in the reception area,” says Shaun McKenna, executive director of the Foundation. Two iconic Canadian acts, Barenaked Ladies and Bryan Adams, entertained an enthusiastic crowd. In addition to ticket sales, the event raised “record-breaking on-site funds” through the silent auction, a raffle to win a Lexus, and “time to give” donations, says McKenna. “The funds raised will go a long way to providing a nutritious start to the school day for thousands of children, impacting not only their hunger but their attention, behaviour and ability to learn,” he says. “We also need to be there to support them in any moment of crisis or need—and the Night to Nurture helps us do both.” McKenna is quick to point out that none of this would be possible without the continued support of the industry: “A special thanks goes out to everyone who attended, our ticket sellers, sponsors and generous donors.” March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

A Special Thanks To Our Gala Sponsors The Grocery Foundation and Kids Help Phone would like to thank the following sponsors for their ongoing support of the Night to Nurture Gala:

Platinum Sponsors

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Corporate Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Beverage Sponsors

Wine Sponsors

Food Sponsors

FRESH

Lettuce and salad greens

The salad situation

Grocers still picking up the pieces in the wake of last year’s E. coli scare

GETTY IMAGES/VIKIF

By Rosalind Stefanac THE THREAT OF CONTAMINATED romaine may be behind us, but grocers are still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s E. coli outbreaks, which affected lettuce supplies to several provinces and U.S. states. “The challenges with this [outbreak] is that it lasted for 12 months with one alert after another and that builds memory,” says Sylvain Charlebois, professor in food distribution and policy, and senior director of the Agrifood Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “We saw what happened when people started to walk away from spinach back in 2006 and it has never really recovered.” Sales in alternatives to romaine (such as kale, spinach, and red and green leaf lettuce) went up during last year’s romaine outbreak, notes Sam Corea, vice-president, retail at Buy-Low Foods, but suppliers couldn’t keep up with demand. Without an official recall, he says the wholesalers and independents who pulled product off shelves were never able to recoup their losses. “The financial impact to the entire supply chain was quite significant,” he says, citing that both wholesale and retail saw a 17% decline in total leaf lettuce. At Pusateri’s in Toronto, five lines of ready-to-eat salads containing romaine were removed from shelves during the outbreak, resulting in an estimated 80% loss in romaine sales, says Dominic Fortuna, the retailer’s vice-president, quality

assurance. “We substituted with spinach and kale options but consumers didn’t gravitate to these new lines at all,” he says. “The [original] lines are back now but people still ask questions.” Fortuna says the whole situation was frustrating because government couldn’t pinpoint the source of contamination. While the United States had issued a voluntary recall that affected the whole country, Canada’s advisory was limited to only a few provinces. “Suppliers were telling us their products weren’t affected, but we had to protect the public and pull them anyway,” he says. “It was confusing and created a lot of problems.” Jeff Hall, food safety specialist at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, says last year’s events have emphasized just how integrated the U.S. and Canadian supply chains are. Going forward, he says bringing industry into the loop sooner is critical to deal with these kinds of ripple effects. “Not only does the industry need to be in communication with government, but on the flipside, the government needs to include us earlier in the process when they start to see issues so we can help.” In spite of consumer concern, Hall believes the market should recover fairly quickly. “Retailers just have to be open and honest, and know where their products come from so they can share that information with consumers,” he says.

Right from the get-go, Longo’s made a point to communicate the safety of its Arizona-grown lettuce to customers, both in-store at point of sale and via email. “I truly feel that being in front of it and communicating at the earliest moment possible built trust in our guests,” says Mimmo Franzone, Longo’s director of produce and floral. “Sales in romaine and romaine hearts have seen year-over-year increases over the last quarter.” Similarly, once Buy-Low Foods had an adequate supply of Canadian living romaine and Arizona produce, Corea says all stores were supplied with signage educating shoppers about the steps taken to protect their health and safety—this included identifying the growing region of all produce. “We are not hearing any ongoing concerns from customers and believe they are satisfied that the food and safety measures we and the industry have taken are working,” says Corea. In fact, the retailer notes a silver lining with the continued growth in hot house grown living butter and romaine lettuces. For those retailers still struggling, Charlebois suggests ongoing promotions, as well as displaying produce as prominently as possible. “Winter may be a lost cause but spring is coming, and once the domestic growing cycle kicks in, retailers have a new message with locally grown foods, too.” CG March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

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AISLES

Products, store ops, customers, trends

ICE CREAM & FROZEN DESSERTS

GETTY IMAGES/MAGONE

The frozen explosion Whether low-cal, plant-based, indulgent or globally inspired, there’s more choice than ever in frozen desserts By Carol Neshevich

few months back, Whole Foods Market predicted “trailblazing frozen treats” would be one of the top trends for 2019; it turns out that forecast is right on the mark. A proliferation of new, low-calorie/high-protein ice cream brands—with California’s Halo Top leading the way—as well as plant-based and globally-inspired treats are hitting freezers in a big way. “There’s been a huge influx [of new frozen desserts] here, especially in the last year with Halo Top coming in from the U.S.,” says Adam Tully, director of grocery operations at Calgary Co-op. Indeed, Halo Top’s name comes up frequently when speaking with grocers and industry experts about recent trends in frozen desserts. “A trip to the grocery store reveals innovation in the permissible indulgence space; Halo Top, in particular, with its low-calorie claim, has garnered lots of attention,” says Joel Gregoire, associate director of food and drink at Mintel. Founded in 2012, Halo Top really only began to explode in popularity across March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

AISLES the U.S. in 2016, and entered the Canadian market to great fanfare in 2018. With a range of fun flavours like Birthday Cake, Pancakes & Waffles and Oatmeal Cookie, Halo Top boasts just 80 to 100 calories per serving (and 280 to 360 calories per entire pint), along with low sugar and high protein content. “I think people have always loved ice cream, but it became hard or sometimes impossible to fit ice cream into any diet or lifestyle,” says Doug Bouton, president and COO of Halo Top Creamery. “Halo Top provided an option so people can enjoy ice cream every day without feeling bad about it or breaking the calorie bank.” But Halo Top is, by no means, the only successful player in the fast-growing lowcal/high-protein ice cream space. Startups like CoolWay, founded by three young Montreal entrepreneurs (read their story on page 10) are doing well in the market, while the large traditional players are

BETTER FOR YOU

Low-cal and plantbased are two hot trends in frozen desserts

Halo Top has just 80 to 100 calories per serving

Nicecream is made from 100% fruit

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

also getting in on the trend. Nestlé, for instance, has launched a high-protein/ low-cal brand called Goodnorth; Breyer’s has launched Breyer’s Delights, featuring 16 grams of protein and between 280 to 360 calories per 500-mL package; and Ben & Jerry’s recently launched its low-cal Moo-phoria line. “Low-calorie, high-protein frozen desserts are here to stay in 2019,” says Rob Luscombe, Ontario grocery buyer for Whole Foods. Luscombe adds that a number of dairy-free and plant-based options are also showing up on Whole Foods’ shelves, including those from Daiya and the Chufa Co., which makes frozen desserts based on tigernuts. Calgary Co-op’s Tully agrees: “everyone is conscious about the plant-based proteins now.” Innovations in plantbased frozen treats are coming from all directions including major traditional players: Ben & Jerry’s got in on the action early, launching vegan varieties starting in 2016, while Häagen-Dazs has launched a non-dairy collection of ice cream and ice cream bars, and Magnum Bar just debuted a non-dairy, vegan-certified bar in the United States in February. That said, a great deal of innovation in the dairy-free frozen dessert space is coming from smaller players and startups, such as Peterborough, Ont.-based Chimp Treats. Founder Brooke Hammer started Chimp Treats while still a student at Trent University. As a vegan and a varsity athlete, “I was all about health and nutrition,” she explains, so she set out to develop an ice-cream-like treat made solely from fruit. The result was Nicecream, a frozen dessert made from 100% fruit (no other ingredients) available in three flavours: Banana, Mango Banana, and Strawberry Banana. First launched in 2017, Nicecream quickly gained traction and is now available in stores across the country, ranging from smaller independent and niche retailers to major chains like Sobeys, Metro, and Loblaw. Hammer says her customer base is broader than she initially imagined. “When I started I really thought it would be niche to vegans, and you know, people whose ethics in terms of sustainability were kind of the driving forces behind their purchasing behaviour,” she says. “But the majority of our customers aren’t vegan or even lactose intolerant. It’s typically women aged 20 to 35, they have an interest in health and nutrition,

they’re working, educated, on the go.” Parents of babies and young children are fans as well, she says, as kids enjoy the taste while parents like the health aspect. Still, despite increased demand for “permissible indulgences” in the frozen dessert space, the truly indulgent, fullfat ice cream products continue to be popular. “Let’s not kid ourselves, the Häagen-Dazs of the world and all those indulgences are not going away,” says Calgary Co-op’s Tully. Frank Yunace, operations manager at Pete’s Fine Foods in Halifax, agrees: “People are buying the ‘true’ ice creams—we still sell a ton of that stuff.” Gregoire says Mintel’s data suggests classic indulgent ice creams remain in demand. “When asked what characteristics [people] associate with ice cream, ‘good tasting’ (57%), ‘satisfying’ (39%) and ‘indulgent’ (37%) rank at or near the top,” he says. “What these figures indicate is there is indeed room for indulgent and, particularly, quality ice cream.” Canadians are interested in trying innovative flavours as well, says Gregoire, noting that Mintel research shows interest in premium-flavoured ice cream (such as burnt toffee or olive pistachio), internationally inspired flavours (like green tea or mango) as well as flavours that are based on alcoholic beverages like rum or liqueur. “Two of these three areas, in particular, convey opportunity for more adult-based flavours that provide a sense of sophistication,” he says. In terms of international inspiration, grocers say new Asian-inspired frozen treats like mochi are becoming popular. Originating in Japan, mochi is a small, round, sticky rice dumpling filled with ice cream. A number of Canadian retailers are starting to add self-serve mochi bars in their stores, but packaged mochi products are hitting the market as well such as My/Mo Mochi, which offers boxes containing six mochi desserts in flavours such as Green Tea, Ripe Strawberry, Sweet Mango and Dulche de Leche. “Mochi has gained a lot of traction,” says Whole Foods’ Luscombe. Pete’s Yunace agrees: “We sell a lot of mochi.” Yunace says the brightly coloured packaging typical of mochi products, and some of the other new products on the market, helps attract people to the frozen dessert section. “So it’s all about using that colour, and keeping the freezer full … that’s what brings people to the freezers, because you need to get them

to open the door.” His store does in-store sampling of new products to promote sales as well, primarily in the spring and summer, and mostly with local suppliers. According to Calgary Co-op’s Tully, working with local suppliers is a smart move, as a lot of his customers prefer to support local. “Here in Calgary alone, we have tons of [local ice cream and gelato makers],” he says, pointing to Fiasco Gelato and Made by Marcus as examples. “The more you can be in the local game, the more traction you’re going to get with your customers.” Markdale, Ont.-based Chapman’s Ice Cream takes pride in being a Canadian company, emphasizing its Canadian-ness in much of its marketing—particularly that it’s made with 100% Canadian dairy—in part to attract those people who prefer to buy Canadian. “Consumers do want to buy Canadian,” says Mary Breedon, sales and marketing director at Chapman’s. “We will continue to do our part to make sure that Canadians know that we’re out there, that we only use 100% Canadian dairy, and that we are committed to that.” Breedon says Chapman’s range of ice creams and frozen novelties focus on value for your dollar, which makes them popular with families, as does the fact Chapman’s aims to offer options for families with dietary restrictions, too. “Chapman’s, in general, meets a lot of specific dietary needs—peanut and nut free, gluten free, we have the ‘no sugar added’ line, which is also lactose free, so we are essentially a one-stop shop,” she says. Yunace says the variety of frozen treats for people with special dietary needs has increased across the board, which he feels helps boost sales. “Now, it’s 100% of the population that we’re catering to … we’re able to meet the needs of people with special dietary needs so they can indulge as well.” Have all of the new product innovations in the category affected sales of frozen treats in general? While long-term data from Mintel shows, overall, people are eating less ice cream than they were a decade ago, Nielsen’s data reveals dollar sales of “ice cream and related products” in Canada were up by 11% in the last year. And according to Yunace, sales of frozen desserts are booming at his store: “Especially last summer—it was like, ‘Wow, we’re selling a lot more ice cream this year than we have in the past!’”

THE DATA ON FROZEN DESSERTS

Frozen desserts include ice cream, non-dairy alternatives, novelties, frozen yogurt and the like; but we can’t forget the baked desserts in grocery freezers as well: cakes, pies, pastries and more. These two charts provide Nielsen data on how frozen baked desserts and ice cream and related products have been performing. Frozen baked desserts - 52 weeks, ending Jan. 5, 2019

BAKED DESSERTS - FROZEN

$ Sales

$ Vol % Chg

Units

Units Vol % Chg

110,421,455.0

16,063,032.2

-2

77,260,067.0

10,834,462.1

-5

2,717,310.0

-3

318,094.7

-7

1 CAKES ECLAIRS MUFFINS

247,653.0

39,745.7

14,853,190.0

2,329,575.1

2,670,004.0

599,134.0

9,357,833.0

-14

1,466,206.6

-18

TIRAMISU

1,571,435.0

337,128.6

TORTES

1,743,963.0

138,685.4

-5

OTHER TYPES FROZEN BAKED DESSERTS PASTRIES 2 PIES

1 Who wants cake? Although frozen cakes’ dollar sales only grew by 3%, cakes were, by far, the biggest seller in this category, bringing in $77 million in sales in the

latest 52 weeks ending Jan. 5, 2019. 2 Frozen pies appear to be losing steam. Dollar sales dropped by 14% to $9 million in the last year, and unit sales were down 18%.

