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EYE ON INDEPENDENTS
As retAilers go, independent grocers are a resilient bunch. They’ve had to be. Confronted by challenges to their business at every turn—from heightened competition to soaring operating costs and what they would describe as a less than level playing field—indies have developed a knack for getting creative with their solutions to these problems, while leaning-in to what makes them stand out from the crowd.
“Independents are the hardest-working, dynamic out-of-the box thinkers that I have had the opportunity to work with,” said Erin Higdon, incoming chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) when we spoke to her for this month’s cover story.
Higdon, who is vice-president of business strategy at Newfoundland’s Powell Group of Companies, parent to Atlantic Grocery Distributors and Powell’s Supermarket, knows a thing or two about what independent grocers are up against; her company has been in the grocery business since 1948. As chair of CFIG, she’ll be advocating for indies across the country including pressing the government to do more to support them, “to ensure independents not just remain on the playing field, but also improve their future position.” (Read the story on page 32.)
In this issue we also bring you an interview with Ron Welke, CFIG’s new boss. Welke took over the role on Aug. 1, from a retiring Tom Shurrie. We caught up with Welke to see how he’s settling into his new gig, learn what’s ahead for the organization and about his desire to help build a more collaborative industry. (Read the interview on page 28.)
Independent grocers like Denninger’s in Ontario serve up a unique shopping experience
And we’ve got more on independents! For the latest instalment in our Taking the Lead series, we talk to Rick Rabba, president of Rabba Fine Foods (with 37 locations in the Greater Toronto Area), about how running a family business has shaped his leadership style. On the CPG side, we bring you the story of Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps and its founder Joseph Chen. Read how a trip to Sweden inspired Chen to create a snack brand from his home base of Prince Edward County that’s landing on grocery shelves in Ontario and beyond. (Read Chen’s inspiring story on page 10.)
LOBLAW is piloting a discount concept in Ontario under its No Name brand. The stores—in Windsor, St. Catharines and Brockville—will offer up to 20% off on everyday grocery items and household essentials by “lowering operating costs and carrying only a targeted assortment of products,” the company said. No Name stores will carry a limited assortment of 1,300 products, including shelf-stable bakery and produce items, as well as a small range of frozen food items. It won’t, however, carry refrigerated items such as dairy or fresh meat.
METRO opened a 32,000-sq.-ft. store in Ottawa’s ByWard Market—a hub of outdoor farmers market stalls, boutiques, restaurants, specialty food shops and more. Named Metro Rideau, the store— Metro’s 132nd location in Ontario—features a wide range of fresh and local produce, seafood, an on-site butcher, a full floral section and products from the grocer’s private-label lines Irresistibles and Selection.
FARM BOY has hit a major milestone. The Empire-owned banner has opened its 50th store. Located in Burlington, Ont., the new store offers Farm Boy’s usual selection of farm-fresh produce, butcher-quality meats, artisan cheese, fresh dairy and private-label products, as well as gluten-free, plant-based, vegan and vegetarian options.
The latest news in the grocery biz
Asian grocery retailer T&T SUPERMARKET is set to open its first store in California. The 55,000-sq.-ft. space, which was previously occupied by a Walmart, is slated to open in fall 2025 at the Westgate Center in San Jose. Shoppers can expect a BBQ counter, noodle station, dim sum, a street food section, an in-store bakery as well as a hot food bar and a made-to-order Chinese crepe station.
RED BARN MARKET has opened its eighth and largest store—a 6,000-sq.-ft. space, which is part of the new Sandown Park
Shopping Centre in North Saanich on southern Vancouver Island. The store carries meat, produce, deli and grocery items as well as a sandwich bar.
Four The Bargain! Shop locations (two in Saskatchewan, one in British Columbia and one in Ontario) have rebranded to RED APPLE STORES . In addition to Red Apple’s signature Candyworks section, each refreshed store offers an expanded selection of brand-name fashions, toys, groceries and home essentials.
Farm Boy marks the opening of its Burlington, Ont. location, which is also the grocer’s
T&T Supermarket is opening a 55,000-sq.-ft. store in San Jose, Calif. next year
Metro executives and local government officials cut the ribbon on the grocery company’s newest store, located within Ottawa’s famed ByWard Market
Red Barn Market’s newest store in North Saanich on Vancouver Island is the food retailer’s eighth and largest location
Amid a restructuring of Lassonde Industries’ senior leadership team, president and chief operating officer Vince Timpano has transitioned into the chief executive officer role, previously held by Nathalie Lassonde (also vice-chair), who is now executive vice-president and co-chair of the board. Timpano joined Lassonde in 2020 as president and CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, Lassonde Pappas and Company. In 2021, he became Lassonde’s president and chief operating officer.
Rolster Taylor has moved into a new role at the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). Previously the association’s director of sales and operations, Taylor, who has been with CFIG for nearly 16 years, is now vice-president of sales. In his new role, Taylor will oversee aspects of sponsorship, operations and exhibition sales.
Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) and the Canadian Independent Grocery Buyers Alliance (CIGBA) have hired Marina Zaitseva as manager of events, communications and technologies. She replaces Matthew Brown, who has joined the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) as manager of marketing and communications. Zaitseva has previously worked at such companies as Altitude Travel Club, La Maison De Pascale and Fashion Group International.
CFIG LIFE MEMBER, SPIRIT OF THE INDEPENDENT AND LIFE PARTNERS RECIPIENTS 2024
Grocery Connex ConnexGrocery ConnexGrocery
Energy drink company Guru Organic Energy has appointed Shingly Lee as vice-president of marketing. Lee most recently served as head of marketing and brand at Alpha Foods. She previously worked at Danone on the Vega brand, The Kraft Heinz Company and Procter & Gamble.
Grocery
Schär Gluten Free has appointed Sophie Labrecque as its new regional sales manager for Quebec and Eastern Canada. Labrecque, who brings more than a decade of sales experience to the role, has been tasked with building the company’s presence in the Canadian market by “forging partnerships with relevant stakeholders that can aid in Schär Gluten Free’s growth and continuous expansion,” according to a press release.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) announced the recipients of this year’s Life Member Award, Spirit of the Independent Award and the inaugural Life Partners Award. Life Member designations have been awarded to Giancarlo Trimarchi of Vince’s Market in the independent grocer category, and retired Kraft Heinz executive Tim Berman in the industry builder category. Meanwhile, former CFIG president and CEO Tom Shurrie has been recognized with the 2024 Spirit of the Independent Award. The organization has also recognized Will and Ingrid Willemsen of Ontario grocer Sunripe with the Life Partners Award. The recipients will be honoured during an awards gala in Toronto on Oct. 30.
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
CANADIAN GROCER’S GROCERY CONNEX conference will take place at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York hotel on Monday November 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Join industry leaders and key decision makers for an inspiring day of keynotes, expert panels and networking. Visit groceryconnex.com for information and tickets.
categories:
• Full Issue, B2B Retail: December 2023/ January 2024 issue
• Magazine Section, B2B: People who you need to know
• Series of Articles, B2B, Food & Beverage: Generation Next Thinking
The 2024 awards will be handed out in New York City in October.
Marina Zaitseva
Rolster Taylor
Vince Timpano
Shingly Lee
Sophie Labrecque
Tim Berman Giancarlo Trimarchi
Tom Shurrie
Canadian Grocer has been named finalist for The Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Awards in three
Ingrid and Will Willemsen
The ACTION:
In 2024, we installed solar panels on our grading stations and farms in Southern Ontario.
The
GOOD:
We expect to harness enough power to sustain approximately 65 average households every day, reducing our energy consumption up to 26%*
After discovering crispbread on a trip to Sweden, Joseph Chen set out to make his own gluten-free version
By Andrea Yu
Photography by Christie Vuong
In 2019, while working in consumer insights for Mondelēz, Joseph Chen travelled to Stockholm, Sweden to visit a friend. There, he fell in love with crispbread: a flat, dry bread usually made with rye flour. When Chen returned home, he began tinkering in his kitchen to recreate a gluten-free version of the popular Nordic snack. “My partner, Robert, is gluten intolerant,” Chen explains. “I always enjoy taking something that has gluten and making it gluten free.”
After experimenting with different seed combinations and techniques, Chen landed on a winning recipe with a nutty character and crisp texture, flavoured with saffron and pink salt. “It was a lot of trial and error,” he recalls. At first, Chen just made the crackers for his partner and friends to enjoy at home. But, in the fall of 2021, he quit his job at Mondelēz to start his own market research consulting business. With more free time, and encouragement from Robert, Chen considered turning his homemade seed crisps into a commercial product.
His first step was to develop two more flavours: Truffle as well as Rosemary and Black Pepper, to add to his original Saffron and Pink Salt crispbread. “Through my CPG background, I knew that you should have more than one flavour to get peoples’ attention,” Chen says. He named his company Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps. “My mom and my partner always call me Joey,” Chen explains. He added the umlaut to give the name a Nordic feel, connecting it back to the origin of the product. “I also wanted to give tribute to Sweden and the Nordic region for the inspiration,” he says.
Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps made their debut in the summer of 2022 at a farmers market in Chen’s home of Prince Edward County in Ontario. “We got great feedback from the community,” he says. “We sold out every single weekend we were there.”
Chen’s customers encouraged him to approach specialty stores in the area about stocking his seed crisps. His first retailer, Carson’s Garden + Market, is Chen’s neighbour. From there, he began approaching other retailers and wineries in Prince Edward County, entering about a dozen retail locations in the area before he widened his reach to Toronto in November 2022.
Landing in Toronto’s Summerhill Market was one of Chen’s early wins. “I always dreamed about seeing my product there,” he recalls. “When the VP of merchandising told
me that he tried our product and loved it, I literally cried. That was a huge win for us.”
Another big win, in the fall of 2022, was getting into the local program at Sobeys, which landed Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps on the shelves of the Foodland in Picton, Ont. It was actually another food entrepreneur—Margaret Coons, founder of the vegan cheese company Nuts For Cheese, who helped connect Chen to the local development specialist at Sobeys. “I’m so appreciative of the CPG community, especially the startup community,” Chen says.
As Chen’s business grew, he moved from a home-based production facility (his kitchen had been certified commercial as the previous owner, a chef, used to run his catering business there) to a gluten-free production facility in Milton, Ont. “My brother and dad would come with me once a week to do a huge bake for the whole day,” Chen explains. “That gave us time to bond as well.”
The following year brought more great partnerships to Chen’s business. In fall 2023, Village Juicery began stocking its products, and since Village has locations in three Farm Boy stores, it brought Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps into another big-name grocer. Then, in November, Chen learned his seed crisps would be sold in seven Whole Foods Market locations in Ontario, starting in June 2024. “Seeing my product on the shelves there was really emotional,” Chen explains. “That was a huge milestone for us.”
The growth also spurred Chen to move his production to a co-packer in Ottawa. Now, Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps are available in about 150 locations in Ontario, plus one specialty grocer in Whistler, B.C.—Flute & Fromage—that discovered Chen’s product and reached out to him for a shipment. Chen hopes to increase his products’ reach outside of Ontario, and even into the United States, by working with new distributors. “We have a retail chain in Southern California who’s really interested in carrying our product,” he says. Chen is also planning to launch limited-edition flavours at the end of the year.
For Chen, after working so long behind the scenes of product innovation and brand strategy for other companies, it’s been an extremely rewarding experience to finally have a product of his own. One of his favourite parts of marketing Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps is doing demos and getting feedback from consumers about his products. Says Chen: “Getting peoples’ reactions is super fulfilling.” CG
30 seconds with
JOSEPH CHEN
What do you like best about your job?
I love problem-solving. Every day brings something new. I love being able to think of different solutions.
If you weren’t in the food business, what would you be doing?
I think I’d probably still focus on doing market research and trying to help other companies understand their consumers. I love beauty and fashion, so it might be in one of those industries.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
An old boss told me that you have to enjoy what you’re doing. That made me do some reflection. I realized I love food and want to have a business in the food industry one day.
