Front Desk

PUBLISHER Vanessa Peters

vpeters@ensembleiq.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Shellee Fitzgerald

sfitzgerald@ensembleiq.com

ONLINE EDITOR Kristin Laird klaird@ensembleiq.com ART DIRECTOR Josephine Woertman

jwoertman@ensembleiq.com DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Michael Kimpton

mkimpton@ensembleiq.com

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CANADA Donna Kerry dkerry@ensembleiq.com VICE PRESIDENT, EVENTS Megan Judkins mjudkins@ensembleiq.com SENIOR DIRECTOR AUDIENCE STRATEGY Lina Trunina ltrunina@ensembleiq.com SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL CANADA & SPECIAL PROJECTS Valerie White vwhite@ensembleiq.com

SALES NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Katherine Frederick kfrederick@ensembleiq.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Karishma Rajani krajani@ensembleiq.com

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

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REPRINTS, PERMISSIONS AND LICENSING

Please contact Wright’s Media ensembleiq@wrightsmedia.com 1-877-652-5295

CORPORATE OFFICERS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jennifer Litterick CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Jane Volland CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER Ann Jadown EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS Derek Estey EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CONTENT Joe Territo

MAILPREFERENCES: From time to time other organizations may ask Canadian Grocer if they may send information about a product or service to some Canadian Grocer subscribers, by mail or email. If you do not wish to receive these messages, contact us in any of the ways listed above. Contents Copyright © 2021 by EnsembleIQ, may not be reprinted without permission. Canadian Grocer receives unsolicited materials (including letters to the editor, press releases, promotional items and images) from time to time. Canadian Grocer, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, republish, distribute, store and archive such submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. ISSN# 00083704 PM 42940023 Canadian Grocer is Published by Stagnito Partners Canada Inc., 20 Eglinton Avenue West, Ste. 1800, Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1K8. Printed in Canada

TAKING THE PULSE OF SHOPPERS

Our new study digs into what grocery shoppers think about your store

Let’s face it, it’s been a rough few years. From COVID variants and lockdowns to supply chain headaches and record inflation, we’ve had a lot to contend with, and there’s still much uncertainty around how it will all play out.

Against this backdrop, we wanted to catch up with Canadian shoppers and better understand what they really think about grocery shopping in these unusual times. We worked with the research team at EnsembleIQ (Canadian Grocer’s parent) to produce the second edition of the GroceryIQ Study: Taking Stock of Grocery Shopper Attitudes and Behaviours. So what did we learn from this year’s survey of more than 1,000 shoppers? We learned that compared to last year, more shoppers are visiting discount grocery stores; that a store with helpful/friendly employees has become more important to shoppers when deciding where to shop; and that 65% of shoppers would consider switching stores based on the retailer’s commitment to sustainability. Read all the study highlights in our special report starting on page 21.

Also in this issue, writer Rebecca Harris explores how grocers are reinventing what it means to be green in “The Big Sustainability Shift” (page 32). What’s changing? Grocers, she finds, are making strategic, longer-term commitments around greening the supply chain and reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Finally, we’re excited to bring you the stories of two dynamic leaders making a difference in the industry. First, we meet Sheena Russell (page 8), the founder and CEO of Made with Local, a Nova Scotiabased, B Corp certified snack company that’s on a roll with its bars and granolas now available in 1,500 retailers. And we meet Ran Goel, (page 36) the founder and CEO of Toronto’s Fresh City Farms, an expanding operation that includes sustainable urban farms, an online grocery service and eight brick-and-mortar locations. For both Russell and Goel, supporting local producers is at the heart of what they do. We’re certain you’ll find their stories as compelling as we do. CG

Shellee Fitzgerald

Editor-in-Chief

sfitzgerald@ensembleiq.com

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