Ice cream & related products - 52 weeks, ending Jan. 5, 2019 $ Sales

$ Vol % Chg

Units

Units Vol % Chg

501,317,820.0

112,194,433.2

15,031,309.0

3,631,313.1

1 CHERRY ICE CREAM

6,560,963.0

1,385,133.4

CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

89,319,636.0

18,815,961.9

HEAVENLY HASH ICE CREAM

6,933,755.0

-3

1,989,896.2

-2

MAPLE WALNUT ICE CREAM

12,233,027.0

2,869,869.4

NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM

17,543,526.0

4,133,912.4

201,704,257.0

46,437,101.5

4,547,849.0

780,261.7

15,069,552.0

3,300,317.2

132,373,946.0

28,850,666.4

39,954,741.0

-8

8,449,161.5

-11

ICE CREAM & RELATED PRODUCTS BUTTERSCOTCH ICE CREAM

OTHER FLAVOURS RASPBERRY ICE CREAM STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM 2 VANILLA ICE CREAM 3 YOGURT - FROZEN

1 Cherry ice cream has shown the largest percentage growth in the category, at 29% dollar sales growth and 27% unit growth in the latest 52 weeks ending Jan. 5, 2019. 2 With the growing amount of flavour options on the market, it’s interesting

to see that plain old vanilla still has the largest sales, by far, at $132 million, with 5% dollar sales growth in the past year. 3 It seems frozen yogurt is not as trendy as it used to be: dollar sales are down 8% and unit sales have dropped by 11%. SOURCE: NIELSEN, NATIONAL, ALL CHANNELS, ALL SALES, EXCLUDING N.L.

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

AISLES

We got the beet! No longer the boring veggie grandma encouraged you to eat, beets have become trendy, with consumers drawn to the red root vegetable’s nutritional superpowers and versatility. The humble beet even landed, for the first time ever, on Today’s Dietitian magazine’s list of top 10 super foods for 2019. Manufacturers have also caught on to the veggie’s popularity and are using beets as an ingredient in a wide range of packaged goods, from hot and cold beverages to salsa, sauerkraut, crackers and chips. Check out these beet-filled innovations hitting the marketplace. HARDBITE Hardbite’s lightly salted beet chips—cheekily named Drop’N Mad Beets—are gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified, cholesterol free and contain no trans fats. These crunchy beet chips are part of the B.C.-based artisanal food company’s line of root vegetable chips, which also includes carrot, sweet potato and parsnip varieties.

LOVE BEETS Beet Salsa is the newest product from Love Beets, a New York-based food company focused solely on beet products. The Beet Salsa is described by the company as “sweet with a light spicy kick.” Love Beets’ other products include ready-toeat baby beets marinated in various flavours, shredded beets, diced beets, beet powder, and even beet juice.

WILDBRINE Raw, vegan and gluten-free, Wildbrine’s Red Beet & Cabbage Sauerkraut features a simple list of ingredients: just red cabbage, beets, pear, sea salt, ginger, cilantro and garlic. Like all of California-based Wildbrine’s fermented products, this sauerkraut is unpasteurized to maximize its probiotic benefits.

FARMHOUSE CULTURE Farmhouse Culture’s Ginger Beet Gut Shots are organic, gluten free, dairy free, vegan and Non-GMO Project Verified. This gut health-boosting probiotic beverage combines the “earthiness” of beets with the “zing” of ginger, according to its California-based manufacturer.

BLUME Instead of coffee, healthconscious consumers can whip up a beetroot latte using Blume’s Beetroot Blend, an organic powdered mix that’s high in vitamin C, fibre, potassium, manganese and iron. In addition to making hot beverages with it, the Vancouver-based company suggests its beetroot blend can also be added to oatmeal, smoothies, pancakes and more.

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CHECKING OUT

AN UPHILL BATTLE

As competition heats up from all directions, Canadian grocers must prepare themselves for continuing challenges IT’S NO SECRET traditional grocery sales aren’t exactly booming. Last year’s sales through chain and franchise supermarkets, major banner convenience stores and unaffiliated independents rose by only 0.4%, according to Canadian Grocer’s annual Market Survey, published in our last issue. Canadian Grocer calls those channels the “traditional grocery” universe to facilitate comparisons with previous Market Surveys, and to separate them from non-traditional grocery outlets like mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, drugstores, and specialty retailers. But when one digs deeper into the numbers, the news is even bleaker for chain and independent supermarkets. According to Statistics Canada, supermarkets alone increased their sales by just 0.2% last year over the previous year. At the same time, convenience store sales increased by 5.9%. That’s

March/April 2019 Canadian Grocer

a whopping difference in sales growth. So, what’s happening with Canadian supermarkets? Intense competition is often blamed. Competition comes from other grocers—but more and more, it’s competition from those non-traditional food retailers that’s making a greater impact. cibc World Markets estimates food sales growth through Costco at 9.2% and Walmart at 8.5%, for example. Compare that with supermarkets’ growth at 0.2% and we can see the competition is not only real, it is severe. cibc has also looked specifically at the big three retailers (Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys) rather than the larger universe of grocery that we used in our Market Survey, and found a sales increase of 2% after removing inflation of 0.8%. Two per cent is not bad in tough times, but it isn’t enough to offset the weaker sales of all other traditional grocery retailers.

Notably, it’s not just giants like Walmart and Costco that are heating up the competition: there’s been a general increase in the type and number of non-traditional stores that are also selling food and groceries, including dollar stores, drugstores, meat markets, bake shops, and fruit and vegetable stands. Some of these fall into the category of specialty food stores. Over the past eight years, specialty stores have increased their sales by 62%, and last year alone their sales were up by 8%, according to Statistics Canada data. And, of course, there’s the ever-present competition from the foodservice industry. According to Restaurants Canada, foodservice sales were up 5.3% for 2018, although that was primarily driven by rising menu prices rather than an increase in traffic. The traffic increase at foodservice was about 0.8% in 2018 and is forecast to be 1.4% this year. If this outside competition wasn’t enough, shoppers continue to actively seek the best deals and favour promotional pricing, making margins more difficult. Then there’s another potential blow to grocers on the horizon: as consumers increasingly turn to healthier diets based on fruit and vegetables, this could affect centre store sales of packaged goods—products for which retailers charge manufacturers fees. These fees are not insignificant, and any reduction could adversely affect sales growth. Smart retailers already know times are tough, and they’re implementing various ideas to help them keep their sales growing. From a focus on personalization and “experiences,” including in-store restaurants and entertainment, to cutting-edge technology providing improved online delivery, more convenience and even cashierless stores, there are certainly solutions in the works to keep traditional grocery customers coming back. But until these things become commonplace, grocers may very well be facing an uphill battle for their sales. CG

George Condon is Canadian Grocer’s consulting editor. He’s based in Toronto. condug@sympatico.ca

SHUTTERSTOCK/RUSLAN GRUMBLE

George Condon

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING 999 CANADA PL, VANCOUVER, BC

MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

CONFERENCE: 7:30AM - 11:00AM | TRADE SHOW: 11:00AM - 4:30PM

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019

CONFERENCE: 7:30AM - 10:30AM | TRADE SHOW: 11:00AM - 4:00PM

YOUR ONE-STOP GROCERY SHOW FROM FRONT END TO BACK END

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WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR

CONTENTS

WELCOME TO THE 30TH EDITION OF GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST! As we celebrate a milestone anniversary, it’s a great time to reflect on the show’s longstanding success. Grocery & Specialty Food West has always been a place where the industry can GATHER TOGETHER – our show’s theme this year. Apart from business taking place on the trade floor, there are ample opportunities for retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and all facets of the industry to network and collaborate. In a business where change is constant, the need for continued teamwork is critical. Starting with the Sunday opening reception at Steamworks Brew Pub, the show is about making these connections. On Monday afternoon, join us for the Mix and Mingle by the trade show stage, sponsored by Save-On-Foods. For the dinner and entertainment portion of the evening, sit with colleagues and business partners and enjoy the outstanding view in the Summit Room at the Vancouver Convention Centre West Building. As always, we want to ensure that you get the best experts in the business to help move your businesses forward. Morning workshops and sessions are divided into two tracks this year: Monday’s lineup is geared to head office and C-Suite, and Tuesday’s content is tailored to store managers. You’ll get a great sense of where the grocery business is headed over the morning sessions—from the future of work, to how to get and use data more effectively, and the seamless future of offline to online. In the afternoons, after walking the trade show and visiting new pavilions such as Buy BC; Canada Connect; and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Quebec, take in an education session both days covering topics such as ecommerce, lighting, food trends and more. Grocery & Specialty Food West continues to be your one-stop grocery exhibition–from front end to back end. Be sure to stop by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers’ booth in the entrance to the trade show and find out how the association can assist your business goals. We look forward to seeing you at the show! Sincerely,

CHRISTY MCMULLEN, Owner, Summerhill Market, Toronto

GENERAL INFORMATION 3...................Welcome Message 5...................General Information 7...................2019 CFIG Board of Directors 8...................CFIG Associate Members’ Council 9...................CFIG Staff 15.................Sponsors Acknowledgement

CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW 11 & 13.......Program 12 & 14.......Workshops 18.................Speakers’ Spotlight

EXHIBITOR LISTINGS 16.................Trade Show Floor Plan 17.................Exhibitors by Booth Number 20................Exhibitors by Company Name 27.................Exhibitors by Product Category

GSF ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Presented by: THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT GROCERS / FÉDÉRATION CANADIENNE DES ÉPICIERS INDÉPENDANTS 401-105 Gordon Baker Road North York, ON M2H 3P8 Tel: 1-800-661-2344 | Fax: 416-492-2347 Email: info@cfig.ca | www.cfig.ca

Chair, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers | Fédération Canadienne des Epiciers Indépendants www.CFIG.ca

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WE BRING SOMETHING

good TO THE TABLE.

Good service. Good insights. And most importantly, good food. Our approach is simple: connect retailers with the foods Canadians are craving, fueled by market trends and delivered with a smile. With one of the highest fill rates in the industry, we keep your shelves stocked and your most profitable customers satisfied.

HELPING CANADA EAT WELL AND LIVE WELL Join us at booth #801 at Grocery & Specialty Food West where we will be showcasing and sampling our growing selection of new and innovative products.

@TreeLifeCan

@TreeofLifeCan

Tree of Life Canada

treeoflife.ca

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GENERAL INFO CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW ATTIRE BUSINESS CASUAL

BADGE COLOURS RED...........................................RETAILERS/WHOLESALERS GREEN.....................................SUPPLIER/SERVICE/ FOODSERVICE/RESTAURANT BLUE.........................................EXHIBITORS YELLOW..................................DISTRIBUTOR/IMPORTER/ EXPORTER

EXHIBITOR & ATTENDEE REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION DESK | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE, EAST BUILDING, 999 CANADA PL, VANCOUVER BC

SATURAY, MARCH 30............... 8:00AM – 4:00PM SUNDAY, MARCH 31.................. 8:00AM – 4:00PM MONDAY, APRIL 1....................... 7:00AM – 6:30PM TUESDAY, APRIL 2....................... 7:00AM – 3:30PM

SELF CHECK-IN

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SATURDAY, MARCH 30.............8:00AM – 4:00PM SUNDAY, MARCH 31...................8:00AM – 4:00PM MONDAY, APRIL 1........................7:00AM – 6:30PM TUESDAY, APRIL 2 .......................7:00AM – 3:30PM

SAVE THE DATE

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Tuesday, October 22 & Wednesday, October 23, 2019 Toronto Congress Centre North Building – Toronto WWW.GROCERYINNOVATIONS.COM

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GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST 2020

Monday, April 27 & Tuesday, April 28, 2020 Vancouver Convention Centre East WWW.GSFSHOW.COM

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2019 CFIG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) is governed by a Board of Directors elected from the membership and reflecting a regional distribution. A national office consisting of the President and staff implement the federation’s operations in a manner consistent with the policies established by the Board. The Board and the President also receive ongoing input from advisory committees consisting of members and established across Canada. *EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

*THOMAS SHURRIE

President & CEO, CFIG Toronto, ON

*JIM BEXIS

Honorary Past Chair, Sun Valley Supermarket Inc., Scarborough, ON

BROOKE KYNOCH

ERIN HIGDON

Powell’s Supermarket, Bay Roberts, NL

Safety Mart Foods, Chase, BC

JEFFREY MIN

*JAMIE NELSON

Galleria Supermarket, Vaughan, ON

*GIANCARLO TRIMARCHI

Secretary, Vince’s Market, Newmarket, ON

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*DAN BREGG

Treasurer, Buy-Low Foods, Surrey, BC

CHRISTOPHER LEE

Southside Market AG Foods, Kamloops, BC

JUSTIN SCHLEY

Member at Large, SaveOn-Foods, Langley, BC

Quality Foods, Errington, BC

TOM VESELY

*RON WELKE

Sobeys Westlock, Westlock, AB

PIERO CARBONE

Garden Foods, Bolton, ON

MIKE LONGO

Longo Bros. Fruit Markets, Vaughan, ON

CRAIG SOLLITT

The Bownesian Grocer, Calgary, AB

BILL COLEMAN

Colemans, Corner Brook, NL

*CHRISTY MCMULLEN

Chair, Summerhill Market, Toronto, ON

ISABELLE TASSÉ

Marché Tassé (Provigo), Gatineau, QC

Vice Chair, Federated Co-operatives Ltd., Saskatoon, SK

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS’ COUNCIL

Co-operation and communication between supplier and retailer have become increasingly important in grocery retail. CFIG’s Associate Members’ Council (AMC) has in turn become more integral to the direction of the federation as a whole. The Associate Members’ Council is a group of senior executives representing a variety of Canadian grocery product companies. The AMC meets quarterly, and provides professional guidance to the Board of Directors on industry news and trends.