What is your favourite product from the lineup? My favourite product from our lineup is the Truffle Seed Crisps. We spent a lot of time perfecting that flavour and making sure you can really taste it, but it’s not too strong. It was hard to find the right balance, but we did it.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I’ve always loved gardening. I spend a lot of time gardening during the summer. I plant all types of vegetables like tomatoes, beans, zucchini and carrots. I love seeing how everything grows
OF CANADIANS WANT TO BUY CANADIAN BEEF*
*Based on an October 2023 survey of 913 Canadians when asked to agree or disagree to the following statement: When shopping for fresh beef at the grocery store or butcher, I prefer to purchase beef from Canada. The wheretofind.cdnbeef.ca website has been created to recognize Canada Beef congratulates and thanks these retailers for supporting
The Canadian Beef Retail Showcase has been created to help inform consumers about where they can buy Canadian beef products.
The Retail Showcase highlights Canadian retailers who are currently selling and promoting Canadian beef and shares information for each banner about:
Beef Types
What product categories are available? Consumers can learn if the retailer sells Canadian beef Roasts, Ground Beef, Steaks and Other products (e.g., cubes, stir fry strips, etc.).
Canadian Beef Grades
Which grades are being sold? Consumers can see if they can purchase Canada Prime, Canada AAA, Canada AA or other graded Canadian beef at each retailer showcased.
Retailer Website
Consumers can choose to directly access the retailer website, to learn more about its Canadian beef offerings.
Location
This feature allows Canadian consumers to discover retailer footprints, illustrating whether a banner has a national or regional presence.
recognize retail banners that promote Canadian beef. supporting Canadian beef farmers and ranchers.
CANADIAN. LOCAL. CERTIFIED.
Trust the quality in every egg.
The Egg Quality Assurance™ (EQA®) certification mark is more than a symbol; it is a beacon of trust. Especially for the 9 out of 10 Canadians who feel that a quality symbol on Canadian egg cartons would reassure them that the eggs meet national standards.
Show Canadians that their high-quality eggs are produced by Canadian farmers according to strict national standards. Display the EQA® certification mark on your cartons, products and menus. To learn more about the EQA® program and to apply for a no-cost license, visit eggquality.ca
Ideas
GREEN GROCER
some of the organic produce sold in Richard Duchemin’s IGA store in Montreal travels mere steps before reaching consumers.
Since 2017, the owner of IGA Extra Famille Duchemin Saint-Laurent has been selling organic fare grown on his rooftop. “They’re hyper-local products that don’t travel by truck. For delivery, it’s 44 steps,” Duchemin says of the close to 40 varieties of vegetables and herbs harvested on his store’s roof.
Last year was dedicated to regenerating the growing areas on the roof. This year, planting space increased from 25,000 to 29,000 square feet.
The non-profit La Ferme de Rue Montréal was tapped to oversee the garden when La Ligne Verte, the previous urban farmer, stepped away. The organization prepares the produce for market and ensures a constant supply from the rooftop to the grocer. La Ferme got its start converting Montreal alleyways into gardens. “Their mission is to promote urban agriculture, something that’s close to my heart,” Duchemin says.
Produce grown includes ground cherries, bell and chili
peppers, carrots, radishes, garlic, eggplant, tomatoes, spring mix and zucchini. The organic produce is Ecocert Canada-certified.
La Ferme gives 15% of the tonnage it grows to charities such as food banks. Duchemin buys the rest from La Ferme and sells it in store with signage proclaiming, “Frais du toit” (fresh from the roof). A television in the produce department provides a live feed from the rooftop, giving shoppers a view of the farm 20 feet above their heads.
The rooftop garden operates from April until the end of October. “A roof isn’t like a normal field,” Duchemin notes. “The snow melts faster than in a field. We can start the season earlier.”
The idea for the garden came when the Saint-Laurent borough required 50% of the building’s roof be covered with a green roof system. “That constraint became an opportunity for us,” Duchemin explains.
Next year, plans for the rooftop include recovering vegetable wash-water, cultivating berries and edible flowers and installing beehives. —Danny Kucharsky
URBAN AGRICULTURE
HOW DO YOU OFFER VALUE IN THE FACE OF INFLATION?
Giancarlo Trimarchi President
VINCE’S MARKET
“At Vince’s, we tackle inflation by doubling down on freshness and quality. We source locally to keep our fresh departments stocked with the best produce, meats and dairy. Our in-store made, value-added items like fresh bakery goods and readyto-eat meals offer convenience without compromising on taste. By building strong relationships with local suppliers and focusing on in-house production, we keep costs manageable and pass those savings on to our customers, ensuring they always get great value.”
Danny Brannagan Chief executive officer GOODNESS ME!
“At Goodness Me!, we understand inflation is a tough issue facing our customers. This past year, we introduced Healthy Deals, our new program that offers discounts ranging from 10% to 20% off hundreds of products each week. Additionally, we have launched our free loyalty program that offers customers an additional 5% off all Healthy Deals for even greater savings. These strategies aim to help customers manage costs while still accessing healthy and quality food options, allowing our communities to discover the power of food!”
Nena Pidskalny Associate vice-president,
food
FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES LIMITED
“We offer value by taking a multi-faceted approach. Our private-label program delivers great value daily, while our Value Priced Everyday initiative ensures competitive regular pricing. We also execute strong, relevant promotions to provide additional savings. Beyond pricing, we focus on exceptional customer service and quality through our in-store butchers, bakeries and convenient meal solutions. By addressing both cost and customer needs, we ensure our shoppers receive value that extends beyond just price, even amid inflation.”
Brad Fletcher President THE VILLAGE GROCER
“Offering customers added value in times like these requires out-the-box thinking. Transitioning traditional centre aisle products to freshly made ‘in-house’ products is one option. Focusing on environmental stewardship opportunities such as returnfor-refund packaging for products like fresh squeezed juice or condiments in glass packaging are a couple we have embraced in our store. On a bigger and more strategic scale, the work done around Canada’s grocery code of conduct serves as an excellent example of how the grocery industry can add value to consumers from coast
Monica Walker Head of food and grocery HEALTHY PLANET
“Healthy Planet’s mission is not only to offer value from a pricing perspective, but a true one-stop-shop in customer experience. What people have least of these days is time. Consumers are looking for a true added-value experience. We provide a solution to these problems by offering free on-site consultation by trained holistic nutritionists; buy online pickup in-store service; daily food and supplement demos that allow customers to taste and test products before they buy them; and full-service cafés in five locations that offer organic, fresh, made-to-order healthy meals, smoothies, specialty coffees and teas.”
If you needed more reasons to stock California Raisins beyond their naturally sun-dried and no sugar added nature, let’s look at the numbers!
IN
A 2023 SURVEY OF CANADIANS * :
• 93% Think of raisins first when they think of dried fruits!
• 64% Purchased raisins in 2023!
• California/USA Raisins are the most recognized, 4x higher than others
CALIFORNIA RAISIN
PARFAIT MASON JARS
0.75 cup California Raisins
1 cup sliced strawberries
0.5 cup blueberries
0.5 cup raspberries
3 cups plains Greek yogurt
4 tsp. liquid honey
1.25 cups granola
REASONS FOR RAISINS?
• 89% – Appealing taste
• 85% – Price
• 74% – No added sugar
HOW THEY MOST USED RAISINS:
• 63% – In a trail mix
• 54% – In a cookie
• 51% – In a cereal or granola
No matter how you look at it, it all adds up to California Raisins being a star and must-have product for savvy Canadian retailers!
Visit CaliforniaRaisins.ca/professionals for more.
* Rose Research Report conducted in April/May 2023 among nationally representative sample of 501 Canadians reasons to stock California Raisins.
ALL IN THE FAMILY TAKING THE LEAD:
Rabba Fine Foods’ Rick Rabba on how he leads a growing family business
RICK RABBA’S roots in the grocery industry run deep. His father Jack, a Middle Eastern immigrant, bought a convenience store in Toronto in the 1960s and called it Variety Food Fair. Here, Rabba worked alongside his grandfather. “I have fond memories of learning to serve customers and bake banana bread under the watchful eye of my grandfather,” recalls Rabba. “He knew how to make a customer feel like royalty.”
One store became two, and three (and more) and in 1985, the growing chain rebranded as Rabba Fine Foods. Decades later, Rick Rabba is president, overseeing 37 locations across the Greater Toronto Area and, like his grandfather, his focus on customers and community is laser sharp. (And it’s still a family affair. Jack is still involved in the business and Rabba’s cousin, Rima Rabba, is head of marketing and leads the Rabba Roots Community Giving Program.)
Here, Rabba discusses how running a family business shapes his leadership style and why community involvement is important to him. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Rabba is a family-run business. How does that impact how you lead it? When working with family members, choosing your battles is a critical part of leadership. When I speak to other independent grocers, this always seems to be a common theme. The business of running 24-hour urban markets requires a great deal of passion. The magic is in allowing the passion that one feels for family to become infectious throughout the culture, while still maintaining enough discipline and professionalism that you can focus the energy in productive ways.
From inflation to labour woes, there is no shortage of issues keeping leaders up at night. What topics are on your mind?
For me, the focus is on maintaining
By Chris Daniels
strong connections with our communities and ensuring Rabba Fine Foods continues to be a reliable and trusted part of our customers’ daily lives. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, both for our team members and the neighbourhoods we serve. If both our community and our team rely upon and trust us, I have no trouble sleeping at night.
Bottom-up versus top-down management. Which works best?
[At Rabba,] we believe that a good idea is valuable regardless of tenure or job title. One of our core values is that everyone is welcome to contribute and senior management is always accessible and never in an ivory tower. As a leader, I need to create a culture of trust and shared responsibility where people feel they’re able to contribute their ideas. Ultimately, this helps us make better decisions, both internally and in our community efforts. This approach is reflected in our support for local initiatives, whether it’s our annual charity
golf tournament or our Rabba Roots Community Program. We focus on inclusion and equality, ensuring our efforts benefit everyone in the community.
How do you mentor and support others in leadership positions?
Developing leaders is, in many ways, to act as a guide. I endeavour to provide future leaders the tools, information and support that will allow them to shine. A guide can eliminate roadblocks, help you to workshop ideas or help to lead you in the right direction. Celebrating successes and allowing people to take calculated risks both empowers them and teaches valuable lessons. I want to create an environment where everyone feels they have a role in our success. I always make time to explain the bigger picture to my team so they understand how their work contributes to our larger goals. I believe in the power of listening—the leaders in my organization can teach me many things, as long as I am ready to listen. It’s not a one-way street. Leadership is about creating opportunities for growth and instilling passion in those around you, not about authority.
How does the time you spend away from work make you a better leader?
Time with my family and volunteering within the community keeps me grounded and makes me a better leader. My family reminds me of the importance of balance, while community involvement helps me stay connected to the people we serve. Whenever I can engage in community events and be part of the work we are doing, it refreshes my spirit.
In our Taking the Lead series, Canadian Grocer is speaking to leaders from across the industry about a specific project or initiative they’re leading. Have a pitch? Send it to jmorgan@ensembleiq.com
More crisp and sweet than their sibling the Forelle.
Small enough for canning whole
Great size for kids’ lunch boxes
Softer and juicier than the Seckel.
ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS & CONNECTIONS POWERING BUSINESS GROWTH
EnsembleIQ is the premier resource of actionable insights and connections powering business growth throughout the path to purchase. We help retail, technology, consumer goods, healthcare and hospitality professionals make informed decisions and gain a competitive advantage.
EnsembleIQ delivers the most trusted business intelligence from leading industry experts, creative marketing solutions and impactful event experiences that connect best-in-class suppliers and service providers with our vibrant business-building communities.
Pairs perfectly with cheese and bread
Ready to top a salad or cocktail
For more information: www.trade.usapears.com
Crisp Soft & Juicy
Very Sweet
Crisp Soft & Juicy
Sweet Very Sweet
Ideas
Grocery’s smallformat advantage
When it comes to store size, less can be more
A FEW MAJOR North American grocers are making big moves into small-format stores, as they aim to be more accessible to consumers.
This past May, Loblaw’s discount banner No Frills opened its first small-format store in downtown Toronto. A second location opened in Toronto’s Liberty Village neighbourhood in July. At 15,000-sq.-ft., the new format is less than half the size of a traditional No Frills store, but customers can still find an extensive selection of grocery items, including fresh produce and meat.
The stores stock locally sourced products to meet the preferences of the community, as well as new products such as rotisserie chicken and other hot foods, says Melanie Singh, president of hard discount at Loblaw.
On the advantages of the new format to both the business and its customers, Singh says, “Our smaller format stores give us more flexibility when determining new locations. Even though it is smaller
in size, the customer experience is the same as a larger No Frills store. It even has the same promotions.” Singh says the company plans to open several small-format No Frills stores in 2024 and in 2025.
In the more upscale arena, Whole Foods Market is rolling out a small, urban format in New York City called Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, with plans to bring it to other cities across the United States. The stores will stock fresh produce, meat and seafood, prepared foods, breads and alcohol, as well as the retailer’s private-label products.
Ranging between 7,000 to 14,000 sq. ft., the Daily Shops are roughly a quarter to half the size of a traditional Whole Foods, paving the way for expansion in dense urban areas, according to the company.
Other U.S. grocers experimenting with small-box stores include Sprouts, which is rolling out its smaller-format concept, at around 23,000 sq. ft.; and Wegmans Food Markets, which has been building smaller-format stores since 2021.
While small-format stores aren’t new, experts say they’re gaining traction. “Customers are being a little more cautious and more picky about where they’re spending their money,” says Liza Amlani, principal and co-founder of Retail Strategy Group in Toronto.
“The opportunity of shopping small … all comes down to building loyalty and trust,” she says. “This is where a grocer can have more opportunity to build a relationship with their customer, build trust with them, and get insights from them around the product [assortment].” And that’s just easier to do in a smaller store, Amlani says.
It’s also easier to build a sense of community in a smaller, localized store. “Whether it is experiential, like food tastings or having a cooking class, or seeing if there’s an opportunity to partner with other small businesses in the neighbourhood—that builds community and connection,” she says. “And when customers feel connected, they will continue to shop [there] and put their hard-earned money into a retailer’s pocket.”
Another benefit for retailers is “access to potentially cheaper real estate,” says DeAnn Campbell, practice lead, retail at Atlanta-bsed AAG Consulting. “It’s very expensive to go into a centre with enough traffic to drive a 150,000-sq.-ft. store and you’re paying for that.”—Rebecca Harris
Healthy Crunch
Healthy Crunch burst onto the Canadian market in 2014 with its signature Kale Chips, and since then has expanded to 120 nutritious and creative products made with wholesome ingredients. Healthy Crunch products are allergen- and gluten-free, vegan, School Approved, and some are keto-certified. Canadian Grocer spoke with Healthy Crunch founder and CEO Julie Bednarski to find out more about the company, innovation, and celebrating 10 years of bringing healthy snacks to Canadians.
10 TURNS
Q: What was your vision when you started Healthy Crunch?
A: When I founded Healthy Crunch, my vision was to create delicious, healthy snacks that everyone could enjoy, regardless of age, dietary needs or preferences. I was driven by a passion to make it easier for people to choose healthier options without compromising on taste. Over the past decade, we’ve been thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive response to our products, inspiring us to expand our goals even further. Today, we’re more focused than ever on sustainability, innovation, and diversifying our product lines to reach new markets. We’re constantly seeking new ways to enhance our products and positively impact the world.
Q: What products have you been most proud of over the years?
A: I’m incredibly proud of all our products because they offer inclusive, allergen-free foods that are better for you—containing less sugar, cleaner ingredients, and more nutrient density—all while being delicious. Our Dark Chocolate Superfoods hold a special place, as they were among the first chocolate-based snacks in Canada that were both vegan and lower in sugar, and our Seed Butters have been a game changer as a fantastic nut-free alternative.
Q: What makes Healthy Crunch products unique?
A: They combine great taste with clean, wholesome ingredients. Our commitment to real ingredients, free from artificial
additives, truly sets us apart. We focus on creating innovative flavours and textures that make healthy eating both exciting and enjoyable.
Q: How have you kept a focus on innovation as the company has grown?
A: Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Healthy Crunch. We’re constantly exploring new ingredients and trends to develop products that excite and satisfy our customers. We have a dedicated team that continually experiments with new flavours and formulations, and we actively seek feedback from our community to ensure we’re meeting its needs.
Q: How will you be celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary?
A: We’re celebrating by giving back to our community and customers! Throughout the year, we’re hosting a series of exciting events, promotions and giveaways. Additionally, we’ll be partnering with local charities and donating a portion of our proceeds to support healthy living initiatives. To mark this milestone, we’re excited to announce our partnership with Mattel North America to launch the Barbie Crispy Squares Dreams Collection in September 2024. This collection offers better-for-you treats made with brown rice that are lower in sugar and a good source of fibre. The Barbie ethos of “you can be anything” perfectly aligns with the mission that inspired me to start Healthy Crunch. We are thrilled to collaborate with Mattel to bring the shared vision of Barbie and Healthy Crunch to life through our Barbie Dreams Crispy Squares.
Q: What’s next for Healthy Crunch?
A: We’re always looking ahead! We have exciting plans to expand our distribution across Canada, the U.S., and internationally, as well as to introduce new products within new categories in grocery that cater to our customer base and that fit seamlessly into daily lifestyles. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements!
Canadians wary of AI integration
People are receptive to beneficial tech advancements, but there’s work to be done in building trust
Though AIpowered chatbots are more common, they aren’t necessarily popular. Only 22.6% of people said they were extremely or very comfortable interacting with them instead of a human representative
there’s A lot of buzz around artificial intelligence (AI). From ChatGPT to Microsoft Bing’s chatbot, the reviews have been mixed. Yet, like it or not, technology is becoming standard. According to Statistics Canada, 28.3% of businesses credit technology adoption with improving their operational efficiency— and that includes AI. While still in its early phases, 6.1% of all businesses relied on AI in producing goods and delivering services over the last year.
To understand how shoppers view AI’s role in grocery shopping, Caddle surveyed thousands of people nationwide. The results show many Canadians are wary of the technology, while others are skeptical of its usefulness.
Through online shopping, consumers are increasingly familiar with AI in customer service. Nearly half (47.9%) of Canadians polled said they have interacted with a chatbot frequently or occasionally while buying online or seeking customer support. Just 36.6% said they’ve never dealt with AI in that capacity and 15.5% weren’t sure.
Though AI-powered chatbots are more common, they aren’t necessarily popular. Only 22.6% of people said they were extremely or very comfortable interacting with them instead of a human representative. Far more (45.6%) said they were not comfortable and 30.8% were only “somewhat” comfortable.
When asked to consider how likely they would be to use a personalized AI chatbot to help find products, most respondents weren’t enthusiastic. Just 29.5% said they would be somewhat likely to use it, while 48.7% said they weren’t likely to accept the service. The lukewarm reception is due, in part, to a perceived lack of practicality. Most people surveyed (38.1%) didn’t see much benefit to a personalized AI chatbot and preferred human interaction, though
26.4% saw the bots’ 24-7 availability as a perk. There is a generational difference in willingness to use AI-powered chatbots. Baby boomers were most likely to say they were not at all comfortable (40.5%) and those respondents were also more likely to avoid the technology altogether. Female respondents were also more likely to express discomfort with AI (53%) compared to men (43%).
Attitudes toward AI improve with in-store operations. The integration of AI technologies such as smart shelves, digital strips and inventory tracking were supported somewhat by 28.1% of survey respondents and strongly supported by 17.4%, while 35% said they felt neutral about the addition. Once again, male shoppers (59% compared to 38% female) and millennials (38.2%) were more likely to be in favour of the change.
Only 18.3% of respondents in favour of in-store AI were gen Z; however, that generation does more of its shopping online, with 50.5% saying they never buy groceries in physical stores. This aligns with another trend, where people who shop more regularly in physical stores saw technological advancements as improvements to efficiency and convenience. For instance, 64.4% of weekly and 20.7% of daily in-store shoppers felt positively about digital price tags.
Respondents agreed about the convenience of cashierless payment systems like Amazon Go that use AI to allow shoppers to pick up items and leave the store without going through a checkout. About one-quarter of respondents said the option would be somewhat convenient and 20.1% said it would be very convenient. Just over 34% of people said they were neutral to the idea.
Weekly shoppers (62.8%) and millennials (36.1%) were most likely to find cashierless systems appealing, followed by gen Xers (26.3%). In contrast, 44.4% of boomers said they wouldn’t find skipping the line convenient. It’s perhaps no coincidence they also had less understanding of the system, with 59.1% saying they weren’t familiar at all with cashierless shopping. Indeed, those with more exposure to technologies have a better understanding of the benefits. Most respondents said they were not familiar with Amazon Go (29.6%) or had heard of it but weren’t familiar (33.7%). Yet those who were more familiar (59.4%), had a better estimation of not only cashierless systems but of digital price tags (58%) and AI integration (51.7%), too. While many are leery of advancements, it’s clear Canadians are open to technology once they’ve seen its positive impacts first-hand. CG
Ransom Hawley, former packaged goods leader, is founder and CEO at Caddle Inc., the largest mobile-first insights platform that rewards Canadians for sharing data and engaging with brands.
Beating the heat with hydration
Demand for beverages that refuel and rehydrate are on the rise
As the climAte chAnges, the world is experiencing longer and more intense periods of heat. This isn’t a distant concern, but an immediate reality with rising global temperatures making hotter days and nights more common. Consequently, how consumers live and function is evolving, including the need for effective hydration.
THE IMPACT OF RISING TEMPERATURES
Increased temperatures bring a heightened risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Hydration, therefore, becomes crucial not only for comfort, but
ATTITUDES TOWARDS HEALTH AND HYDRATION ACROSS GENERATIONS
“Staying hydrated promotes overall health and wellness”
also for health and safety. While water has always been the go-to for staying hydrated, the demand for beverages that both rehydrate and refuel in various situations is likely to rise.
Traditionally, sports drinks have stood out in the hydration market, known for their association with high-energy activities and athletic performance. As people age, however, they become more aware of the importance of hydration for their overall health. This awareness opens opportunities for a broader range of hydration products that cater to different needs and occasions. This growing awareness suggests the concept of hydration will increasingly be linked to general well-being and extend athletic performance. Beyond beverages, there’s also opportunity for food to diversify to meet changing needs related to rising temperatures. For instance, soups are typically associated with colder weather, offering warmth and comfort; however, with summer heatwaves potentially extending into the fall, there is room for innovation. Companies could develop and promote chilled soups such as gazpacho or vichyssoise, which still provide the comfort of traditional soups while being suitable for warmer climates.
RETAIL AND BRAND STRATEGIES
For retailers, the challenge is to expand the notion of hydration to help consumers cope with warmer temperatures. During Canada’s hottest months, retailers could set up dedicated sections that offer products to help shoppers stay cool. These sections could include a variety of drinks, refreshing snacks such as frozen treats and even skincare products.
Food and drink brands have multiple opportunities to capitalize on this trend by offering everyday drinks enriched with electrolytes. These beverages can be both functional and enjoyable. Different hydration needs can be met with tailored drink offerings, such as those designed for everyday health, recovery from illness or hangovers, and even lightly-sweetened options for school-aged children.