PHIL ANGEMI,

VP, Sales, General Mills Canada

PETER HALL,

VP, Sales, Kraft Heinz Company

GARY LOCKE,

Head of Acceptance, Client Management, Interac

CHRIS POWELL,

Vice Chair, Sr. VP, Business Development, Tree of Life Canada

DOMINIC BOMBINO,

Sr. VP Retail & Foodservice Sales, Saputo Dairy Products Canada

CARA KEATING,

VP Customer Development, PepsiCo Foods Canada

SCOTT LORIMER,

Sr. VP Retail Sales, Maple Leaf Foods

LAURIE COOPER,

Vice Chair, VP Customer Development, Unilever Canada

STEPHEN KOURI,

VP, Sales & Trade Marketing, Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.

SAM MAGNACCA,

VP, GM, Acosta Canada

JOHN DICECCO,

VP Sales, Customer and Shopper Insights, McCormick Canada

JIM LEISH,

VP, Sales, Procter & Gamble Inc.

MICHEL MANSEAU,

Past Chair, Sr. VP & GM Consumer Business, Kruger Products LP

STEVE FOX, Sr. VP, Customer Development, Nestlé Canada Inc.

SCOTT LINDSAY,

Sr. VP, National Sales & Marketing, Coca-Cola Refreshments

SEAN MATEER,

Sr. VP Sales, Parmalat Canada

TOM SZOSTOK,

Chair, VP Sales, Campbell Company of Canada

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

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CFIG STAFF THOMAS SHURRIE President & CEO ANDREA ALMARZA Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and to the VP of Finance and Administration GARY SANDS Senior Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy TODD NEWSTEAD Acting Senior Vice President Commericial Development & Industry Relations

FRAN NIELSEN Vice President, Finance & Administration

JESSICA HERDSMAN Registration, Events and Operations Coordinator

NANCY KWON Vice President, Marketing & Communications

IRMELI KOSKINEN Coordinator, Member Services

JASON AN Account Representative

JOE SAWAGED Director, National Accounts & Business Development

NICOLE FANG Multimedia Designer

DIANA STEVENSON Director, Conference & Events ROLSTER TAYLOR Director, Sales

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES More Trade. More Tastes. More Trends.

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2019 GSF SHOW SCHEDULE

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2019 8:30AM – 1:00PM | INDUSTRY TOUR: VAN WHOLE PRODUCE; T&T SUPERMARKET; CHOICES MARKETS MEET AT FAIRMONT WATERFRONT HOTEL; END AT VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE, EAST BUILDING. Retailer only. Limited seats available. (Pre-Registration Required) Sponsored by:

5:00PM – 7:00PM | OPENING RECEPTION – ALL WELCOME

STEAMWORKS BREW PUB–375 WATER STREET (ACROSS FROM WATERFRONT STATION AT THE FOOT OF GASTOWN) Sponsored by:

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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING CONFERENCE HOURS: 7:30AM – 11:00AM | TRADE SHOW HOURS: 11:00AM – 4:30PM 7:30AM – 8:00AM | BREAKFAST 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 1, 2, 3 Sponsored by:

CEO/C-SUITE TRACK 8:00AM – 8:45AM | THE KEY AREAS TO BE INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS. OFFLINE TO ONLINE Robin Sherk, Kantar Consulting

2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 1, 2, 3 Sponsored by:

8:45AM – 9:30AM | HOW INDEPENDENTS CAN DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES + FUTURE TRENDS Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie University 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 1, 2, 3 Sponsored by:

9:30AM – 9:35AM | COFFEE BREAK Sponsored by:

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CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING – 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 17, 18, 19

9:35AM – 10:15AM ~ Workshops repeated from 10:15AM – 11:00AM ~

WORKSHOP ➊ | GENERATIONAL CHANGE AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD IN CANADA

Market research expert David Coletto will share insights on how Canadian millennials (those born between 1980 and 2000) are changing how we think of food. Perhaps the most food-obsessed generation in history and as Canada’s largest consumer market, millennials are forcing food producers and retailers to rethink what and how we eat. David will also dive into understanding how millennials work and what it means for management. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 17 Sponsored by:

WORKSHOP ➋ | PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE

Stewart Samuel will share IGD’s ‘RED’ framework which helps retailers to prepare for the future by ensuring they remain: RELEVANT for shoppers, EFFICIENT to drive profitability, and DIFFERENT to drive traffic. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 18 Sponsored by:

WORKSHOP ➌ | DATA - HOW TO GET IT, USE IT AND ACT ON IT!

Join Prashant Gupta of BDO to see how you can leverage your data to differentiate the customer shopping experience through meaningful use of technology, personalized promotions and effectively predict and prescribe what customers will see, where, when and by whom. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 19 Sponsored by:

TRADE SHOW EXHIBITION

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING – HALLS B & C

TRADE SHOW HOURS – 11:00AM – 4:30PM 12:00PM – 1:00PM | TOP 10 IN GROCERY JUDGING HALLS B & C - DISPLAYS

1:00PM – 1:30PM |

✎ EDUCATION SESSION

Join Canada Beef’s Derrick Ash and Joyce Parslow as they explore ways in which innovative cuts and profitable merchandising will not only provide clearly defined points of competitive differentiation but also help demonstrate how to balance the share-of-plate through the plant-based diet trend. INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

2:00PM – 2:30PM |

✎ EDUCATION SESSION

Sage Russell, of LumenWerx, a manufacturer partner of CDm2, offers up ways to optimize lighting in your retail space to enhance customer experience. INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

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3:00PM – 3:30PM |

✎ EDUCATION SESSION

Data Bridging the Divide: Gain access to shareable, actionable marketing and buying insights previously known only to the largest retailers. Join IQDigitec’s Marcel Joaquin to hear how shared analytics can cut your supply chain costs to support your independent or group buying. INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

3:30PM | BEST BOOTH AWARDS INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE

4:15PM – 5:00PM | MIX AND MINGLE – ALL WELCOME INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

EVENING EVENT— WEST BUILDING VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | WEST BUILDING – THE SUMMIT ROOM – 3RD FLOOR (Pre-Registration Required)

6:30PM – 7:00PM | RECEPTION 7:00PM – 9:00PM | DINNER & ENTERTAINMENT

Gather together for a spectacular view of Vancouver in the Summit Room, along with some laughs with comedian Dave Hemstad. Dinner Sponsors:

Entertainment Sponsor:

Wine & Beer Sponsored by:

✈ ATTENTION: FULL DELEGATE RETAILERS A TRIP TO GROCERY INNOVATIONS CANADA 2019 IN TORONTO WILL BE DRAWN! Includes: return airfare for one, accommodations during the show and a chance to win the Grand Prize at the event! Sponsored by::

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE – EAST BUILDING CONFERENCE HOURS: 7:30AM – 10:30AM | TRADE SHOW HOURS: 11:00AM – 4:00PM 7:30AM – 8:00AM | BREAKFAST 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 1, 2, 3 Sponsored by:

STORE MANAGER TRACK 8:00AM – 8:45AM | WHAT’S NEXT IS NOW

Canada’s dynamic retail landscape has challenges, and many manufacturers and retailers will need to evaluate their future growth opportunities. Carman Allison of Nielsen Canada will explore four emerging consumer and retail trends that are influencing product movement off the shelf. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 1, 2, 3 Sponsored by:

8:45AM – 9:00AM | COFFEE BREAK Sponsored by: #GSFSHOW19

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CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING – 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOMS 17, 18, 19

9:00AM – 9:45AM ~ Workshops repeated from 9:45AM – 10:30AM ~

WORKSHOP ➊ | HR/STAFFING

Talent & The Future of Work. Presented by ADP Canada’s Sooky Lee 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 17 Sponsored by:

WORKSHOP ➋ | STORE DESIGN

Good food and low prices are no longer enough to guarantee success. Today’s food stores also need to provide a memorable shopping experience that is compelling and remarkable. The aim must be to form an emotional connection with the customer that leads to customer loyalty. Join Sam Burman from design firm Off the Wall to discover how supermarkets can capitalize with dynamic design trends. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 18 Sponsored by:

WORKSHOP ➌ | BEYOND MEAL KITS: WHAT’S NEXT?

From grocerants to QSRs to UberEats, what grocers need to do to compete. Presented by Katie Martin, Progressive Grocer magazine. 2ND FLOOR – EAST MEETING ROOM 19 Sponsored by:

TRADE SHOW EXHIBITION

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING– HALLS B & C

TRADE SHOW HOURS – 11:00AM – 4:00PM

1:00PM – 1:30PM |

✎ EDUCATION SESSION

Online Grocery – It’s Easier and More Affordable Than You Think. Join Josh Ray of e-commerce expert ShopHero to discover how retailers can work on efficiencies to make more deliveries for less. INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

2:00PM – 2:30PM |

✎ EDUCATION SESSION

Going Healthy on Fast Foods: Suzanne DiMichele and Gina Lipton of Mclean Meats look at the top food and diet trends that should be on grocers’ radars. INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE Sponsored by:

~SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT GSF 2020 – APRIL 27 & 28, 2020~

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS* Grocery & Specialty Food West 2019 thanks the following companies for their support: *As of March 4, 2019

LEAD MEDIA SPONSOR:

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GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST FLOOR PLAN *As of March 4, 2019

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EXHIBITORS BY BOOTH *As of March 4, 2019

6............. Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) 300....... Sunshine Pickles 301......... Bob Bakery World Ltd. 302A..... Nature’s Choice Foods 303B..... Canadian Prairie Bison 304........ Mighty Oaks 310......... Goat's Pride Dairy 310......... Tesfa Farms 311.......... Get Sauced And Spiced Inc. 312......... fraktals Chocolate 315......... Arctic Chiller Ltd. 321......... New Air 402........ Indonesian Trade Promotion Center 405........ Able Cresting Ltd. 407........ Burnbrae Farms Ltd. 409....... Kysor Warren 412......... Etalex Inc. 414......... FMS Financial Management Solutions 415......... Sellers Publishing, Inc. 416......... Scott-Bathgate Ltd. 420........ Raimac Ind. 501......... Morgan-Williams International Inc. 504........ Moneris 507........ Naraz Import/Export Corp. 509........ I-D Foods Corporation 514......... Parmalat Canada 518......... Western Spring And Wire 520........ Canadian Grocer 522........ Synq Tech 523........ Benny’s Bagels/ Jayland Naturals Canada 600....... Brencar 601......... Hussmann Canada Inc. 601......... Jones Food Store Equipment Ltd. 601......... Northwest Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd. 602........ CDm2 LightWorks 605........ Guangdong Winleader Metal Products Co., Ltd. 606........ Federated Insurance of Canada 608........ Canada Bread Company Ltd./ Bimbo Canada 609........ Bizerba Canada Inc. 615......... Nestlé Canada Inc. 618......... Ethical Bean Coffee Ltd. 619......... Danone 620........ Four O’Clock - Trans-Herb

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621......... Cardinal Meats Specialists Ltd. 622........ Nimbus Water Systems Inc. 701......... A Lassonde Inc. 704........ NutriBites Pet 705........ Unilever Canada 706........ Boxmaster 709........ Kick Stick 711.......... The Grocery People (TGP) 715......... Kraft Heinz Canada 722......... Bear Essential Oils 800....... Procter & Gamble 801......... Tree of Life Canada 804....... ShopHero 805........ Ishida Canada Inc. 806........ ImagineXSolutions (Metrowire Authorized Dealer) 808....... Inform Brokerage 809........ Sobeys Wholesale 815......... Kruger Products LP 819......... Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry 821......... Trumps Food Interest Ltd. 822........ Amerlux, LLC 823........ MIWE Canada Inc. 901......... Coca-Cola Ltd. 905........ McLean Meats 907........ GBS Foodservice Equipment Inc. 908........ Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP 914......... Howell Data Systems 915......... Advantage Solutions 920........ Golden Valley Foods Ltd. 922........ Forum Novelties, Inc. 1001....... Rational Canada 1004...... PBF Pita Bread Factory 1005...... Old Dutch Foods Ltd 1008...... Digi Canada Inc. 1009...... Bosa Foods 1015....... General Mills 1021....... Kidd Bros and Western Sage Honey 1022...... Canadian Restaurant Supply 1023...... IBC, International Bar Coding Systems 1100....... Arneg Canada 1101........ Trace Beverages 1107........ Cavendish Farms 1108....... Campbell Company of Canada 1109....... Associated Grocers 1115......... Maple Leaf Foods