STAYING RELEVANT AS CLIMATE CHANGE’S IMPACT GROWS With rising temperatures becoming more prevalent, it is almost certain that climate change will continue to impact individuals’ daily lives. As this issue gains more attention, companies have an opportunity to get ahead of the curve with an enhanced focus on hydration. Helping consumers adapt to this evolving reality is one way for brands to remain relevant and essential in the face of a changing climate reality. CG
Joel Gregoire
WHAT’S NEW
NEW PRODUCTS IN GROCERY
New Natural Cheese Snacks
Anniversary Blend Coffee
Inspired by the Grand Cafés of Paris, Balzac’s was brought to life by a burning ambition to bring that experience to Canada. Starting as a coffee cart in 1993, Balzac’s opened its first café three years later in Stratford, Ontario. In honour of their 30th anniversary, Balzac’s proudly presents this unique blend of specialty grade, 100% arabica beans paying homage to where they came from, where they are and where they are going next.
Meet Armstrong Cheese NIBBLERS, a Canadian family of cheese snacks. NIBBLERS are delicious, high in protein natural cheese snacks that will please the whole family. Canadians can bring them to work, put them in lunch boxes or have them on the go. They are perfect for any occasion. Available in three delicious flavours - Sour Cream & Onion, Smokey Bacon and Original.
Cheese Fries
Apple Juice Infused Cranberries
This deliciously indulgent wholesome treat from Be Better is made from whole cranberries infused with apple juice to provide a punch of flavour. This product is gluten-free and Kosher certified. It has no artificial flavours or colours and has no salt added.
Saputo’s new Cheese Fries are made of Haloumi cheese and come in two delicious flavours: Original and Hint of Jalapeño. These Cheese Fries are non-breaded, non-frozen, high in protein and a source of calcium. They are quick and easy to prepare. Once cooked, the outside is nice and crispy, keeping a silky texture on the inside. They are great to serve as an appetizer, snack, a side-dish or even as the star topping on a salad or wrap.
No-Bake Energy Bite Mix
This dry mix from KEEN allows consumers to quickly prepare and create their own customizable energy bites to suit their unique taste and dietary preferences.
A new comfort zone
As Canada’s population diversifies, the definition of comfort food is evolving
well-being. This is evident in the demand for natural, minimally processed ingredients, with labels such as “all-natural,” “no artificial flavours/preservatives,” “organic” and “premium” holding significant weight for Canadian consumers. The preference for wholesome ingredients extends to ethical sourcing practices, with “farmed responsibly” and “fair trade” labels resonating strongly with those seeking a more mindful approach to comfort food and drink.
Top main dishes that satisfy comfort cravings include eggs, chicken and beef, while sides revolve around steady favourites such as vegetables, potatoes and salads. As far as desserts go, chocolate, fruit and cookies are among top choices, reflecting the balance of permissible indulgence. For commercial beverages, the requirement for warmth as it relates to comfort is reflected in top choices such as hot brewed coffee and tea.
COOKING FOR COMFORT
As we head into the colder months, there is opportunity to modernize the way we connect with Canadians by understanding what comfort truly means
with the ArrivAl of fall, Canadians experience a collective shift towards all things cozy and comforting. This transition goes beyond simply swapping summer wardrobes for cozy flannels and dusting off autumnal decorations. It’s deeply intertwined with our food and beverage choices. As Canadians, we tend to satisfy comfort cravings year-round; it’s the top driving force behind 56% of all food and beverage decisions. However, the satisfying of comfort cravings usually experiences a multi-point bump, peaking from October to December.
WHAT DOES “COMFORT” MEAN?
What constitutes “comfort food and drink” in the Canadian landscape? The answer, it turns out, is as diverse as the country itself, with generational nuances adding layers of complexity. For gen Z, comfort is often intertwined with recommendations from others, nostalgia and an affinity for sweet indulgences. Millennials with kids, on the other hand, gravitate towards dishes that are both kidfriendly and sophisticated, often reflecting current culinary trends and incorporating a level of spiciness. Boomers, known for their practicality, define comfort as convenient, relying on readily available ingredients and embracing guilt-free options that are natural and less processed. Understanding these distinct behaviours when marketing comfort foods and beverages to different demographics is important.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR “CLEAN” COMFORT
The notion that comfort foods and beverages lean heavily toward indulgent choices is not entirely true. Canadians are increasingly seeking a “clean comfort” approach, prioritizing both satisfaction and
When preparing comforting meals, 47% of Canadians roll up their sleeves and cook from scratch. While they’re generally comfortable dedicating 30 to 60 minutes to preparing these meals, this willingness to invest time increases to 45 minutes or more as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, highlighting the special place comfort food holds during the fall and winter months. While the stove and oven remain kitchen workhorses, along with air fryers, Canadians are leveraging slow cookers and instant pots they can “set-and-forget”—the convenience factor remains ever-present.
INTERNATIONALLY INSPIRED COMFORT CUISINE
Canadian comfort food draws inspiration from a melting pot of gastronomic traditions. While North American dishes primarily drive culinary inspiration, Chinese, Indian and Italian cuisines are also prominent, showcasing the growing appetite for global flavours. Interestingly, both tenured white Canadians and Canadian newcomers share a preference for spices such as five-spice, coriander and paprika, indicating a common desire for diverse, flavourful comfort food experiences. This presents a unique opportunity for food manufacturers and retailers to cater to this evolving palate, offering a diverse range of products that satisfy the desire for both classic and globally inspired comfort food.
As we head into the colder months, there is opportunity to modernize the way we connect with Canadians by understanding what comfort truly means. Retailers can inspire Canadians of all ages and backgrounds to satisfy their own idea of comfort, one delicious bite at a time. CG
Jenny Thompson is a director with Ipsos Canada supporting the FIVE service, a daily diary tracking what individuals ate and drank yesterday across all categories, brands, occasions and venues. Jenny.Thompson@ipsos.com
Canadian Grocer catches up with Ron Welke to talk about his new role and what’s ahead for the indie association
NEW CHIEF
By Shellee Fitzgerald | Photography Carey Shaw
ONAUG. 1, Ron Welke stepped up to the job of president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), taking the reins from a retiring Tom Shurrie. No stranger to the association— which is a voice for thousands of indie grocers across the country—Welke served as a CFIG board member from 2013 to 2022, including two years as chair. In his previous life, he also spent more than 32 years at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), most recently as its associate vice-president of food where he led the Co-op’s food and independent businesses. Canadian Grocer recently caught up with Welke to find out how he’s settling into his new gig, what’s ahead for CFIG and more. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What has your first month heading CFIG been like?
Well, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I’ve been able to spend some time with the team, which has been great. We’ve gone through our fiscal year-end, which is the end of July—so a lot going on with budgeting and so forth. We had our summer board meeting, which is a big event for us, and I was able to meet with our associate members’ council. And I’ve had some mentorship from Mr. Tom Shurrie, who has been helping with my onboarding and guiding me along the way. So, feeling pretty good about the first month.
What attracted you to the role?
A couple things. First, CFIG is a purpose-driven organization. It does some great advocacy work and we have this fantastic network of independent grocers. So, that’s primarily what attracted me to the role. And, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many great leaders across the industry during my time on the board of CFIG, whether that’s our independent grocers [or], of course, the associate members, who are leaders in the industry. Certainly, my experience at FCL has been very valuable; I’ve been fortunate to learn from a lot of great leaders there and my first-hand experience being a retailer helps with my new role and understanding the needs of retailers.
What are your observations about the state of the grocery industry right now? What are the challenges and opportunities?
I would say the challenge that everybody’s been talking about for the last 18 months or so is inflation. You’ve got inflation in the food business, in general, but both consumers and businesses are facing all kinds of inflationary pressures. So, on the consumer side, it’s really important that grocers understand the saving strategies
consumers are using and that they have some strategies in place to address this and make sure they’re competitive in the marketplace. I’d say the other challenge facing grocers is inflationary pressures on retail operating costs, including labour costs, energy costs, insurance as well as capital costs for investments such as building new stores, renovations and new equipment. All of these are also under some pressure from inflationary costs. So, operational efficiencies need to be a focus for grocers and that can be through the use of technology or through best practices.
[Grocers] have to get sharper in terms of operations to manage those costs and manage the pressure on their margins. But, having said all that, I think there are still lots of opportunities to grow the business. Consumers are willing to pay if they’re getting great value, great service. They may be switching their buying habits, eating out a little less, but they still want to have great meals with their family and friends. That’s where grocers can lean in and take advantage of that.
With competitive threats coming from all directions, how should independents respond?
It’s not new, but I think the best strategy is to focus on their strengths. Generally, independents don’t have the scale to offer the lowest prices or have some of the operational efficiencies the larger national and international grocers have, so they need to be mindful of their pricing and they need to get sharper on operations. But, where they need to compete is on differentiation—this is where they can lead and be better in terms of service, quality, specialized assortment, local products and community involvement. Those things have been the strength of independent grocers, so it’s about doubling down on those things to compete.
WHAT’S NEW
NEW PRODUCTS IN GROCERY
Caffè, Your Way
Introducing the new Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato ground coffee brick, a naturally decaffeinated blend Canadians can enjoy at any time of day. Caffè Decaffeinato is a smooth medium roast with the balanced flavour of dried fruit, crafted by the masters of coffee blending to preserve the signature taste of Classico blend. Recommended for French press, moka pot, and drip coffee preparations. Enjoy excellence in every cup with Lavazza.
Cheese Dippers Smoked Ham Flavour
Perfect for those looking for a snack that is both easy to throw in a lunch box and delicious. Discover the smoked ham flavour of Cheese Dippers. Dip the crispy whole wheat sticks into melted The Laughing Cow® cheese for a truly indulgent experience. This new flavour, just like the original version of Cheese Dippers, contains no artificial colours or preservatives.
The Laughing Cow Dill Pickle Flavour
If you love the taste of pickles, you will love this new flavour from The Laughing Cow®! This spreadable cheese is all Canadians need to elevate snacks, whatever the season. With no colours or preservatives added and made with real cheese it makes the perfect snack.
What will be your priorities over the next 12 months or so?
It’s a fairly simple answer, maybe not simple work, but really listening to the membership and all the stakeholders and refining CFIG’s strategic positioning to meet the needs of our members. We’re going to do some work on that throughout the next year. I want to listen [and] get a better understanding of what their priorities are to make sure we’re focusing on the right things.
There’s been much progress on the grocery code of conduct. What’s next on that front?
And while it’s not a cure for all the industry’s challenges, how will the code make things better for independents?
Well, I want to start by thanking Gary Sands, our vice-president of public policy and advocacy, for his tireless effort representing independent grocers and working with stakeholders across the industry to get where we are today. In terms of what’s coming next, the code board has started the process of hiring an adjudicator. There’s a lot of work to get that in place and get the code operational by June 2025 so, CFIG, led by Gary as our board representative, will be supporting that. And we’ll also be doing a lot of education—educating our members about what the code is and what it isn’t, and making sure they understand how they need to comply with the code, but also how to get the most benefits from the code.
How will it make things better for independents? I would say the code won’t level the playing field, but it will help stabilize the playing field and that will allow producers and manufacturers some certainty in their relationships with grocers and allow them to invest in innovation. If we do it right, the code should foster an environment where the talented people in our industry can focus on growth and innovation, instead of fines and fees and administration; that should help independents as well as the entire industry.
You’ve spent your entire career in grocery. What advice do you have for those considering a career in this industry?
I’d say if you like a fast-paced environment, if you like making a difference in communities and working with great people, then grocery is a great place to invest in a career.
What will define “success” for you as head of CFIG?
If we can continue to foster the development of leaders in the industry, I would say that would be a good measure of success. Also, if we can play a leadership role in building a more collaborative industry and help ensure we’ve got a vibrant marketplace for independents—those are the three areas [that will define success] for me. CG
ON A MISSION
Erin Higdon, incoming chair of CFIG, is passionate about the grocery industry and making it better for independents
By Shellee Fitzgerald | Photography Johnny C.Y. Lam
Wopportunity to daily be a part of building something special,” says Higdon. “I’m grateful to have been invited by Dave and family to be a part of the team that gets to set the course for this proud Newfoundland grocer and wholesaler, creating the strategy and not simply executing against somebody else’s plan.”
WHILE MANY INDIE grocers are bitten by the grocery bug at an early age, a career in the industry wasn’t always in the cards for Erin Higdon.
After studying business and economics at Memorial University in her home province of Newfoundland, Higdon joined the team at PricewaterhouseCoopers in St. John’s. From there she embarked on a nearly eightyear stint as a business analyst for a mining company in Labrador City.
But, by 2014, with a young family (husband Adam and daughters Olivia and Georgia), the urge to move from the mainland of the province back home to the island became too strong to resist. “As fate would have it, I learned about an opening at Atlantic Grocery Distributors (AGD) from my father who actually grew up with its owner, Dave Powell,” says Higdon. After a successful interview with Powell and the general manager at the time, Higdon secured a role as director of finance for the company, which is headquartered in Bay Roberts, N.L. with a second location in Port aux Basques.
“I was completely new to the industry and I had everything to learn,” says Higdon. “And it’s actually hard for me to believe it’s been 10 years already.”
A PASSION FOR THE FOOD BUSINESS
While it was an unexpected opportunity that led Higdon to the grocery business, she was quickly wooed by its fast-paced, dynamic nature. “It’s had my heart ever since. Working with independents in the food industry, no two days are the same,” she says. “People also like to joke that I love to eat, so going to work surrounded by delicious products to sample is the cherry on top.”
Over the past decade, Higdon, a chartered accountant, has climbed the ranks at the Powell Group of Companies, within which AGD is the largest unit. Part of the senior leadership team, Higdon is vice-president of business strategy for the Powell Group as well as general manager of AGD. “The relationships I’ve built along the way are definitely the best part of my job, and a close second is the
Today, AGD is the largest wholesale distributor to independent operators in Newfoundland and Labrador, servicing the entire province as well as the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and the eastern shores of Quebec. It is also the primary distributor to several of the province’s Indigenous communities. In all, the company serves more than 2,000 retail and foodservice businesses. “We pride ourselves in being a one-stop distribution centre, housing over 20,000 grocery and foodservice products,” says Higdon.
The Group also operates two full-service grocery stores—one in Bay Roberts, the other up the coast in Carbonear—under the Powell’s Supermarket banner. Higdon says the entire operation is rooted in grocery. “We began as grocers,” she says, proceeding to explain how the company has grown under Dave Powell’s entrepreneurial leadership: When he needed a wholesaler to supply his stores (and other independents), Powell began a wholesale distribution company; when he needed a competitive price on bread, he began a commercial bakery (Golden Crust Bakery); and when he needed a cost-effective and reliable way to service his fleet of trucks, he opened a garage, Dave’s Tirecraft & Service Centre.
“The thing that we don’t know how to do here is do one thing at a time, and I think that’s an independent trait; we’re always up to something, we’re always pursuing the next big opportunity,” says Higdon. The company has operated with that mindset since the beginning. “Dave’s father, Herbert J. Powell, passed on the philosophy that ‘in business you continually have to march forward because if you stop, the guy coming up behind you is going to trample you.’ And so, we never stop,” she says.
Recent initiatives from the company include expansion of the Group’s Golden Crust Bakery and the relocation of its Atlantic Restaurant Supplies business to a newly renovated space with a state-ofthe-art test kitchen and increased warehouse capacity. Higdon says the investments were made to keep its commitment to its retail and foodservice customers to provide everything they need to operate their businesses. “And we’re always scouting the next great location to expand our exceptional Powell’s Supermarket offering,” she adds.
Of course, operating a food business in a province like Newfoundland comes with its own unique set of challenges with which to contend. “While we pride ourselves in being from The Rock, the higher costs of operating on an island in the North Atlantic is our reality,” says Higdon. Relying on products being shipped over long distances—via roads and water or even air—coupled with unpredictable weather conditions resulting in delays (“Ferry routes can be cancelled up to four and five days at a time,” says Higdon) can impact the quality and shelf life of perishable items. This results in increased costs when these products need to be discounted or tossed out. Out-of-stocks present another challenge.
“To mitigate those risks presented by our weather and location, here at AGD we practice a long-time strategy of carrying, where possible, higher than normal inventory levels of non-perishable and long shelf-life food items,” she explains, adding that at AGD’s primary warehouse the main freezer has more than one million cubic feet of frozen storage space. The strategy and investment in storage capacity has paid off, allowing AGD to respond to long product lead times and anticipated delays. “It has also allowed us to deliver on a greater than 90% average fill rate to our customers, even during the most disruptive supply chain conditions of the last few years,” says Higdon.
ADVOCATING FOR INDEPENDENTS
Come October, Higdon will be taking on a new challenge. After six years serving on the board of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG), she’ll be stepping up to the role of chair, taking over from Pattison Food Group’s Jamie Nelson. As chair, she’ll be working to make things better for independent grocers across the country.
“Personally, I’ve always had strong convictions regarding our responsibility to be part of necessary change in our industry, and to be a part of the change that we want to see,” Higdon says when asked why she was taking on the role of chair. “Being a member of CFIG and then the board and later the executive, has provided me with that opportunity and the opportunity to take on the role of chair is an honour, but we will be led by the collective direction of our [board and CFIG] team.”
One of the issues Higdon and CFIG will be focusing on in the year ahead stems from a recent Competition Bureau report that recommends the government do more to support indie grocers. “We’re going to bring forward recommendations on ways [the] government can ensure independents not just remain on the playing field, but also improve their future position.” She adds the focus will be on pressing the government on programs that recognize the unique challenges of independents, rather than seeking ways to attract foreign grocers to the country.
Another area of focus is the perennial issue of interchange fees, (the fee paid by merchants for every credit
card transaction). “We’re going to continue to push for the reopening of this issue and the necessary reductions in the fees charged to independent grocers,” says Higdon, adding that they’ll be impressing upon the government the importance of putting dollars back in the pockets of independent grocers to ensure their future.
Of course, getting the grocery code of conduct across the finish line will be top of mind for Higdon and CFIG in the months ahead. Years in the making, the industry-led code—designed to promote predictability, transparency and fair dealing in the industry—overcame a major hurdle this summer when Walmart Canada and Costco finally signed on.
“We’re grateful and encouraged that we now have a written and industry-supported grocery code of conduct but there, of course, remains a lot of work that still needs to be done. Now, we must ensure the code does what it was intended to do and ensure that the code works for our members,” says Higdon, adding that CFIG will be focusing on education and support for its members. “It’s no good for it to be a code that sits on the shelf; it needs to be a code that goes to work for the betterment of our industry.”
Higdon says through its work to advocate for a grocery code of conduct, the team at CFIG has done a “tremendous” job in raising the profile of the Canadian independent grocer. “One of my goals is that we maintain that momentum and use it to drive other necessary change around other important issues impacting independents,” she says.
Despite the challenges and complexities of operating a grocery business today, Higdon is optimistic about the outlook for independents.
“Canadians are looking for partners they can rely on and trust. Independent grocers are positioned incredibly well to meet that need. So, despite the headwinds we face, through our ties to the communities we serve in all areas of the country, customers know what we stand for and feel connected to our stories,” says Higdon. “We need to be proud of our unique position within the market and continue to tell our story.” CG
CANADA
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
More Trade. More Taste. More Trends.
October 29th & 30th, 2024 | Toronto Congress Centre (North Building)
Scan To Register!
Featuring an exclusive session on Canada’s first Grocery Code of Conduct!
Find out what you need to know, and how it may affect you!
Plus - sessions on key issues: including security, financial benchmarking + more
WHY ATTEND GROCERY INNOVATIONS CANADA?
All time high in local food and beverage options with representation across Canada including the Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan Pavilions
International companies from USA, Asia, Europe & the Caribbean showcasing their brands
Sustainability options throughout the trade show floor and in our sold-out Sustainability Sentral Pavilion
See trends and innovation in food, services, technology enhancing GIC’s position as a destination and industry leader in innovation
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CAPITALIZING ON THE
IMMIGRATION BOOM
Rising numbers of newcomers opens up a world of opportunity for grocers–if they get it right
By Rebecca Harris
IF NEWCOMERS MEAN new customers, immigration will be a boon to Canadian grocers. Currently, around 500,000 newcomers settle in Canada every year, with the majority arriving from India, followed by China and Philippines. According to the latest census, immigrants number 8.3 million and make up 23% of Canada’s total population. By 2041, immigrants could represent up to 34% of the population. All this at a time when Canada’s natural population growth is declining.
Brian Ettkin, Numerator’s head of strategy, solutions and revenue management, Canada, says these demographic trends aren’t a surprise to anyone—they’ve been in the making for years—but what’s different now is there’s “a perfect storm”
brewing for grocers.
To start, inflation and a challenging economic environment have hit consumers hard, says Ettkin. They’re pulling back on household spending, which is putting pressure on both retailers and manufacturers. “So, the pie is getting smaller because of demographics. Now the pie is getting smaller because consumers are stretched thin,” he says. The other piece is “the big inflow of immigrants coming over the last few years that have kind of saved the industry because more people [means] more mouths to feed and more houses to buy stuff for, and that’s offsetting the decline that we were seeing otherwise.”
For Joel Gregoire, associate director, food and drink at Mintel,
Generation Next thinking
there’s another important number to consider: the age of newcomers. Many (64%) recent immigrants are in the core working age group of 25 to 54, according to Statistics Canada. “New Canadians skew younger … They’re much more likely to be of working age, which as a grocer, is who you want to be targeting,” he says. “The one thing I’d be looking at if I were a grocer is, I may not get the whole basket of a new Canadian but, how do I get a bigger share of that basket?”
While grocers have long courted multicultural consumers, “now is the time to tighten up those strategies,” Numerator’s Ettkin advises. “Rather than saying it’s an opportunity, it’s almost a necessity for any grocer that wants to continue growing in this market environment and in the next few years to come.”
GETTING TO KNOW NEW CANADIANS
Like any aspect of retail, the first rule of reaching newcomers is “know your customer,” starting with who lives within proximity to your stores. “Trade areas are changing very quickly,” says Ettkin. “People arrive in Canada and then figure out where they’re going to settle in the country. Who an individual store thinks their customer is might be changing faster than they’re keeping up with. [Grocers] need to do a good job of being in the community and understanding how that’s changing to make sure that their assortment and the way they’re going to market is relevant to the changing demographics of the trade area they serve.”
When newcomers arrive in Canada, there’s plenty of opportunity to try out different retailers. According to research from Numerator, they are indeed shopping around. “Ethnic grocery stores still play an important role for key items … whether that be produce that’s specific to their home country cuisines or brands they’re familiar with that they can’t get elsewhere,” says Ettkin. “But, what we saw in our data is people are making that stop and going to other stores,” including mass, conventional, club and independent stores. “Club plays an important role, especially for those households that are larger and trying to stretch their dollar; they’re finding big value in that larger format,” he says.
When it comes to drivers of store choice, the primary factor influencing where new Canadians shop is everyday low prices (23% compared to 27% of consumers born in Canada). However, new Canadians are more likely to value product quality (12%) and convenience of location (17%) compared to consumers born in Canada (8% and 11%, respectively).
“We see convenience tied to the mobility question— the fact that fewer [newcomers] use cars for transportation and rely on transit,” says Ettkin. “But quality is also important … So, the produce needs to be fresh and it needs to be properly presented to gain that trust, while preserving the value on the price side.”
As newcomers seek value for their grocery dollars, research from Leger points to the opportunity for loyalty programs to be a lifeline. In Leger’s recent study,
Cracking the Newcomer Code , 84% of newcomers said Canada was more expensive than they expected. “That is a pretty high number, so any value or [rewards] through a loyalty program is certainly going to be appreciated and used,” says Lisa Covens, senior vice-president, public affairs and communications at Leger.
On the product front, new Canadians value global brands more than Canada-born consumers. However, that advantage diminishes over time, according to Numerator. “In the early years of their time in Canada, they do look for those brands that resonate authenticity to them. But, what was interesting is that over time we see that changing,” says Ettkin. “We see that the longer people live in Canada, the more they’ve had the opportunity to try different things and be exposed to different brands, and there is a willingness to switch.”