1119......... Keurig Canada 1120....... Dart Canada Inc. 1201....... Aline Greetings 1203...... Atlantic Stainless Fabricators Ltd 1209...... Western Grocer Magazine 1211......... Leonidas 1215........ Bremner Foods Ltd. 1215........ Canada Food Packers 1215........ Cloud 9 Gluten Free 1215........ Imex International Inc. 1215........ Kehar Foods International Ltd. 1215........ MRC Liquids+Solids Culinary Innovations Inc. 1215........ Ola Vida Naturals 1215........ Paracanna Foods Inc. 1215........ Ripple FX Water Inc. 1215........ Sable Shortbread Company Ltd. 1215........ Saltspring Harvest Ltd 1215........ SaltSpring Kitchen Co. 1215........ Skippy's Kettlekorn 1215........ SugarLike 1215........ Sutra Wholesale 1321........ True Nosh 1215........ Vancouver Freeze Dry Ltd. 1215........ West Coast Wild Foods 1215........ Wise Bites Collections Inc. 1222....... Cookina Inc. 1300...... Acosta 1315........ Purity Life Health Products LP 1323....... Punjab Milk Foods Inc. 1411........ Plaisirs Gourmets 1415........ Dion Herbs & Spices 1421........ Produits d'érable Cumberland Inc. 1700...... Hobart Canada 1720....... Weber Marking Systems of Canada 1724....... The Grizzly Paw Soda Company 1726....... BC Chicken Marketing Board 1730....... Nutrabolt Canada 1732....... IQFoodChain by IQdigitec 1736....... Surprize Enterprize Inc. 1738....... Riz Global Foods 1742....... Conglom Inc. 1748....... Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver 1754....... SRP Canada (Formerly Creative Planning Company) 1764....... Brave & Young Distributors Ltd.

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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APPEARING AT GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST 2019 CARMAN ALLISON

VP of Consumer Insights, Nielsen

Carman Allison has his finger on the pulse of the FMCG landscape and is relied on by manufacturers and retailers to provide insights they need to make strategic business decisions. He shares his research on industry trends, consumer shopping and attitudes through thought leadership reports, industry presentations and his two monthly columns in Canadian Grocer and Grocery Business magazines. DERRICK ASH

Senior Manager, Business Development and Technical Services, Canada Beef

As one of Canada Beef’s business development leads, Derrick Ash specializes in strategic retail merchandising while infusing a consumer-centric approach to signature product and program development. SAM BURMAN

VP of Planning & Design, Off the Wall

Sam Burman was born and educated in England and has over 40 years’ experience as a retail store designer in Europe, South Africa, Canada and the United States. Off The Wall is a design and décor fabrication firm in Pennsylvania, and has worked with Whole Foods, ShopRite, Target, Ahold, Aldi, Dollar General and more retail outlets in the United States. DR. SYLVAIN CHARLEBOIS

Professor, Dalhousie University

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab. He is also the former Dean of the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University. Known as “The Food Professor,” Sylvain’s current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. DAVID COLETTO

Market Research Leader & Expert on Millennials

David Coletto delivers strategic advice and research design expertise to many of Canada’s foremost corporations, advocacy groups, and political leaders. A leader in online research methodologies, public affairs research, corporate and organizational reputation studies, and youth research, David has led projects for top-tier companies in many sectors. 18

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

SUZANNE DIMICHELE

Western Canada Sales Manager, McLean Meats

Suzanne DiMichele has worked in the health industry for the past 30 years. As Western Canada Sales Manager for McLean Meats, she is passionate about truly clean, healthy foods that support and heal the body. Suzanne enjoys educating her customers on how quality ingredients make the difference in our daily lives. PRASHANT GUPTA

Analytics & AI – Practice Lead, Western Canada, BDO Canada

Prashant Gupta brings over 18 years of data, analytics, software solution experience in both consulting and management roles across different verticals having successively managed complex IS/IT projects across Canada, United States, Europe and Middle East. His expertise has helped geographically distributed teams successively deliver data analytics, ERP, CRM, customized application development, projects leveraging Microsoft Dynamics NAV, CRM, PSA, SharePoint, Office 365, MS SQL, Oracle and LAMP technologies. DAVE HEMSTAD

Comedian

Dave Hemstad grew up in Thornhill, Ontario and attended Missouri State University on a golf scholarship. After being struck by lightning during a competitive round, he returned home to begin a career in something safer…stand-up comedy. True story! Now an award-winning comedian, Dave’s sharp and precise narrative on the human condition has been delighting audiences from coast to coast. MARCEL JOAQUIN

Managing Director, IQFoodChain

Marcel Joaquin is the Managing Director of IQFoodChain, a food traceability company that revolutionizes the food business, incentivizing honesty in food labelling, cutting product sourcing costs, and easing regulatory burden. IQFoodChain reduces the incidence and costs of food recalls, thereby generating shareholder and brand value. Most recently, Marcel was VP of Finance with Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods, a BRC AA+ food manufacturer with products carried by thousands of independent grocers and specialty food stores.

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GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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SOOKY LEE

Division Vice President/General Manager, Human Resources Outsourcing, ADP Canada Co.

As General Manager of ADP’s Human Resource Outsourcing practice in Canada, Sooky Lee is responsible for the growth and management of this strategic business unit. ADP Canada HRO provides clients HR support and services in a variety of ways, from self-service access to HR knowledge, compliance and tools via ADP HR Assist or fully managed HR administrative services through WFN Comprehensive Services. Prior to assuming this role in October 2015, Sooky led the company’s Human Resources function for more than five years. During her tenure, Sooky led the talent and culture strategy to support ADP Canada’s expansion into Human Capital Management. GINA LIPTON

Director of Sales, McLean Meats

Gina Lipton has proudly represented McLean Meats for the past six years as Director of Sales and is based out of Toronto, though she is Atlantic Canadian at heart. Humanely raised meat and healthy food choices are what drive her passion for the business. KATIE MARTIN

Senior Editor, Progressive Grocer

Katie Martin is a 20-year business media veteran, and has covered the supermarket industry, specializing in independent and specialty grocers, for the last five years.

JOYCE PARSLOW

Executive Director, Marketing and Consumer Relations, Canada Beef

As the lead on the ThinkBeef.ca program at Canada Beef, Joyce Parlslow has been instrumental in ensuring that #BeefBelongs as part of the healthy plate conversation when it comes to the new Canada Food Guide. In her role at Canada Beef, Joyce seeks to build trust, affinity and loyalty for Canadian beef and beef in general, with direct and partnered efforts that target consumers and their influencers.

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MOBILE APP SPONSORED BY:

JOSH RAY

Co-Founder, ShopHero

Josh Ray is a veteran in the tech industry with a unique background in logistics, marketing, and entrepreneurship – three key areas to ecommerce success. He has a passion for helping small business owners and loves supporting independent grocers successfully launch, market, and operate online grocery programs. SAGE RUSSELL

West Coast Sales Manager, LumenWerx

Sage Russell is a former lighting designer, educator and published author, and is currently the West Coast sales manager for LumenWerx, a manufacturer partner of CDm2. He speaks nationally on topics of lighting design theory, application and the evolution of design trends and technology. CDm2 partners with world-class manufacturers such as LumenWerx, offering innovative, fully integrated, cost-effective and sustainable lighting solutions. STEWART SAMUEL

Program Director, IGD Canada

Stewart Samuel is responsible for running IGD’s operations and research program in North America. Stewart is an expert on North American food retailer strategies, trends and channel developments. In addition to working with leading retailers in the region, he helps CPG companies navigate the pace of change in the sector. His key areas of focus include store of the future, grocery ecommerce and retail technology. ROBIN SHERK

Vice President, Canadian Market, Kantar Consulting

Robin Sherk leads Kantar Consulting’s Canadian retail, sales, and shopper practice. She oversees the research and client advisory across channels and trends, helping brands navigate Canada’s dynamic selling landscape. She helps guide brands on shoppers’ evolving demands and behaviors and on digital technology’s impact on retailers’ strategies and manufacturers’ positioning. Robin is a sought-after speaker and trainer, providing guidance to numerous Fortune 500 CPG companies.

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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EXHIBITOR LISTINGS CFIG MEMBER

✪ SHOW SPECIAL

A LASSONDE INC.

170, 5e Ave. Rougemont, QC J0L 1M0 T: (888) 477-6663 E: info@lassonde.com www.lassonde.com Today, Lassonde is the North American leader in the development, manufacture and sale of fruit and vegetable juices and beverages. Booth #701

✪ ABLE CRESTING LTD.

#102 - 31281 Wheel Ave. Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H1 T: (604) 864-9728 E: donable1@shaw.ca www.ablecresting.com Able Cresting Ltd. provides uniforms, corporate clothing and promotional products to businesses throughout Canada and the United States. Booth #405

✪ ACOSTA

#100 - 9440 - 202 St. Langley, BC V1M 4A6 T: (604) 881-1414 F: (604) 881-1092 www.acosta.com Major grocery brands from: baking, dry goods, household products, personal care, condiments, beverages and frozen foods. Booth #1300 ADVANTAGE SOLUTIONS

#115, 7455 132nd St. Surrey, BC V3W 1J8 T: (604) 572-8686 F: (604) 572-8006 E: jennifer.hutchinson@ advantagesolutions.net www.advantagesolutions.net Advantage Solutions represents brands from dry goods, frozen, condiments, beverages, personal care, household, baking, confectionary, seafood and breakfast products. Booth #915

✪ ALINE GREETINGS

30 Sinclair Blvd. Brantford, ON N3S 7Y1 T: (519) 758-1953 E: sales@alinegreetings.com www.alinegreetings.com Aline Greetings: your leader in the social expression business with our premium greeting cards and accessories in gift bags, boxed cards, tissue and wrap. Booth #1201

AMERLUX, LLC

178 Bauer Dr. Oakland, NJ U.S.A. 7436 T: (973) 882-5010 F: (973) 882-8970 E: dknickerbocker@amerlux.com www.amerlux.com Manufacturer of innovative lighting solutions that captivates, inspires, and commands attention. Enhancing retail, commercial, hospitality and supermarket environments while focusing on quality and service excellence. Booth #822

✪ ARCTIC CHILLER LTD.

100 Cree Rd. Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3X8 T: (780) 449-0459 F: (780) 449-0404 E: sales@arcticchiller.com www.arcticchiller.com Maximize your company’s marketing potential through unique, high quality, custom label bottled water. Try our newest hemp infused spring water today! Booth #315 ARNEG CANADA

18 Rue Richelieu Lacolle, QC V0J 1J0 T: (250) 880-1105 E: hfriedmann@arnegdml.com www.arneg.ca Canadian manufacturer of merchandising coolers and freezers for grocery, food and beverage retail store applications. Booth #1100

✪ ASSOCIATED GROCERS

7100 44th St. SE. Calgary, AB T2C 2V7 T: (587) 229-3872 E: brody_powell@associatedgrocers.ca www.associatedgrocers.ca Associated Grocers is a full service grocery wholesaler catering to the best independent grocers in Western Canada. Booth #1109 ATLANTIC STAINLESS FABRICATORS LTD.

62 Howden Rd. Toronto, ON M1R 3E9 T: (416) 285-5535 F: (416) 285-6649 E: mrafik@bellnet.ca www.atlanticstainless.ca Manufacturer of stainless steel equipment for supermarkets, cabinets, sinks, tables, carts, olive/antipasto bars, seafood displays refrigerated and open ice tables, custom design and fabrication. Booth #1203

BC CHICKEN MARKETING BOARD

101 - 324 50 Simoon Ave. Abbotsford, BC V2T 0C6 T: (604) 859-2868 E: cheryldavie@bcchicken.ca www.bcchicken.ca The BC Chicken Marketing Board (BCCMB) is a non-profit organization that regulates the pricing and production of chicken grown and processed in British Columbia. Booth #1726

✪ BEAR ESSENTIAL OILS

2124 Saratoga Rd. Black Creek, BC V9J 1A2 T: (250) 465-1396 E: info@bearessentialoils.com www.bearessentialoils.com Organic and wild-crafted essential oils hand harvested from coastal British Columbia and beyond. Booth #722 BENNY’S BAGELS/JAYLAND NATURALS CANADA

1375 Adanac St. Vancouver, BC V3E 0B3 T: (604) 718-5777 F: (604) 221-5656 E: info@bennysbagels.ca www.bennysbagels.ca Baked goods: Bagels, pretzels, hamburger buns, hotdog buns, ciabatta, etc. Culinary oils: camelina oil, avocado oil. Booth #523

✪ BIZERBA CANADA INC.