A HYPER-LOCALIZED, TAILORED APPROACH TO EVERYTHING
For larger retailers, one strategy to serve multicultural markets has been to invest in their own ethnic grocery banners. This year, Georgia Main Food Group launched an Asian banner, Meiga Supermarket, in Port Moody, B.C., with plans to expand the banner over the next three to five years. Sobeys’ South-Asian focused Chalo! FreshCo now has 13 locations in Canada; and Loblaw’s T&T Supermarket—Canada’s largest Asian grocer, is expanding in the United States.
“We also see a lot of T&T private-label products showcased in mainstream Loblaw stores, especially in Markham and Scarborough [in the Toronto area], where you have a substantial Far Eastern population,” notes Amar Singh, senior director of retail at Kantar. “It’s all about customizing the retail offering to reflect the local areas they play in, which goes back to hyper-localization,” whereby retailers tailor their offerings to very specific customers within a given geography.
That is a key strategy in Walmart Canada’s multicultural playbook. Through demographic and customer research, Walmart tailors its product assortment and services to the needs and wants of local communities as part of its Store of the Community program, says Sourabh Malik, vice-president merchandising, food. For example, in stores with an identified South Asian customer base (such as Brampton, Ont.; Edmonton and Surrey, B.C.), Walmart stores carry basmati rice, atta flour, traditional snacks, biscuits, tea, pickles, ghee and more. In stores with an identified Southeast Asian customer base (for example, Victoria, B.C.; Richmond, B.C.; and Markham, Ont.), Walmart carries various types of rice; instant noodles from Japan, Korea and China; traditional snacks, frozen dim sum and more.
“Listening to our customers and understanding their needs is critical, especially with the increasing diversity brought by immigration,” says Malik. “This diversity is reflected in our expanding global foods and other products to better serve the needs of all our customers, including many new Canadians.”
Malik adds that expanding Walmart’s global food offering also gives the retailer the opportunity to celebrate cultural festivals such as Diwali and Chinese New Year “in a bigger and better way.” That strategy includes food as well as general merchandise items, cookware to prepare traditional meals, décor, box chocolates, gift cards and more. Walmart also supports these events with marketing, which may include a holiday-related flyer, in-store signage, digital marketing, social media, media buys, influencer campaigns, food samplings or in-store events.
When done thoughtfully, celebrating cultural holidays and festivals can foster deeper connections with diverse customer bases. “[New immigrants] want brands and retailers to reflect their values and make them feel welcome and included,” says Kantar’s Singh. “It is also in the best interest of retailers and brands to entice these shoppers because they are the growth shoppers at the end of the day. And it also works the other way—the ethnic consumer finds more affinity with these retailers for the long term.”
ROLLING OUT THE WELCOME MAT IN STORE
Beyond having the right product and merchandising mix, creating an inclusive in-store environment is crucial to making newcomers feel welcome and to engender their loyalty. “If you come to a new country, it’s intimidating if you don’t speak the language, so how do retailers make a welcoming environment in their stores?” says Mintel’s Gregoire. “Depending on where your store is, you want to think about the environment you’re offering in terms of the food, but also the people who work there. Do they speak the languages of people of certain backgrounds? For example, at a No Frills in Markham, you want people of Chinese background working there because of the language and because their diets are probably closer to their consumer.”
Luc Dumont, senior vice-president of consumer insights at Leger, says a sense of belonging and feeling represented—key components of the in-store experience—is generally gaining importance in the Canadian marketplace. “We do feel that the increase in immigration has contributed to that pillar being important for people when they shop,” he says. “They want to feel like their shopping experience does, in some way, mirror their personality, their background and their values, by seeing people like them in the stores who work there and might know about the products in a different way than traditionally.”
In addition to hiring more people who reflect local markets, retailers can turn to a simple but underused tool: Google Translate. That’s the advice of Patrick Rodmell, partner and president at retail consultancy Rodmell & Company, who encourages retailers to promote Google Translate in their stores and to bake the tool into their apps and websites to have content translated to any language.
Generation
“If you have somebody who doesn’t speak English coming to your store, they can point their camera at a package and get [the text] translated to any language,” Rodmell says. Even when they enter the store, customers can be encouraged to download the retailer’s app and have it translated to their own language. “It’s an amazing tool, it’s been around forever, but I’m amazed that more [retailers] haven’t capitalized on it as a tool to support newcomers,” says Rodmell.
Another idea is to make newcomers feel more at home by giving them store tours. “When a person in customer services recognizes a newcomer by language and it’s their first time here, take them on a tour,” advises Rodmell. “Investing in that relationship is so important … Give [staff] the power and autonomy to explore the store with someone.” While that’s not always practical, Rodmell says retailers can also create maps of the store in different languages to help customers find various departments and products.
HOW TO REALLY CONNECT WITH NEWCOMERS
Whatever strategies retailers choose to implement to reach and resonate with newcomers, the most important element underlying it all is authenticity. “Authenticity goes a long way,” says Singh. For example, retailers shouldn’t celebrate a cultural festival for the sake of it and just put a few items on promotion. Customers want to know the retailer’s back story, says Singh. “Are there community initiatives that you participated in that would help celebrate the culture? Have you sponsored any local events?”
That authenticity should also extend to all marketing touchpoints, whether it’s TV, online media or social media, adds Singh. “It’s about telling that cohesive story and ensuring you’re present [through] an entire marketing campaign to celebrate the event, rather than putting out a flyer and having a couple sub-sections of the store … You should show that you really care and you’re part of the bigger fabric and the bigger story of inclusivity.”
Rodmell also encourages retailers to think of the bigger, more meaningful picture. “Imagine if your brand could become more like a newcomer ambassador,” he says. “So, get your head out of the lens of ‘how do I get this new immigrant to shop at my grocery store?’ What you want to say is, ‘how can I help this newcomer to Canada ingratiate and feel welcome in their new country?’” Rather than having newcomers rely on them for just groceries, retailers can help them in a broader way by offering services such as banking, insurance and transportation, says Rodmell. “There are all these ways you can ingratiate your brand with newcomers in a more profound way.” CG
Generation Next Thinking is an ongoing series that explores the cutting-edge topics that are impacting grocery retail today and in the future.
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FINDING FUN IN THE GROCERY STORE
(AGAIN)
Memorable in-store experiences will keep shoppers coming back for more
By Rosalind Stefanac
IN THESE INFLATIONARY TIMES, it’s not surprising that many grocers have taken a stripped-back approach to business to enable better pricing. But, with less in-store sampling, fewer front-line staff for shoppers to interact with and displays that rarely change from week to week, it’s not surprising people are spending less time in their grocery stores as a result.
The State of Grocery Shopping 2024 report, based on an online survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers by Drive Research,
showed that although most grocery shopping still happens in physical stores, use of grocery pick-up services has doubled from 2022 to 2024 (6% to 12%), and grocery delivery services have increased from 16% to 25%. In competing on price alone, industry experts say grocers are missing opportunities for discretionary purchases that could lead to higher basket sizes. Plus, there is little incentive for shoppers to come back if they’re finding better prices elsewhere.
U.S.-based grocery chain Stew Leonard’s hosts several events throughout the year, including breakfast buffets with Santa
Recognizing that price-chopping can be a losing battle— especially with the growing number of discount stores on the scene—some Canadian grocers are venturing back to in-store events in a big way, at levels on par with pre-pandemic times.
“People really are using events to bring excitement back to stores post-COVID, and to drive up sales,” says Tammy Callahan, business development manager at The Look Company, which designs and manufactures a range of visual engagement solutions for grocers such as Loblaws and Walmart Canada. With the proliferation of self-checkouts, she stresses the importance of maintaining connections with customers via events and unique shopping experiences.
Callahan says these can entail VIP-style events where customers are invited in-store for a specific occasion, or pop-up shops and temporary displays that draw people in throughout the week. “Not every place is equipped to have a farmers market every week, but if you can have a pop-up shop with local vendors, you’re giving customers a reason to check it out,” she says, noting pop-ups are ideal for short-term experiments that allow retailers to get creative. Interactivity plays a key part, too, says Callahan, as it allows customers to feel as if they’re part of what’s happening in-store.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE RETURNING CUSTOMERS
“We rebranded right after COVID where we are now Denninger’s Experience Great Food, and one of the pillars of our brand is events in-store to differentiate ourselves from other grocers out there,” says Nathalie Coutayar, the grocer’s merchandising and marketing senior manager. “It’s a way to make customers want to come back and discover something new—and they do.” While Denninger’s hosts a variety of events throughout the year, she says the goal is to host a major in-store event every single month. Denninger’s holiday open house in mid-November to early December takes place in all five Ontario locations and has become a customer favourite across the board. The event showcases new, Christmas-inspired products from Europe, with multiple sampling stations manned by staff and suppliers. Last year’s event was the best attended yet, with a Christmas chalet structure in-store where people could walk in and take pictures. “You see all these big smiles from customers and it creates a lot of fun,” says Coutayar of the event. “Even our employees look forward to this every year because we all dress up and make our stores look so beautiful.”
Other popular events at Denninger’s include wine tastings that happen after-hours and require tickets purchased online, and March break food sessions for kids that take place during the day. “We have a local dairy farm we are teaming up with next year and will be offering foods with high-quality dairy products such as grilled cheese sandwiches and poutine,” says Coutayar. “It’s going to be educational and fun for kids, too.”
Appealing to children (and their parents) is a formula that’s certainly working for Stew Leonard’s, a family-owned chain of eight supermarkets in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey that first opened in 1969. Often touted as the Disneyland of grocery stores, shoppers are welcomed by singing and dancing animatronic displays and costumed characters that keep children entertained while their parents shop.
Jenn Polaski is a store manager at Stew Leonard’s in
In-store events
Newington, Conn., who spearheads the in-store event programs. She says the Saturday buffet breakfasts for kids with costumed characters are big hits that always keep families coming back. Similarly, the breakfasts with Santa are so popular during the holiday season that there are four different seatings over a weekend that draw some 150 attendees each. Customers pay for breakfast and having a buffet helps keep costs in check, says Polaski.
The grocer recently held a “Touch-A-Truck” event, reaching out to various community organizations to get vehicles (e.g., school bus, garbage truck, etc.) in its parking lot on a Sunday morning so children could hop on and see them up close. “Kids love trucks and are amazed by even garbage trucks,” explains Polaski, noting it was such a success they’ll do it again this year. “It was very low maintenance on our part and the easiest event to put together yet,” she says.
Meanwhile, at Eataly Toronto, a comprehensive offering of “hands-on” sessions that teach customers how to make (and sample) a variety of Italian pastas and desserts will sell out, even at fees of $128.51 per person. This September, the retailer is hosting a ticketed, adult-only farewell to summer celebration at
New, Christmas-inspired products from Europe take centre stage during Denninger’s annual holiday open house
In-store events
its CF Sherway Gardens shopping centre location in Etobicoke, Ont., with hand-crafted cocktails, DJ and a menu offering allyou-can-eat Italian street food.
Grocers on a tighter budget don’t need to miss out on engaging in-store events. “It’s important to remember that events can be scaled to fit your needs, no matter the size of your store or budget,” says Victoria Cromie, managing director at Mars
United Commerce in Toronto, part of a global marketing company offering solutions for grocers and other clients.
She says partnering with an experienced team can help grocers tailor a solution that works for their specific locations. “We focus on creating effective in-store events that drive success with the brands you carry, ensuring you get the most out of your investment,” says Cromie.
KEY TIPS TO HOSTING THE ULTIMATE IN-STORE EVENT
Want your next in-store event to really shine? Here are some things to consider first
DETERMINE YOUR GOALS FROM THE GET-GO: Whether it’s to better engage with the community, entice new customers, launch products or all of the above, experts advise grocers to determine an event’s purpose from the onset so they can measure outcomes accordingly. “So many of the retailers we work with throw ideas at a dartboard and don’t really think through the objectives and the metrics that will show what’s working and what’s not,” says Lisa Hutcheson, managing partner at JCWG, a retail consulting firm based in Toronto.
PUT METRICS IN PLACE: Hutcheson says stores typically have enough technology (point-of-sale tools, in-store cameras, traffic counters, etc.) to track metrics before and after an event. “Where we will see a blip is in retailers who didn’t think to track the history before an event … so they don’t have enough trend history to draw from,” she explains.
PARTNER WITH YOUR SUPPLIERS: The Look Company’s Tammy Callahan says there are plenty of suppliers who would love to do more with grocers if it helps in promoting their products. For example, she suggests inviting several new wine vendors in to showcase their products and supplying food samples to pair with them. She also points to companies such as hers that can provide innovative displays, printed graphics and installations to make events really pop.
MAKE YOUR CUSTOMERS FEEL SPECIAL: Whether it’s personal invitations, coupons for products featured at the event, or a goody bag of samples to take home,
shoppers want to feel valued. If you host events that require registration, make the sign-up simple to avoid customer frustration. Follow up post-event, too, to get suggestions for future in-store programs.
GET YOUR TEAM INVOLVED: When running anniversary sales at any of Summerhill Market’s six locations in the Greater Toronto Area, co-owner and vicepresident Christy McMullen says the whole team gets involved. “The cooking team gets involved for samples, the marketing team is involved for promotion and then each store has their teams execute it,” she says. “Sometimes we’ll do T-shirts for the staff and they get to sample, too, so they get excited about these events.”
CONSIDER IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES:
Whether it’s a temporary structure shoppers can walk into, a colourful 3D backdrop for Instagram posts or QR codes to scan for more information and giveaways, consider how to get customers actively involved. “We’ve executed events that not only offer traditional sampling, but also create immersive brand experiences,” says Mars United’s Victoria Cromie, citing one “standout” example involving an on-site mobile hair salon the company set up for one of its beauty clients. The result was an interactive brand experience at a key retailer’s location that was educational and engaging. “It was a hit, leaving a lasting impression on customers and truly bringing the brand to life,” she says.
ALWAYS USE SOCIAL MEDIA: Not only is social media a way to drive traffic in-store, but it can also keep the momentum going. Experts advise choosing a social media channel based on the type of people you want to entice into the store (TikTok and Instagram skew younger, while an older crowd may gravitate to Facebook and LinkedIn). Then social media can be used before and during to promote the event, as well as after to respond to queries or keep the conversation going about future events and promotions.
A 2024 NIQ report on The Power of Commerce on TikTok shows two in five users who discover a product on TikTok will physically visit stores to make purchases. In fact, TikTok users are 48% more likely to discover and instantly purchase new products than users on other social/video platforms. Mars’ Cromie says targeting the right audience based on their media consumption habits with in-store support is crucial for the success of any event. “It all comes down to compelling messaging— what’s in it for the customer—and precise targeting, which can make or break an event, whether online or in-store,” she says.
KEEP ON TOP OF TRENDS: JCWG’s Hutcheson says it’s important to keep on top of trends so you can tailor events around what’s currently important to customers. “Gen Zs and millennials are very driven by experiences and things that are educationbased … and health and wellness is a really big trend now,” she says.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED, PIVOT AND TRY AGAIN: Even with the best of intentions, be prepared that some events won’t hit your objectives. Take notes on what went wrong and move on, say grocers. “Once we had a magician and clown in-store and it took too much time and was distracting for the customers, so now we focus on the food,” says Summerhill’s McMullen. CG
Thankyoutothis amazing community comingtogetherto
Fresh
Baker, the independent grocer’s category manager, floral. “This opens up a world of possibilities where almost anything goes; it’s wonderful for our creativity and play.”
FLOWER POWER
An on-trend floral department helps grocers connect with customers and drive
profitability
By Rebecca Harris
IT’S NO WONDER grocery shoppers want to stop and smell the roses: Flowers can brighten up living spaces, enhance people’s moods and make great gifts. They also offer grocers a unique opportunity to improve the in-store experience and connect with customers more deeply.
“The floral department has a real opportunity to be the emotional centrepiece of the store, being able to engage all of the senses and offer an experience to in-store shoppers that they can’t get online,” says Penn Whaling, director, futures and innovation at Kantar. And since flowers are also connected to key milestones in people’s lives, from graduation to Mother’s Day, Whaling says it gives grocers an opportunity to show up for those important events.
Another key incentive to keep the floral department blooming is profit. “Stores should be selling fresh plants and flowers as it is the highest net profitability in the store when done correctly,” notes Deborah Zoellick, director of floral programs
at the U.S.-based International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA).
Urban Market 1919 in St. John’s, N.L. is one grocer that’s tapping into flower power. When the supermarket opened in 2020, it started selling local stems and then did pop-up events for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day where customers could make their own bouquets, says co-owner Ivy Hanley. Sales kept growing, so Hanley decided to open a standalone flower shop next door, called Teresa James. The flower shop focuses on bridal, funeral and corporate work, while Urban Market sells grab-and-go bouquets.
When it comes to design trends, Hanley says she and the team love learning from YouTube and TikTok. “We’re so open to designs and different styles that we find a lot of our customers are coming to us because of our flexibility.”
Toronto’s Summerhill Market is also going beyond the traditional. “We are seeing a lot more demand for brighter florals and even clashing palettes,” says Kamea
Health and wellness is another trend grocers can try and leverage. “People are starting to see things that can boost your mood and make you feel good not just as guilty pleasures, but as a valuable part of self-care,” says Kantar’s Whaling. “So, there is an opportunity to position flowers as an important part of making yourself feel good.”
While flowers are an important aspect of the in-store experience, they can also be part of the online experience—if done well. “People need a better way to browse and shop for floral products online. Right now, it’s a bit of a guessing game to see what you’ll get,” says Whaling. “There is a key role for digital tools to help bring flowers to life online and give people more confidence in buying via online channels.”
One solution is using augmented reality tools, which Whaling says allows shoppers to visualize how a flower arrangement might look in their space. In addition, generative AI can help people design their own bouquets using natural language inputs. “[Generative AI] can lower some of the barriers to helping them create something that feels really personalized and special,” says Whaling.
On the merchandising front, IFPA’s Zoellick advises retailers to change their in-store displays often. “Some people shop once a week and some every day … You want to move things around in your department so [customers] don’t think you aren’t selling that item. You may be selling out every day, but it is the perception.”
Also, floral departments can shape customers’ views of the entire store. “A display of fresh flowers and plants, especially when you can see it as you enter the store, gives a great fresh impression for the rest of the store,” says Zoellick. “Customers think, ‘wow this is so fresh, everything they sell must be super fresh.’” CG
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THE BIG CHEESE
Despite inflation, demand for cheese remains high and it’s fuelling innovation in the category
By Matt Semansky
Prices may rise and fall and trends may come and go, but one thing appears certain: Canadians love cheese. In a period of inflation, changing national demographics and diversifying diets, cheese—in both its dairy and non-dairy incarnations—remains a staple.
According to data from Statista, Canadians will consume an average of 12.6 kilograms of cheese in 2024. That’s only slightly down from the COVID-era high of 13.1 kilograms in 2021 and, with a wide range of products recently introduced or coming down the development pipeline, consumer interest in cheese is expected to remain high.
“With cheese, in general, there’s been a lot of innovation in the last 18 months,” says Logan McCarles, senior brand manager, cooking cheeses portfolio, Tre Stelle at Arla Foods. “We’re looking at the data on our side to try and capitalize on consumer trends and provide value to our customers.”
This innovation spans everything from formats to flavour profiles, convenient spreads to artisanal wedges, and traditional dairy cheese to nut-based
alternatives. Jo-Ann McArthur, president of Nourish Food Marketing in Toronto, says the versatility of cheese makes it ideal for experimentation and the creation of products that can scratch a consumer’s itch for comfort food, culinary adventure and everything in between.
“It’s a great base medium for flavours,” McArthur says. “It’s comforting, it’s adaptable, it’s nourishing, it’s indulgent, but permissible. And it’s coming in more convenient formats.”
With customers continuing to choose cheese—and having more cheese to choose from—it’s time to dive into some of the key trends defining the category.
Sugar and spice (and more fun flavours)
McArthur is part of a chorus of experts singing the praises of cheese as a foundation for a variety of flavours. “Cheddar, Gouda and ricotta are starting to see some interesting flavours. Fennel and Indian spices are being added into or crusted onto cheeses,” says Debbie Trenholm, founder and sommelier at Savvy Company, an Ottawa-based outfit that curates Canadian wines, craft ciders, artisan cheeses and coffees for gifts, events and subscribers. “I’m also seeing a rise in fresher cheeses and flavours added to it, like mozzarella or feta with different herbs and spices.”
Lisa Zografos, principal category merchant for specialty cheese at Whole Foods Market, adds that, like in other categories, the tastes of the world—such as Calabrian hot peppers and flavours from Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisines—are finding their way into cheese products. “There are a lot of great flavours that lend themselves to not only combining with cheese, like cheddar and kimchi on a burger, but also lend themselves to flavours in cheese, like ginger and spices,” says Zografos.
Formatted for convenience
Responding to consumers seeking quality, variety and convenience, manufacturers are innovating with formats, too. “We know that consumers are very busy and looking for convenient, ready-to-eat applications,” says McCarles, pointing to Tre Stelle’s whipped feta dip, which launched in the spring, as an example of a product that meets customers’ desire for a cheese that’s both novel and handy. “It’s taking a product like feta, which people typically
look at as a topping cheese for things like salads, to the next level. You just open the lid and it’s ready to serve.”
McArthur says spreads and dips present a lower barrier to entry for customers on the fence about trying something new. “You’re not going to buy a big block of flavoured cheese to eat on its own, whereas a cream cheese or a spread is an easier way to try something.”
Over at Whole Foods, Zografos has noticed a rise in popularity for small formats, citing soft-ripened and cubed cheeses as examples.
Building a board
Savvy Company’s Trenholm says cheese boards continue to be popular. “They’re appealing to the eye and they allow people to experiment with how to present different cheeses,” she says. “And I’ve been to parties where all you’re asked to bring is a bottle of wine and a wedge of cheese and that’s the contribution. The cheese board is the new veggie tray.”
Speaking of veggies, Trenholm says dairy-free cheeses have begun to hop on boards. That’s certainly the goal of Nuts For Cheese, a Canadian company specializing in dairy-free, cashew-based artisanal cheese products.
“There are a lot of shreds and slices, but when it comes to [plant-based] artisanal cheeses to put on your cheese board, there are a lot fewer options,” says Candace Campbell, U.S. national sales manager for Nuts For Cheese. “That’s one of the gaps we’re looking to fill.”
Nuts For Cheese’s board-ready portfolio now includes artisanal varieties ranging from brie to blue to Gouda.
Getting nutty
McArthur says historically, plant-based cheese has struggled more persistently against its dairy counterpart than alt milks and yogurts have. However, she says the introduction of casein proteins and the fermentation of nut-based cheese has enabled manufacturers to better replicate the taste and texture of dairy cheese. The result, McArthur says, is that non-dairy options are “sucking less.”
Campbell believes so. Nuts For Cheese ferments its products and makes its own cultures in-house. “We’ve studied the microbial composition of our products compared to dairy cheese and they’re actually quite similar,” she says.
The company is exploring goat cheese, halloumi, cream cheese and cheese dips as it looks to expand its portfolio.
THE CHEESE SHOULDN’T STAND ALONE
There are many factors that go into merchandising cheese—and many ideas about which of those factors are the most critical.
Jo-Ann McArthur of Nourish Food Marketing identifies the deli counter as the optimal spot for cheese, particularly artisanal varieties. “There’s an opportunity to do sampling and train up your staff so that if a customer buys something, you can give them a chance to try something else. Tell a story—if you can educate your deli people to do that you can definitely sell more cheese.”
Non-dairy cheese may not enjoy the same success in the deli section, however. “We sometimes get lost in that destination,” says Candace Campbell of Nuts For Cheese. “From our perspective, the best merchandising is when you group all of the plant-based cheeses together and create a destination for the plant-based consumer.”