6411 Edwards Blvd. Mississauga, ON L5T 2P7 T: (905) 670-9498 F: (905) 670-2399 E: ca.info@bizerba.com www.bizerba.ca Bizerba is a market leader in retail weighing, labelling and food processing. Our experience sets standards that set us apart. Booth #609 BOB BAKERY WORLD LTD.

#210 20285 Stewart Cres. Maple Ridge, BC V2X 8G1 T: (778) 233-9081 F: (604) 380-4081 E: orders.bobbakeryworld@gmail.com www.bobbakeryworld.com Wholesale suppliers to bakeries and delis. We stock a wide variety of decorative solutions as well and smallwares and equipment. We are here to help. Booth #301

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

BOSA FOODS

1465 Kootenay St. Vancouver, BC V5K 4Y3 T: (604) 253-5578 F: (604) 253-5656 E: victor@bosafoods.com www.bosafoods.com For over 60 years, Bosa Foods is a leading importer and distributor of Italian and Mediterranean Specialty food products, offering over 7,500 products. Booth #1009 BOXMASTER

#100-880 Belgrave Way Delta, BC V3M 5Y8 T: (604) 527-4715 E: info@boxmaster.com www.boxmaster.com Specializing in custom corrugated packaging materials. Boxes, displays, mailers and more! FoodSafe and IFS PacSecure Certified. Booth #706 BRAVE & YOUNG DISTRIBUTORS LTD.

201-11945 95a Ave. Delta, BC V4C 3W1 T: (778) 395-2992 F: (778) 395-2993 E: braveandyoung@hotmail.com www.braveandyoung.ca Our distributing company focuses on popular Korean food products and confectioneries. Booth #1764 BREMNER FOODS LTD.

7237 Wilson Ave. Delta, BC V4G 1E5 T: (604) 940-1375 F: (604) 940-1385 E: terry@bremnerfoods.com www.bremnerfoods.com Bremner’s is your local farmer and producer of premium fruit products. Products include pure juice, frozen fruits our new mango-carrot nectar & Caesar mix! Booth #1215 BRENCAR

207 - 15272 Croydon Dr. Surrey, BC V3Z 0Z5 T: (604) 531-5122 F: (604) 531-5106 E: info@brencar.com www.brencar.com Brencar is Canada’s leader in supplying the finest user-friendly, bulk food dispensing systems available in North America. Bulk: The Ultimate Green Packaging. Bulk Up! Booth #600

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GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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BURNBRAE FARMS LTD.

3356 County Rd. No.27 Lyn, ON K0E 1M0 T: (613) 345-5651 E: ckemp@burnbraefarms.com www.burnbraefarms.com Fifth generation family–owned/operated company. Our eggs and egg products can be found in your local grocery store, restaurants, foodservice operations and homes across Canada. Booth #407 CAMPBELL COMPANY OF CANADA

60 Birmingham St. Toronto, ON M8V 2B8 T: (416) 251-1131 E: canada_custeams@campbellsoup.com www.campbellsoup.ca Come visit Campbell’s to try our Goldfish Flavour Blasted White Cheddar & New Pace Salsa Verde. Booth #1108 CANADA BREAD COMPANY LTD./ BIMBO CANADA

10 Four Seasons Pl. Etobicoke, ON M9B 6H7 T: (416) 622-2040 E: BC.ConsumerEngagement@ grupobimbo.com www.canadabread.com Canada Bread/Bimbo Canada is the leading producer and distributor of packaged fresh bread, bakery products, snacks and sweet goods. Booth #608 CANADA FOOD PACKERS

A6, 5279 Still Creek Ave. Burnaby, BC V5C 5V1 T: (604) 207-6520 E: canadafoodpackers@shaw.ca www.canadafoodpackers.com We offer filling and sealing services for dry food products included powder and granular. Booth #1215 CANADIAN GROCER

20 Eglinton Ave. West, Ste. 1800 Toronto, ON M4R 1K8 T: 437-889-0446 E: vpeters@canadiangrocer.com www.canadiangrocer.com Canadian Grocer is the #1 trade publication serving the grocery industry in Canada. With an audited audience of over 89,000 (print & digital), we are your most efficient and effective way to reach Canadian retailers. Booth #520 CANADIAN PRAIRIE BISON

Box 74 Canwood, SK S0J 0K0 T: (306) 468-2316 F: (306) 468-2327 E: orders@cdnbison.com www.cdnbison.com Three flavours of Bison Pemmican and one Bison Jerky. A new Gluten-Free Seasoned Bison Burger. Booth #303B

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CANADIAN RESTAURANT SUPPLY

#6 - 2604 Enterprise Way Kelowna, BC V1X 7Y5 T: (250) 979-1442 E: sales@crs-online.ca www.crs-online.ca We supply everything commercial kitchens need to operate & succeed other than food. We provide complete kitchen solutions: design & manufacturing to installation & aftercare. Booth #1022 CARDINAL MEATS SPECIALISTS LTD.

155 Hedgedale Rd. Brampton, ON L6T 5P3 T: (905) 459-4436 F: (905) 459-8099 E: info@cardinalmeats.com www.carrdinalmeats.com We are a Canadian food company specializing in food safe and quality proteins: burgers, fully cooked proteins, roasts, and yes, vegetarian and vegan options too. Booth #621 CAVENDISH FARMS

CDM2 LIGHTWORKS

CLOUD 9 GLUTEN FREE

Unit 6 7541 Conway Ave. Burnaby, BC V5E 2P7 T: (604) 249-5010 E: karen@cloud9glutenfree.com www.cloud9glutenfree.com Cloud 9 offers a variety of premium dry mixes and flour that are all certified gluten-free, kosher, and allergen free. Booth #1215 COCA-COLA LTD.

335 King St. E. Toronto, ON M5A 1L1 T: (647) 256-7203 E: aurdaneta@coca-cola.com www.coca-cola.ca Beverages - soft drinks, bottled still water, bottle sparkling water, juices and drinks, milk, iced tea and iced coffee. Booth #901

2600 Ave. Marie-Curie St. Laurent, QC H4S 2C3 T: (514) 333-6666 F: (514) 333-4070 E: mleona@conglom.com www.conglom.com Conglom offers a vast choice of consumer products tailored to our customers’ needs. Booth #1742 CONSULATE GENERAL OF BRAZIL IN VANCOUVER

1111 Melville St. Vancouver, BC V6H 0A2 T: (604) 696-5311 E: secom.vancouver@itamaraty.gov.br http://vancouver.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/ Food products from Brazil: coffee, Brazilian tapioca, banana brownies, fruit pulps, organic grape juice, Guaraná. Booth #1748

✪ COOKINA INC.

100 Midland Dr. Dieppe, NB E1A 6X4 T: (506) 858-7552 E: hudson.linda@cavendishfarms.com www.cavendishfarms.com We’re a family food company that brings the goodness of the farm to homes. We will be showcasing new product launches at our exhibit. Booth #1107 330-825 Powell St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1H7 T: (604) 215-7721 E: info@cdm2lightworks.com www.cdm2lightworks.com CDm2 is a representative agent, integrator and dealer for world-class manufacturers of lighting, light media, controls and space amenities. Booth #602

✪ CONGLOM INC.

3500 blvd Matte - 236 Brossard, QC J4Y 2Z2 T: (514) 600-2207 E: sales@cookina.co www.cookina.co We offer a washable and reusable alternative to aluminum foil or parchment paper. Suitable to grill, bake, smoke or microwave! Less waste, more taste. Booth #1222 DANONE

100 Rue de Lauzon Boucherville, QC J4B 1E6 T: (450) 655-7331 www.danone.ca At Danone, we make delicious and responsibly produced food and beverages that nourish people’s lives! (We have dairy and non-dairy food and beverage products.) Booth #619 DART CANADA INC.

2121 Markham Rd. Toronto, ON M1B 2W3 T: (416) 293-2877 E: canadainfo@dartcanada.ca www.solocup.ca Dart Canada Inc. is the leading supplier of single-use plates, bowls, cups and cutlery under the well-known Solo® and Dart® brands. Booth #1120

✪ DIGI CANADA

87 Moyal Crt. Concord, ON L4K 4R8 T: (888) 857-8221 F: (905) 879-4008 E: sales@ca.digi-group.com www.digisystem.com/ca/en Digi Canada is a global leader in the food industry offering a complete line of food equipment and consumables for over 25 years. Booth #1008

DION HERBS & SPICES

801 Montee St. Nicolas St. Jerome, J7Y 4C7 T: (450) 569-8001 F: (450) 569-0062 E: info@dionspices.com www.dionspices.com Dion Herbs & Spices is a Canadian company specializing in a unique stackable packaging concept, with more than 550 varieties, all 100% gluten-free certified. Booth #1415

✪ DISTRIBUTION CANADA INC. (DCI) 3425 Harvester Rd., Suite 102C Burlington, ON L7N 3N1 T: (905) 681-3933 F: (905) 681-0314 E: info@distributioncanada.ca www.distributioncanada.ca Learn the advantages of joining DCI as a member, partner or wholesaler wanting to share funding and relevant solutions generating additional sales & profits. Booth #6 ETALEX INC.

8501 Jarry E. Montreal, QC H1J 1H7 T: (514) 351-2000 F: (514) 351-2100 E: info@etalex.ca www.etalex.ca Founded in 1966, our firm quickly established itself as a leader in the field of commercial interiors, specializing in metal fixtures and shelving, and wood furnishings. Booth #412 ETHICAL BEAN COFFEE LTD.

1315 Kootenay St. Vancouver, BC V5K 4Y3 T: (604) 431-3830 F: (604) 431-3834 E: info@ethicalbean.com www.ethicalbean.com Fairtrade Organic Coffee. Doing something good for the world should be rewarded with something that tastes spectacular. Booth #618 FEDERATED INSURANCE OF CANADA

3100 Bl. Le Carrefour Laval, QC H7T 2K7 T: (800) 361-0790 F: (450) 687-6663 E: mauro.ditullio@federated.ca www.federated.ca Federated Insurance offers customized insurance solutions designed for the grocery store industry, featuring industry-leading coverage such as product recall, transit, computerized equipment and infestation. Booth #606

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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FMS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

5511 Tomken Rd., Suite 204 Mississauga, ON L4W 4B8 T: (877) 435-9400 E: mikes@fmssolutions.com www.fmssolutions.com Over 4,200 independent grocery stores rely on FMS Solutions to make critical decisions based on timely financials, industry benchmarks and proven best practices. Booth #414

✪ FORUM NOVELTIES, INC.

1770 Walt Whitman Rd. Melville, NY U.S.A. 11747 T: (800) 443-6786 F: (516) 536-9741 E: rosie@forumnovelties.com www.forumnovelties.com Forum Novelties, Inc. is the leading supplier of everyday and seasonal tableware, deco, party supplies, novelties, costumes and accessories in North America. Booth #922 FOUR O’CLOCK - TRANS-HERB

1090 Parent St. St-Bruno de Montarville, QC J3V 6L8 T: (450) 441-0779 E: info@fouroclock.ca www.fouroclock.ca A Passion For Good Taste. Discover our blends that offer herbaceous, spicy, floral and fruity flavours, our certified organic infusions and our original blends. Booth #620

✪ FRAKTALS CHOCOLATE

1 - 145 Industrial Pkwy S. Aurora, ON L4G 3V5 T: (905) 727-7279 F: (905) 727-7482 E: info@fraktals.com www.fraktals.com Belgian Chocolate Cashew Buttercrunch Milk or 70% Dark Chocolate, Organic Maple Syrup. Gluten Free, Non GMO, No Preservatives, Handmade Artisanal Treat. Booth #312 FRASER VALLEY SPECIALTY POULTRY

4540 Simmons Rd. Chilliwack, BC V2R 4R7 T: (604) 823-4435 F: (604) 823-4396 E: office@fvsp.ca www.fvsp.ca From Fraser Valley Duck to Yarrow Meadow Organic Chicken, our fresh family farmed products are enjoyed throughout B.C., across Canada and along the West Coast. Booth #819

GBS FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT INC.

2871 Brighton Rd. Oakville, ON L6H 6C9 T: (905) 829-5534 F: (905) 829-9914 E: pdouglas@gbscooks.com www.gbscooks.com

GBS offers a full line of combi-ovens, blast chillers/freezers, heated and refrigerated display cases, fryers, gas or electric rotisseries, on-site training, and Canada wide service/support. Booth #907 GENERAL MILLS

5825 Explorer Dr. Mississauga, ON L4W 5P6 T: (905) 212-4000 E: tobias.bourdeau@genmills.com www.generalmills.ca We serve the world by making food people love! See our exciting new products at the show! Booth #1015

✪ GET SAUCED AND SPICED INC.

9620 58 Ave. NW Edmonton, AB T6E 6C1 T: (780) 462-2418 F: (780) 466-3135 E: sales@getsauced.com www.getsauced.com Get Sauced offers a vast array of sauces and seasonings. We are a family-run, gluten-free and peanut-free facility based in Edmonton. Booth #311

✪ GOAT’S PRIDE DAIRY

30854 Olund Rd. Abbotsford, BC V4X 1Z9 T: (604) 854-6261 F: (604) 854-6261 E: info@goatspride.com www.goatspride.com Grass Fed Whole Goat Milk and yogurt, non-homogenized and pasteurized using a traditional, small batch, low temperature system. Come taste the difference in the milk! Booth #310 GOLDEN VALLEY FOODS LTD.

3841 Vanderpol Crt. Abbotsford, BC V2T 5W5 T: (604) 857-0704 F: (604) 607-5504 E: customerservice@goldenvalley.com www.goldenvalley.com Golden Valley Foods has led in the production and marketing of regular shell eggs and development of specialty eggs that today’s consumer demands. Booth #920

✪ GUANGDONG WINLEADER METAL PRODUCTS CO., LTD

No. 3, Industrial St. Zhaoqing National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone Zhaoqing, Guangdong China 526238 T: (758) 682-7200 F: (758) 682-7203 E: sales8@cnwinleader.com www.gdwinleader.com Design and manufacture shopping carts, material handling carts, warehouse carts, shopping baskets and other equipment for retail business in the U.S. and Canada. Booth #605

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✪ HOBART CANADA

105 Gordon Baker Rd. Toronto, ON M2H 3P8 T: (800) 444-4764 E: marketing@hobart.ca www.hobart.ca Retail Food Equipment - manufacture, supply, parts and factory trained service nationally. Booth #1700 HOWELL DATA SYSTEMS

103 - 3011 Underhill Ave. Burnaby, BC V5A 3C2 T: (800) 410-6871 E: sales@howelldatasystems.com www.howelldatasystems.com HDS has been developing and implementing point-of-sale solutions, enterprise management solutions, POS integrated deli scales, DVR and digital menu boards for 27 years. Booth #914 HUSSMANN CANADA INC.

5 Cherry Blossom Rd. Cambridge, ON N3H 4R7 T: (519) 653-9980 F: (519) 653-1805 E: rob.arabski@hussmann.com www.hussmann.com Hussmann enables excellence in food retailing with merchandising and food display equipment, refrigeration systems. Service, maintenance, energy solutions, food quality expertise and store planning. Booth #601

✪ IBC, INTERNATIONAL BAR CODING SYSTEMS

1940 Barnes St. Penticton, BC V2A 4C3 T: (250) 493-3201 E: cpedersen@ibcworld.net www.ibcworld.net IBC is the one-vendor solution for getting barcodes and labels onto products for retail. Ask about traceability solutions and custom labels, machinery, software, and solutions. Booth #1023 I-D FOODS CORPORATION

26 Claireville Dr. Etobicoke, ON M9W 5T9 T: (416) 679-0833 F: (416) 679-8601 E: info@idfoods.com www.idfoods.com Largest Canadian full service distributor & importer of specialty food servicing retailers in all channels. Booth #509 IMAGINEXSOLUTIONS (METROWIRE AUTHORIZED DEALER)

39 Royalavon Cres. Etobicoke, ON M9A 2E7 T: (416) 821-2323 E: info@imaginexsolutions.com www.imaginexsolutions.com Metrowire premium wire shelving solutions (display and storage) for boutique grocery. Booth #806

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

IMEX INTERNATIONAL INC.

1050- 409 Granville St. Vancouver, BC V6C 1A3 T: (604) 696-0947 E: info@imexworldwide.com www.imexworldwide.com Ketogenic and paleo baked goods, healthy snacks and bars, cookies and breads. Booth #1215 INDONESIAN TRADE PROMOTION CENTER

567 Seymour St. Vancouver, BC V6B 3H6 T: (604) 696-6322 F: (604) 559-5022 E: itpc@indonesiavancouver.org www.itpcvancouver.com ITPC Vancouver in partnership with Consulate General of Indonesia proudly showcasing Indonesian products sold by Indofood, Better Ford and Taman Sari. Booth #402 INFORM BROKERAGE

2286 Holdom Ave. Burnaby, BC V5B 4Y5 T: (604) 324-0565 F: (604) 324-1215 E: info@informbrokerage.com www.informbrokerage.com At Inform, we know food: prepare, present, market, sell. Whether food service, retail, or c-store, Inform is your informed source. Booth #808

✪ IQFOODCHAIN BY IQDIGITEC

3-1761 Pembina Hwy. Winnipeg MB R3T 2G6 T: (204) 915-8867 E: marcel.joaquin@iqfoodchain.com iqfoodchain.com You have the opportunity to increase profits with much safer food products for your customers everyday. IQFoodChain Traceability improves quality and prevents costly food recalls. Booth #1732 ISHIDA CANADA INC.

2220 Argentia Rd., Unit 7 Mississauga, ON L5N 2K7 T: (514) 222-0190 E: michaelobrien@ishidacanada.ca www.ishidacanada.biz Leader in the design, manufacture and installation of weighing and packing line solutions. Appreciating and understanding the challenges faced by retailers and pre-pack facilities. Booth #805 JONES FOOD STORE EQUIPMENT LTD.

2896 Norland Ave. Burnaby, BC V5B 3A7 T: (604) 294-6321 F: (604) 294-4087 E: info@jonesfood.com www.jonesfood.com Jones Food Store Equipment provides equipment, refrigeration system designs, installation, service and energy solutions for small to large footprint supermarkets, warehouses, liquor stores and more. Booth #601 #GSFSHOW19

GATHER TOGETHER

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KEHAR FOODS INTERNATIONAL LTD.

106, 107 - 12126 90th Ave. Surrey, BC V3V 1B5 T: (778) 590-4621 F: (778) 986-2051 E: kfi.ca@yahoo.com www.kfinuts.ca Our commitment: Quality, service, consistent supply and customer satisfaction. Our products include: raw and roasted nuts; dry fruits; super foods, like quinoa; spices; beans and bulk. Booth #1215 KEURIG CANADA

3700 Jean Rivard Montreal, QC H1Z 4K3 T: (800) 361-5628 E: ca.customerservice@kdrp.com www.keurig.ca Keurig single cup coffeemakers, and a variety of coffee from Keurig Certified brands such as Van Houtte, Timothy’s and Krispy Kreme. Booth #1119

✪ KICK STICK

800-1401 West Broadway Vancouver, BC V6H 1H6 T: (604) 331-7888 F: (604) 331-7801 E: contact@mykickstick.com www.mykickstick.com Kick Stick is a two-in-one aromatherapy stick designed to give you a moment of refreshment to help awaken your senses. Booth #709

✪ KIDD BROS AND WESTERN SAGE HONEY

15-5684 Landmark Way Surrey, BC V3S 7H1 T: (604) 532-9757 E: kiddbros@telus.net www.kbhoney.com Simply the best! Raw, natural, unpasteurized, Canadian honey. Infused with pure natural, extracts for a delicious array of unique products. Come try them all! Booth #1021 KRAFT HEINZ CANADA

95 Moatfield Drive Toronto, ON M3B 3L6 T: (416) 441-5000 E: kraft@kraftheinz.com www.kraftcanada.com Kraft Heinz is the fifth-largest food and beverage company in the world with iconic brands including Kraft, Heinz, Classico, KD, Jell-O, Philadelphia and Maxwell House. Booth #715 KRUGER PRODUCTS LP

200-1900 Minnesota Crt. Mississauga, ON L5N 5R5 T: (905) 812-6900 F: (905) 812-6910 E: reception@krugerproducts.ca www.krugerproducts.ca Kruger Products LP is a leading Canadian

#GSFSHOW19

manufacturer and distributor of tissue and paper towels for consumer in home and commercial away from home use. Booth #815 KYSOR WARREN

5201 Transport Blvd. Columbus, GA U.S.A. 31907 T: (800) 866-5596 E: marketing@kysorwarren.com www.kysorwarren.com Kysor Warren is a leading manufacturer of refrigerated display cases and refrigeration systems, partnering with customers to bring complete commercial refrigeration solutions to supermarkets. Booth #409 LEONIDAS

Boulevard Jules Graindorlaan 43 Brussels, Belgium B-1070 T: (201) 925-6715 E: etienne.lemarie@leonidas.com www.leonidas.com Since 1913, Leonidas has had one mission: to make the most delicious, best-quality Belgian pralines accessible to everyone. Booth #1211 MAPLE LEAF FOODS

6897 Financial Dr. Mississauga, ON L5N 0A8 T: (800) 268-3708 E: michael.rubinic@mapleleaf.com www.mapleleaf.com Maple Leaf makes delicious, high-quality products with real, simple ingredients to nourish Canadian families. Booth #1115

✪ MCLEAN MEATS

1257 #A Marine Dr. West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B4 T: (778) 865-5250 E: info@mcleanmeats.com www.mcleanmeats.com McLean Meats specializes in clean RWA preservative free deli meats, sausages, bacon, snack proteins & organic glutenfree prepared foods. Booth #905 MIGHTY OAKS

27 Burnside Road W. Victoria, BC V9A 6Z7 T: (250) 386-9398 E: john.peirce@mightyoaks.com www.mightyoaks.com We provide grocery e-commerce solutions, handling fresh and bulk products, recipes, loyalty programs and optimized picking and delivery management including last-mile logistics with refrigerated lockers. Booth #304 MIWE CANADA INC.

3055 Lenworth Dr. Unit #10 Mississauga, ON L4X 2G3 T: (905) 614-0505 F: (905) 614-0504 E: canada@miwe.com www.miwe.com

With high-performance ovens, comprehensive expertise in baking processes, high competent consulting and first-class service, MIWE is a world leader in the baking industry. Booth #823 MONERIS

3300 Bloor St. W., 16th floor; West Tower Toronto, ON M8X 2X2 T: (855) 465-4980 E: isabel.mifsud@moneris.com www.moneris.com Moneris is Canada’s largest provider of innovative solutions for mobile, online and in-store payments, processing more than one in three transactions. Booth #504

✪ MORGAN-WILLIAMS INTERNATIONAL INC.

7045a Tomken Rd. Mississauga, ON L5S 1R7 T: (905) 696-0226 E: general@morganwilliams.ca www.morganwilliams.ca Morgan-Williams is Canada’s largest importer and distributor focused on British goods and grocery for retail and foodservice channels. Booth #501

✪ MRC LIQUIDS+SOLIDS CULINARY INNOVATIONS INC.

901 East Hastings St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1R9 T: (604) 537-5605 F: (604) 336-7685 E: michael@liquidsandsolids.ca www.liquidsandsolids.ca The fastest-growing all natural soup producer in B.C. Huge selection of consumer packaged and food service soups combining tradition with today’s trends. Booth #1215 NARAZ IMPORT/EXPORT CORP.

7735 18th Ave. Burnaby, BC V3N 1J3 T: (604) 401-6151 E: naraz.importexport@gmail.com m.facebook.com/narazimportexport Grocery products from Eastern Europe Azerbaijan. Booth #507 NATURE’S CHOICE FOODS

PO Box 93 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 7E9 T: (604) 465-2100 F: (604) 465-4372 E: info@natureschoice.ca www.natureschoice.ca Nature’s Choice specializes in importing & wholesaling culinary: spices, herbs and blends. Coffee was added when we acquired a Probat 12L coffee roaster. Booth #302A

NESTLÉ CANADA INC.

25 Sheppard Ave. W. North York, ON M2N 6S8 T: (800) 500-5634 E: support@Nestleconnect.ca www.corporate.nestle.ca Nestlé Canada has a wide variety of food, beverage and nutrition products to help you and your family live happier and healthier lives. Booth #615 NEW AIR

585 Avenue Meloche Dorval, QC H9P 2T1 T: (514) 382-3620 E: marketing@distex.ca www.newairefrigeration.ca At New Air, we have a lineup of refrigerators and freezers, display cases, bar equipment and ice cream freezers. Booth #321 NIMBUS WATER SYSTEMS INC.

112 Oakdale Rd. Toronto, ON M3N 1V9 T: (800) 508-7125 E: steve@nimbuswatersystems.com www.nimbuswatersystems.com Full service to all makes and models of water equipment. Best range of equipment and options for vended and store-Use. Purchase and revenue share. Booth #622 NORTHWEST REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LTD.

363 Kaska Rd. Sherwood Park, AB TA8 4E9 T: (877) 464-0313 F: (780) 449-1324 E: office@northwest-refrig.com www.northwest-refrig.com For the past 40 years, Northwest Refrigeration has been serving grocery retailers by providing, refrigeration equipment, store design, engineering, installations, renovations and quality refrigeration service. Booth #601

✪ NUTRABOLT CANADA

90 Burnhamthorpe W. #1400 Mississauga, ON L5B 3C3 T: (438) 989-4428 E: ddepalma@nutrabolt.com www.nutrabolt.com Our mission is to innovate, inspire, and make products that maximize human potential accessible to all. Booth #1730

✪ NUTRIBITES PET

5292 272 St. Langley, BC V4W 1S3 T: (778) 952-2926 E: jordan@canature.ca www.nutribitespet.com NutriBites single ingredient dog and cat treats bring pet specialty to mass and grocery. They are hypoallergenic, support a healthy weight and packed with flavour. Booth #704

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

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OLA VIDA NATURALS

2128 20th Ave. E. Vancouver, BC V5N 2L3 T: (604) 725-0114 E: steve@olavidanaturals.com www.olavidanaturals.com Whole Fruit Smoothies. The Fruit. The Whole Fruit. And Nothing But The Fruit. Booth #1215 OLD DUTCH FOODS LTD.

100 Bentall St. Winnipeg, MB R2X 2YS T: (204) 632-0249 F: (204) 632-7016 www.olddutchfoods.com Old Dutch Foods Ltd, is a leader in the Canadian snack industry celebrating our 65th Anniversary in 2019. Come see us, learn about our products and share in our Celebration Moments. Booth #1005

✪ PARACANNA FOODS INC.

910 Grilse Lane Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1B5 T: (250) 213-2543 E: andrea@paracanna.com www.paracanna.com Cannabis gummy candy making kits! Choose the dose and cannabinoids that are right for you and make them safely, at home, in under ten minutes! Booth #1215 PARMALAT CANADA

1939 Centre Ave. SE Calgary, AB T2E 0A8 T: (403) 221-8453 E: angela_cove@parmalat.ca www.parmalat.ca Parmalat Canada is a leading producer of milk and dairy products. Our brands include Beatrice, Lactantia, Astro, siggi’s, Black Diamond, Balderson, Galbani, and President. Booth #514 PBF PITA BREAD FACTORY

8000 Winston St. Burnaby, BC V5A 2H5 T: (604) 528-6111 F: (604) 528-6000 E: sales@pbf.bc.ca www.bakestonebrothers.com Bakestone Brothers has you covered! Naan, pita, tortillas (conventional, organic, gluten fee), bagels (conventional, organic), pizza pretzels, pizza shells, pies and cookies. Booth #1004 PLAISIRS GOURMETS

280 des Erables Neuville, QC G0A 2R0 T: (888) 876-3814 E: info@plaisirsgourmets.com www.fromagesduquebec.qc.ca Plaisirs Gourmets selects, distributes and promotes the best of Quebec’s artisan cheese. Booth #1411

PROCTER & GAMBLE

4711 Yonge St. Toronto, ON M2N 6K8 T: (416) 730-4711 E: www.pg.ca/en-CA/contact-us www.pg.com P&G has been doing business in Canada for more than 100 years. We are strongly committed to providing branded products and services of superior quality. Booth #800

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✪ RIPPLE FX WATER INC.

409 Wood St. New Westminster, BC V3M 6L5 T: (604) 522-4400 E: rm@ripplefxwater.com www.ripplefxwater.com Since 2006, RippleFX Water has been British Colombia’s source for private label and premium brand bottled water products. Booth # 1215

✪ RIZ GLOBAL FOODS

400, 12eme Ave. La Guadeloupe, QC G0M 1G0 T: (418) 459-3838 E: info@blancparrouge.com www.blancparrouge.com Maple gourmet products, traditional and non-traditional, for boutiques and specialized stores. Made with organic maple syrup (BBQ sauce, black pepper, pepper jelly, onion confit, etc.) Booth #1421

10 Milner Business Crt. Suite#300, 3rd Floor Toronto, ON M1B 3C6 T: (647) 505-4758 F: (800) 552-1933 E: syed.ali@rizglobalfoods.ca www.RizGlobalfoods.com RIZ Global distributes Premium Halal meat products nationally and export. Our product assortment includes beef, lamb, chicken, eggs, deli, condiments, seasonings, Brands: LAM, Pine Valley. Booth #1738

PUNJAB MILK FOODS INC.

✪ SABLE SHORTBREAD COMPANY LTD.

PRODUITS D’ÉRABLE CUMBERLAND INC.

6308 146 St. Surrey, BC V3S 3A4 T: (604) 594-9190 F: (604) 594-9190 E: puneet@nanakfoods.com www.nanakfoods.com Nanak Foods, the flagship brand of Punjab Milk Foods Inc., is one of the largest and most innovative Indian dairy manufacturers in the world. Booth #1323 PURITY LIFE HEALTH PRODUCTS LP

6 Commerce Cres. Acton, ON L7J 2X3 T: (519) 853-3511 E: sheri.mcdowell@puritylife.com www.puritylife.com We are Canada’s leading distributor of natural health products. Purity Life supplies the highest quality products to over 7,000 stores across Canada. Booth #1315

✪ RAIMAC IND.

9744 - 197b St. Langley, BC V1M 3G3 T: (604) 324-1466 F: (604) 327-1334 E: Davem@raimac.com www.raimac.com “Everything for the food store, except the food!” For over 100 years Raimac has supplied and serviced food equipment to the Lower Mainland and beyond. Booth #420 RATIONAL CANADA

2410 Meadowpine Blvd. Mississauga, ON L5N 6S2 T: (905) 567-5777 E: info@rational-online.ca www.rational-online.ca Visit the Rational booth to experience the unexpected. Find out how the SelfCookingCenter combi-oven can save your kitchen money, time, and energy. Booth #1001

201-2691 Viscount Way Richmond, BC V6V 2R5 T: (778) 886-1522 F: (778) 372-1790 E: info@sableshortbread.ca www.sableshortbread.ca Delectable shortbread. Unique flavours. We make our shortbread by hand the way grandma used to with only the finest natural ingredients. Share the joy. Booth #1215 SALTSPRING HARVEST LTD.

300 Byron Rd. Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1C8 T: (604) 818-3987 E: zoe@saltspringharvest.com www.saltspringharvest.com Our végé-pâtés are hand made on Saltspring Island using mostly organic ingredients in a dedicated gluten free-kitchen. It is a high-protein vegan prepared deli item. Booth #1215 SALTSPRING KITCHEN CO.

334 Upper Ganges Rd., Unit 160 Salt Spring Island, BC V8K 1R7 T: (250) 931-6000 E: saltspringkitchenco@gmail.com www.saltspringkitchen.com SaltSpring Kitchen is a gourmet food company that specializes in savoury, spicy & sweet jams, chutneys and sauces for pairing with cheese and charcuterie. Booth #1215

✪ SAPUTO DAIRY PRODUCTS CANADA GP

6800 Lougheed Highway Burnaby, BC V5A 1W2 T: (604) 420-6611 E: public.saputo@saputo.com www.saputo.com Manufacturer/distributor of a wide range of fluid/cultured dairy products, & specialty cheeses. Some of our brands

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

include Dairyland, Milk2Go, Armstrong, Woolwich , AlexisdePortneuf & Joyya. Booth #908

✪ SCOTT-BATHGATE LTD.

7118 Venture St. Delta, BC V4G 1H6 T: (604) 946-8684 F: (604) 946-8685 E: bchan@scottbathgate.com www.scottbathgate.com We are a Canadian company in business since 1903, both as a manufacturer in nuts & candies, and also a distributor of UK grocery/confectionery items. Booth #416

✪ SELLERS PUBLISHING, INC.

161 John Roberts Rd. South Portland, ME U.S.A. 4106 T: (207) 772-6833 F: (207) 772-6814 E: apeebles@rsvp.com www.rsvp.com Sellers publishes RSVP®, Wicked Funny® and High Note® greeting cards, 200+ calendars, gift & trade books, and High Note® Premium Planners & Stationery. Booth #415

✪ SHOPHERO

1881 W 820 N. Provo, UT U.S.A. 84601 T: (855) 361-9525 E: josh.ray@shophero.com www.shophero.com ShopHero enables online ordering for independent grocers through their own websites. Visit us to learn why hundreds of retailers trust ShopHero. Booth #804

✪ SKIPPY’S KETTLEKORN

971F Laval Cres. Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4 T: (250) 314-0302 E: perfectpopkettlekorn@gmail.com www.skippypop.ca Ready-to-eat popcorn in 4 delicious flavours. Delectable Hard Crack Caramel Corn in 3 fantastic flavours. Come Try a Sample (Or 7!) Booth #1215

✪ SOBEYS WHOLESALE

1020 64 Ave. NE Calgary, AB T2E 7V8 T: (403) 730-3500 E: jim.garand@sobeys.com www.sobeyswholesale.com Your one-stop full-service food wholesaler committed to the independent grocer and c-store markets. Booth #809

#GSFSHOW19

GATHER TOGETHER

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✪ SRP CANADA (FORMERLY

CREATIVE PLANOGRAM COMPANY)

60 Leek Cres., Unit 2 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1H1 T: (905) 947-8791 F: (905) 947-8791 E: orders@creativeplanco.com www.srpcompanies.ca SRP Canada is Canada’s leading marketer and distributor of quality, on-trend impulse products. With a coastto-coast sales and merchandising team serving over 8,000 retailers. Booth #1754

✪ SYNQ TECH

205-620 Finlayson St. Victoria, BC V8T 5C8 T: (250) 812-9056 E: nolan@synqtech.com www.synqtech.com Levelling the playing-field between brick and mortar and online retail. Digitalizing stores, media, electronic asset tracking, biometrics, reducing shrink and increasing revenues. Booth #522

✪ TESFA FARMS

201-3701 Hastings St. Burnaby, BC V5C 2H6 T: (888) 978-8249 E: sales@nutraex.com www.sugarlike.ca Zero Calories - Zero Compromises. Sweetener made with monk fruit. Tastes like sugar. Looks like sugar. Use like sugar. SugarLike zero calorie sweetener. Booth #1215

18050-88th Ave Surrey, BC V4N 6E8 T: (604) 854-6261 F: (604) 854-6261 E: info@goatspride.com www.tesfafarms.com Grass Fed Whole Water Buffalo Milk and Yogurt. Non-homogenized, traditional small batch, low temperature pasteurization. Discover the health benefits of water buffalo milk! Booth # 310

✪ SUNSHINE PICKLES

✪ THE GRIZZLY PAW SODA COMPANY

✪ SUGARLIKE

30043 Jane Rd. Thamesville, ON N0P 2K0 T: (519) 692-4416 F: (519) 692-5590 E: info@picklesplease.ca www.picklesplease.ca Sunshine Pickles offers a range of conventional and certified organic pickled vegetables. Grown and processed in Canada. Co-packing and private label available. Booth #300

✪ SURPRIZE ENTERPRIZE INC.

6592 Davand Dr. Mississauga, ON L5T 2M3 T: (905) 795-1050 E: info@surprize-enterprize.com www.surprize-enterprize.com Nationwide helium distribution. Everyday/seasonal helium balloons. Many merchandising options available. Air-filled balloons (pre-inflated). Seasonal displayers. Booth #1736 SUTRA WHOLESALE

2649 136 St. Surrey, BC V4P 1Z5 T: (604) 728-4253 E: sutraindian@gmail.com www.Sutrawholesale.com Healthy, plant based, gluten and dairy free sauces, Asian inspired, artisan and local. Perfect for white label use in delis for HMR. Booth #1215

310 Old Canmore Rd. Canmore, AB T1W 0J7 T: (403) 688-2281 E: kristina.cardinale@thegrizzlypaw.com www.thegrizzlypaw.com The Grizzly Paw Soda Company is located in Canmore, Alberta. In 2006, we added six handcrafted sodas to the Grizzly Paw family. Booth #1724 THE GROCERY PEOPLE (TGP)

14505 Yellowhead Trail Edmonton, AB T5L 3C4 (780) 447-5736 E: shaylene.flanagan@fcl.crs www.tgp.crs We believe in independent grocery retailers and we understand that they are important to the fabric of the communities they serve. Booth #711

✪ TRACE BEVERAGES

TREE OF LIFE CANADA

#GSFSHOW19

1488 W. 7th Ave. Vancouver, BC V6H 1C1 T: (778) 229-8357 E: info@truenosh.com www.truenosh.com We are a diabetes-friendly food and beverages company with a focus on Asian plantbased sauces made with no added sugar. Booth #1215 TRUMPS FOOD INTEREST LTD.

646 Powell St. Vancouver, BC V6A 1H4 T: (604) 732-8473 F: (604) 732-8433 E: info@trumpsfood.com www.trumpsfood.com Come, sample our innovative SLIMS Dessert Crackers with GF&VEG options, also featuring our famous Banana Bread and other wrapped regular and gluten free top sellers. Booth #821 UNILEVER CANADA

160 Bloor St. E. #1400 Toronto, ON M4W 3R2 T: (416) 415-3000 E: marco.felicella@unilever.com www.unilever.ca Unilever meets every day needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good and look good. Booth #705

WESTERN GROCER MAGAZINE

Winnipeg, MB R3H 0X4 T: (204) 797-2009 F: (204) 954-2057 E: rbradley@mercurypublications.ca www.westerngrocermagazine.com Servicing the grocery industry for over 100 years. Drop by our booth and say hello! Free draw for prize at our booth!! Booth #1209 WESTERN SPRING AND WIRE

609-1200 Sherwin Rd. Winnipeg, MB R3H 0K4 T: (204) 694-7128 F: (204) 694-7129 E: info@wsw.ca www.wsw.ca Booth #518

✪ WISE BITES COLLECTIONS INC.

#150, 11786 River Rd. Richmond, BC V6X 3Z3 T: (604) 360-4744 F: (604) 273-0242 E: cjames@wise-bites.com www.wise-bites.com Wise Bites is a healthy baked goods company making delicious, nutritious cookies, muffins and loaves that are Certified Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, non-GMO. Booth #1215

✪ VANCOUVER FREEZE DRY LTD.

101-5498 267 St. Langley, BC V4W 3S8 T: (604) 625-0855 E: info@vancouverfreezedry.com www.vfdfood.com By removing water content while the food is frozen, freeze dried fruit locks most valuable nutrients of fruits and allows for longer shelf life. Booth #1215 WEBER MARKING SYSTEMS OF CANADA

1672 West 2nd Ave. Vancouver, BC V6J 1H4 T: (604) 569-1414 F: (604) 558-1976 E: orders@naturogroup.com www.tracebeverages.com We create healthy beverages that consumers love. Trace Waters are naturally alkaline spring water; and our Revitalizing Beverage is plant-based. Partnerships with Vancouver Whitecaps, Canada’s Walk of Fame. Booth #1101 19488 Telegraph Trail Surrey, BC V4N 4H1 T: (604) 455-5832 E: canada.sales@treeoflife.com www.treeoflife.ca Helping Canada Eat Well & Live Well. Booth #801

✪ TRUE NOSH

6180 Danville Rd. Mississauga, ON L5T 2H7 T: (905) 564-6881 F: (905) 564-6886 E: info@webermarking.ca www.webermarking.ca Weber Marking Systems of Canada provides high-quality labels, labelling systems and coding products to the Canadian marketplace. Booth #1720

✪ WEST COAST WILD FOODS

8835 Northbrook Crt. Burnaby, BC V5J 5J1 T: (604) 270-1350 E: info@westcoastwildfoods.com www.westcoastwildfoods.com Premium Canadian Wild Mushrooms, Wild Mushroom Powders, Wild Berry Jams, Wild Chaga Herbal Teas and Specialty Truffle Products. Booth #1215

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

DOWNLOAD SHOW APP: WIFI SPONSORED BY:

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EXHIBITORS BY CATEGORY ADVERTISING/MEDIA/ MARKETING PROGRAMS Able Cresting Ltd. Associated Grocers BC Chicken Marketing Board Canadian Grocer Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) Ishida Canada Inc. ShopHero Synq Tech The Grocery People (TGP) Western Grocer Magazine

CARDS Aline Greetings Sellers Publishing, Inc.

AUTOMATION SYSTEMS IBC, International Bar Coding Systems IQFoodChain by IQdigitec

CARTS Atlantic Stainless Fabricators Ltd. Guangdong Winleader Metal Products Co., Ltd Raimac Ind.

BAGS Aline Greetings

CEREAL General Mills

BAKED GOODS: FRESH/ FROZEN/REFRIGERATED Benny’s Bagels/Jayland Naturals Canada Canada Bread Company Ltd./Bimbo Canada Imex International Inc. PBF Pita Bread Factory Punjab Milk Foods Inc. Sable Shortbread Company Ltd. Trumps Food Interest Ltd. Wise Bites Collections Inc.

CLEANERS & SUPPLIES Advantage Solutions Conglom Inc. Cookina Inc. Dart Canada Inc. Procter & Gamble Purity Life Health Products LP SRP Canada (Formerly Creative Planogram Company)

BARCODING EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS Howell Data Systems BEAUTY & PERSONAL CARE Acosta Bear Essential Oils Procter & Gamble Unilever Canada BEVERAGES A Lassonde Inc. Advantage Solutions Arctic Chiller Ltd. Coca-Cola Ltd. Goat’s Pride Dairy Indonesian Trade Promotion Center Keurig Canada Naraz Import/Export Corp. Nestlé Canada Inc. Nimbus Water Systems Inc. Nutrabolt Canada Ripple FX Water Inc. The Grizzly Paw Soda Company True Nosh 26

CANNABIS Arctic Chiller Ltd. Paracanna Foods Inc. SRP Canada (Formerly Creative Planogram Company) Trace Beverages

COFFEE & TEA Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver Ethical Bean Coffee Ltd. Four O’Clock–Trans-Herb Kraft Heinz Canada Nature’s Choice Foods CONDIMENTS & RELISHES Bosa Foods Get Sauced And Spiced Inc. Kraft Heinz Canada SaltSpring Kitchen Co. CONFECTIONARY Brave & Young Distributors Ltd. Fraktals Chocolate Leonidas Nestlé Canada Inc. Old Dutch Foods Ltd. Paracanna Foods Inc. Scott-Bathgate Ltd. Skippy’s Kettlekorn

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

CONSULTING SERVICES CDm2 Lightworks IQFoodChain by IQdigitec The Grocery People (TGP) DAIRY & EGGS Burnbrae Farms Ltd. Danone Goat’s Pride Dairy Golden Valley Foods Ltd. Parmalat Canada Plaisirs Gourmets Punjab Milk Foods Inc. Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP Tesfa Farms DISPLAY CASES Arneg Canada Boxmaster Etalex Inc. GBS Foodservice Equipment Inc. Hussmann Canada Inc. Jones Food Store Equipment Ltd. Kysor Warren New Air Northwest Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd. DISTRIBUTOR WHOLESALE Arneg Canada Bob Bakery World Ltd. Canadian Restaurant Supply Forum Novelties, Inc. I-D Foods Corporation Morgan-Williams International Inc. Old Dutch Foods Ltd. Plaisirs Gourmets Purity Life Health Products LP Scott-Bathgate Ltd. Sobeys Wholesale SRP Canada (Formerly Creative Planogram Company) Surprize Enterprize Inc. The Grizzly Paw Soda Company Tree of Life Canada FINANCIAL SERVICES Federated Insurance FMS Financial Management Solutions

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GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

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FIXTURES: STORE Atlantic Stainless Fabricators Ltd. Brencar Etalex Inc. Guangdong Winleader Metal Products Co., Ltd ImagineXSolutions (Metrowire Authorized Dealer) Western Spring And Wire FOODS: CANNED Campbell Company of Canada Inform Brokerage FOODS: DELI Bosa Foods Burnbrae Farms Ltd. MRC Liquids+Solids Culinary Innovations Inc. Saltspring Harvest Ltd. Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP Sutra Wholesale FOODS: DRY Advantage Solutions Brave & Young Distributors Ltd. Campbell Company of Canada Canada Food Packers Cloud 9 Gluten Free Dion Herbs & Spices General Mills Kehar Foods International Ltd. Trumps Food Interest Ltd. Vancouver Freeze Dry Ltd. FOODS: ETHNIC Brave & Young Distributors Ltd. I-D Foods Corporation Morgan-Williams International Inc. Naraz Import/Export Corp. PBF Pita Bread Factory Punjab Milk Foods Inc. Riz Global Foods Tesfa Farms Tree of Life Canada FOODS: FROZEN Acosta Bremner Foods Ltd. Burnbrae Farms Ltd. Canadian Prairie Bison Cavendish Farms Inform Brokerage McLean Meats Unilever Canada FOODS: HEALTH Canadian Prairie Bison Danone Imex International Inc.

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McLean Meats Nestlé Canada Inc. Paracanna Foods Inc. SugarLike FOODS: KOSHER Kidd Bros and Western Sage Honey SugarLike FOODS: NATURAL/ORGANIC Bremner Foods Ltd. Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver Danone Ethical Bean Coffee Ltd. Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry Goat’s Pride Dairy Kidd Bros and Western Sage Honey McLean Meats Ola Vida Naturals Produits d’érable Cumberland Inc. Sable Shortbread Company Ltd. Saltspring Harvest Ltd. SugarLike Sunshine Pickles Tesfa Farms True Nosh West Coast Wild Foods FOODS: PREPARED Canada Food Packers Dion Herbs & Spices Ola Vida Naturals Sutra Wholesale FOODS: SNACK Campbell Company of Canada Canada Bread Company Ltd./Bimbo Canada Canadian Prairie Bison General Mills Imex International Inc. Kehar Foods International Ltd. Ola Vida Naturals Old Dutch Foods Ltd. Purity Life Health Products LP Scott-Bathgate Ltd. Skippy’s Kettlekorn Unilever Canada Wise Bites Collections Inc. FOODS: SPECIALTY Acosta Bob Bakery World Ltd. Bosa Foods Cloud 9 Gluten Free Fraktals Chocolate Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry I-D Foods Corporation Inform Brokerage Kehar Foods International Ltd.

Kidd Bros and Western Sage Honey Leonidas Morgan-Williams International Inc. MRC Liquids+Solids Culinary Innovations Inc. Naraz Import/Export Corp. Sable Shortbread Company Ltd. Saltspring Harvest Ltd. SaltSpring Kitchen Co. Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP Sunshine Pickles Sutra Wholesale Tree of Life Canada West Coast Wild Foods FOODS: SPREADS Kraft Heinz Canada SaltSpring Kitchen Co. FOOD PREPARATION EQUIPMENT Bizerba Canada Inc. Bob Bakery World Ltd. Cookina Inc. GBS Foodservice Equipment Inc. Hobart Canada Hussmann Canada Inc. MIWE Canada Inc. FOODSERVICE Conglom Inc. Get Sauced And Spiced Inc. MRC Liquids+Solids Culinary Innovations Inc. Trace Beverages FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT Atlantic Stainless Fabricators Ltd. Bizerba Canada Inc. Canadian Restaurant Supply Digi Canada Hobart Canada Ishida Canada Inc. New Air Raimac Ind. Rational Canada FRUITS Vancouver Freeze Dry Ltd. GARDEN/FLORAL/SEASONAL Forum Novelties, Inc. HERBAL TEAS Four O’Clock - Trans-Herb West Coast Wild Foods HOUSEWARES Bear Essential Oils Conglom Inc. Keurig Canada

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019 | GSFSHOW.COM

GATHER TOGETHER

APRIL 1 & 2, 2019 | VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE | EAST BUILDING FREE WIFI NETWORK: GSF 2019 | PASSWORD: GSFSHOW

DOWNLOAD SHOW APP: WIFI SPONSORED BY:

HVAC & FREEZERS Arneg Canada GBS Foodservice Equipment Inc. Hussmann Canada Inc. Jones Food Store Equipment Ltd. Kysor Warren New Air Northwest Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd. IMPORT/EXPORT Benny’s Bagels/Jayland Naturals Canada Bosa Foods Leonidas Raimac Ind. JUICES A Lassonde Inc. Bremner Foods Ltd. Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver LABELLING & PRICING EQUIPMENT Bizerba Canada Inc. Digi Canada Hobart Canada IBC, International Bar Coding Systems Ishida Canada Inc. Weber Marking Systems of Canada LIGHTING Amerlux, LLC CDm2 Lightworks MATERIAL HANDING & BACKROOM EQUIPMENT ImagineXSolutions (Metrowire Authorized Dealer) MEAL SOLUTIONS A Lassonde Inc. Cardinal Meats Specialists Ltd. MEAT: BEEF Cardinal Meats Specialists Ltd. Riz Global Foods MEATS: OTHER Riz Global Foods MEAT: PORK Maple Leaf Foods MEAT: POULTRY BC Chicken Marketing Board Cardinal Meats Specialists Ltd. Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry Maple Leaf Foods

MOBILE APP SPONSORED BY:

NATURAL PRODUCTS Bear Essential Oils Benny’s Bagels/Jayland Naturals Canada Ethical Bean Coffee Ltd. Four O’Clock - Trans-Herb Kick Stick PBF Pita Bread Factory Produits d’érable Cumberland Inc. Skippy’s Kettlekorn Tree of Life Canada Wise Bites Collections Inc. NUTRITIONAL AIDS True Nosh OTHER Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) Federated Insurance Kick Stick MIWE Canada Inc. PACKAGING Boxmaster Canada Food Packers Dart Canada Inc. Weber Marking Systems of Canada PAPER PRODUCTS Aline Greetings Dart Canada Inc. Forum Novelties, Inc. Kruger Products LP PET FOOD & SUPPLIES NutriBites Pet POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT Digi Canada Howell Data Systems IBC, International Bar Coding Systems Moneris ShopHero The Grocery People (TGP) Western Spring And Wire PRIVATE LABEL Arctic Chiller Ltd. Cloud 9 Gluten Free Cookina Inc. NutriBites Pet Ripple FX Water Inc. Sunshine Pickles The Grizzly Paw Soda Company Weber Marking Systems of Canada

GSFSHOW.COM | GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST – OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE 2019

SECURITY SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT Howell Data Systems Synq Tech SIGNAGE & GRAPHICS Able Cresting Ltd. SPICES & FLAVOURINGS Get Sauced And Spiced Inc. Indonesian Trade Promotion Center Nature’s Choice Foods Produits d’érable Cumberland Inc. STATIONARY SUPPLIES Sellers Publishing, Inc. Surprize Enterprize Inc. STORE FURNISHINGS & DESIGN Brencar Canadian Restaurant Supply CDm2 Lightworks Jones Food Store Equipment Ltd. Northwest Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Ltd. TECH IT FMS Financial Management Solutions IQFoodChain by IQdigitec Mighty Oaks ShopHero Synq Tech TRADE ASSOCIATION BC Chicken Marketing Board Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) Indonesian Trade Promotion Center TRADE PUBLICATIONS Canadian Grocer Western Grocer Magazine TRANSPORTATION Guangdong Winleader Metal Products Co., Ltd UNIFORMS Able Cresting Ltd. VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS Nutrabolt Canada Trace Beverages Vancouver Freeze Dry Ltd. WATER Nimbus Water Systems Inc. Ripple FX Water Inc. Trace Beverages

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