For Arla Foods’ Logan McCarles, meanwhile, a key focus is promoting cross-category shopping and capitalizing on recipe trends that go viral on social media. “How do we tie it back to a viral recipe? Can you put all the products in that recipe the customer just saw on TikTok in one location to set them up for success?”
SHARE & SAVOUR
Our new Charcuterie collections bring consumers the avour and variety they crave. With four pre-sliced charcuterie meats inside, they’re perfect for entertaining. Get Inspired at pillers.com.
ON BOARD
Charcuterie continues to intrigue consumers and with pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble options, retailers can help bring these concepts to life
By Matt Semansky
c harcuterie boards are having a moment, with consumers drawing inspiration from—and sharing their own creations on—social media channels such as Instagram and TikTok. But the format itself is nothing new. Melissa Brandt-Welzel, vice-president, sales and marketing for Brandt Meats, is a third-generation executive for her family business, which has been built on feeding the appetite for charcuterie for more than 65 years.
“Charcuterie is basically what we do,” she says. “And people were eating charcuterie before they knew that was the word for it.”
Contributing to charcuterie’s popularity, Brandt-Welzel points to the visual appeal of a well-arranged board, the diversity of tastes and textures that can be featured, and the convenience it offers for consumers who don’t want to cook. Indeed, charcuterie is a versatile option for consumers attending or hosting a party or just looking for a simple, protein-rich meal to graze on.
But what does this all mean for grocers? Joel Gregoire, associate director, food and drink at Mintel, notes
charcuterie—which can blend any or all of meats, cheeses, breads, crackers, nuts, jams and more—challenges store dynamics that are based on strict category management. “You’re making consumers go all across the store,” he says of retailers that don’t show how these disparate products can fit together.
For a serving format that boasts convenience as a calling card, that’s a no-no. Instead, the experts we talked to shared the following tips to help retailers become charcuterie champions.
Cross-Merchandising
The first and most intuitive tip is to place products that belong on the same board in the same area of the store. And, as Gregoire says, the most obvious area is the deli counter. Not surprisingly, retailers including Teresa Spinelli, owner of the Alberta-based independent grocery chain Italian Centre Shop, agree.
“We try to make it easy to shop for charcuterie items. We try to create an area of our deli with little jams, packages of nuts and those kinds of things,” says Spinelli.
At Farm Boy, Matt Dill, director of
category management, fresh, says the grocer has a dedicated section for its charcuterie items within its deli department, which is located adjacent to its artisanal cheeses. “This makes it easy for customers to explore our range of high-quality products,” he says, adding that Farm Boy also displays sample boards to inspire shoppers.
Customer Education
Creating a flavourful, unique and eye-catching charcuterie board can be intimidating for consumers with more options than expertise. That’s why it’s important for deli employees to meet customers at the level of their knowledge and guide them.
“Our staff are experts and can give advice on items and how to arrange the board,” says Spinelli, adding that her employees are well versed in helping customers create themed and seasonal boards, and ones that reflect dietary restrictions or preferences.
Of course, when it comes to education, many consumers learn best by tasting. “In-store sampling events have been particularly effective,” says Dill. “These tastings not only drive interest, but also boost sales as customers appreciate the opportunity to experience the quality of our offerings first-hand.”
Leveraging Technology
If social media is playing a key role in the current popularity of charcuterie, it’s also fair to say social channels—and other digital technology—can help retailers and food manufacturers capitalize on the trend. In addition to sharing images of charcuterie on their social channels and websites, companies such as Maple Lodge Farms employ QR codes to help customers on their shopping journey.
“We utilize QR codes on displays to guide consumers to our product pages or indicate where they can find our products within their local grocery stores,” says Shalik Amanulla, senior brand manager for Maple Lodge Farms.
At Farm Boy, in-store QR codes link to online resources such as the company’s magazine, inSeason, which includes charcuterie features. “We also use our social media platforms to showcase charcuterie boards, highlight featured products and share tips and recipes, providing ongoing inspiration and engagement,” says Dill.
1 CLIMATE-RESISTANT CROP
Millets is a group of small-grain dryland cereals grown mostly in parts of Asia and Africa that are easy to cultivate and resilient to drought, climate stress and pests. Made up of several species, millets can be a good source of minerals, dietary fibre, vitamins and protein and have a lower glycemic index than other grains. To promote the benefits to both human health and the environment, the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets.
Millets Four things to know
By Chris Daniels
3 CEREAL OPERATIONS
“Most ancient grains provide great nutrition,” says Prashant Parameswaran, founder of Joyfull Millets cereal. “But, millets are the most ‘unselfish’ grain because they demand little from the environment and farmers.”
2 ONE-TWO PUNCH
Millets is not only a good source of protein, but it’s gluten free as well. “As the need for healthy gluten-free products rises, so, too, does the awareness and versatility of millets in cooking and baking,” says Gina Nagel, event co-ordinator and certified holistic nutritionist at Nature’s Emporium. The grocer sells
Global food and beverage launches with millets jumped 5% in the five-year period between 2019 and 2023, according to Innova Market Insights. Product offerings include breads such as Loblaw’s PC Gluten Free Millet & Quinoa, Country Harvest 14 Grains, cereals, flours and more.
Joyfull Millets cereal, which comes in three varieties (Fruit, Nut & Seeds with no added sugar; Fruit & Nut; and Choco & Nut), launched this summer in Metro and Highland Farms stores in Ontario. “The product isn’t meant to compete with Kellogg and Post, but Jordans, Nature’s Path, Dorset and other muesli cereal brands,” says Kurt Hatherly, country head—Canada at Tata Consumer Products, the distributor of Joyfull Millets in Canada. “Each pack of Joyfull Millets contains 25% millets to give it a crunch and that is our point of differentiation. Unlike most mueslis, which are made of oats, you can step away from a bowl of Joyfull Millets and milk without it becoming soggy.”
millet flours from Bob’s Red Mill, Cuisine Soleil and in organic bulk.
“People are turning to millet [flour] not only because it’s more affordable, but also due to its mild taste and superior texture compared to alternatives like rice or coconut flour,” says Nagel. (According to Future Market Insights, the global millet flour
market will grow from US$5.1 billion this year to $7.8 billion in 2034.) And, as Lu Ann Williams, global insights director at Innova Market Insights, notes, everyone these days is looking for sources of quality protein beyond meat. “Nearly one in two consumers in Canada say protein is an important ingredient,”
4 MOVING TARGET
A challenge for products containing millets is educating shoppers on where to find them in store. “Sometimes we’re in the frozen section, sometimes in the bakery and sometimes in the natural aisle,” says Tony Ayala, president of Queen St. Bakery, a Toronto-based company that produces gluten-free breads, English muffins, buns and bagels. Launched in 2018 with White Bean and Millet Seed Loaf, Queen St. Bakery now has, within its lineup, Cinnamon Raisin Superfood Bagels and a 1-For-1 Superfood Baking Flour with millets and is carried in more than 2,000 stores across Canada. The company has worked with some grocers on aisle callouts such as shelf flags. “That’s the No. 1 tool we recommend for moving product,” says Ayala. Nature’s Emporium organizes foods containing millets by product category. “All cereals are displayed together and arranged by brand, while flours are grouped in the baking section,” says Nagel. “This approach makes it easier for shoppers to find what they need.”
says Williams, citing an Innova consumer survey. “With 28% of consumers in the U.S. and Canada saying they always look at ingredients of interest on the product pack, this opens opportunities to showcase millets directly on pack and highlight its functional benefits.”
New on shelf!
1 POPPI
Marketed as a healthier alternative to traditional sodas and made by combining fruit juice, prebiotics and apple cider vinegar, Poppi contains only 25 calories, five grams of sugar and is available in Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Classic Cola and Doc Pop.
2 CHOCXO DARK MILK CHOCOLATE COOKIES & CREME CUPS
With only four grams of sugar per cup, Chocxo Dark Milk Chocolate Cookies & Creme Cups are a guilt-free indulgence that can satisfy any sweet tooth. Made using a combination of 85% cacao dark chocolate and creamy milk chocolate for the shell, the cups are filled with a creamy vanilla-infused centre with crunchy, gluten-free chocolate cookie bits and topped with even more cookie bits.
3 KELLOGG’S TWO SCOOPS RAISIN BRAN CRUNCH
Kellogg’s Two Scoops Raisin Bran Crunch cereal blends crunchy oat clusters, multi-grain flakes and sun-dried raisins with the taste of golden honey. Each 55-gram serving is a source of 11 essential nutrients, has no artificial flavours or colours and is a high source of fibre.
4 MCCAFÉ ESPRESSO COFFEE CAPSULES
McCafé has launched a line of commercially compostable Espresso Coffee Capsules for use in Nespresso Original Coffee Machines. Made from a blend of Rainforest Alliance Certified Arabica beans, the capsules are available in light roast (sweet caramel notes), medium roast (chocolate and hazelnut notes) and dark roast (dark chocolate and roasted almond notes).
5 NUTRI PICKLED EGGS IN SEASONED VINEGAR
Ideal for salads, a high-protein snack, on-the-go breakfast or to jazz up an appetizer, these artisan-style pickled eggs are made with fresh, top-quality ingredients and are available in three flavours: Herbs & Garlic, Wine Vinegar & Sea Salt, and Dill Pickle. CG
The latest products hitting shelves
1 2
4
3
5
Express Lane
IN GOOD STANDING Rotman’s David Soberman on the delicate art of reputation management
By Kristin Laird
IN BUSINESS, REPUTATION is everything. A good reputation can help boost customer loyalty and trust, sales, attract new customers and allow a business to stand out from its competitors. But what happens if the positive reputation a company has worked hard to build takes a hit?
We asked David Soberman, a marketing professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, his thoughts on reputation management and the messaging grocers should be focused on right now. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What contributes to a strong brand reputation?
The No. 1 thing is providing an offer to customers that really appeals to them and delivering against that offer. In the case of supermarkets, that would be giving people a selection of products they find very appealing at prices they find affordable … in an environment they find pleasant to shop. Those things together create the reputation of a food retailer.
There’s some consumer distrust out there—how do you turn that into an opportunity?
People don’t think about a company’s reputation in great detail. They simply think about how much they pay when they go into the grocery store, and are they walking out of the grocery store with as much money in their wallet as when they shopped last week or last month or last year. Times are pretty tough for people right now and we say inflation is
slowing, but we’ve not quite gotten there. So, in a sense, the No. 1 thing that’s going to repair the reputation of these grocers is slowing inflation—something quite out of their control. From a marketing point of view, is there a lot they can do? If they’re able to reduce prices in certain categories, that’s definitely something they can publicize. Try to help shoppers save money and make their grocery budget go further—that’s really the first thing that affects people’s opinion about grocery retailers.
Aside from price and value, what should grocers focus on?
I think those things are important to people when they go shopping, whether they’re going to have a direct effect on the reputation of the supermarket is another question. I think, in Canada, we are still very skeptical. A lot of Canadians have travelled to the United States and a substantial number of us have also travelled to Europe. We’ve seen what hard discounters do and how they provide an alternative to people whereby you forgo the service and the pleasant environment to get better prices.
But grocers have shouldered a lot of the blame for high food costs despite there being several factors at play.
The main thing that’s driven up prices is general inflation in the economy, largely driven by energy prices that have gone up versus where they were two or three years ago and, to a certain degree, uncertainty in the world driven by conflict
in areas like Europe where Russia has invaded Ukraine and also in the Middle East. These things are contributing factors to inflation. The real issue, though, is that people see in the news that, OK, if inflation has gone up [for argument’s sake] by 10%, the grocery chains’ profits have gone up by 15%. Given the inflationary environment, that’s pretty much to be expected, but that’s not the message [in the media] we’ve been getting.
Is there a way grocers can shift the narrative?
Shifting the narrative really means nothing. What’s going to mean something is how people feel when they go shopping and whether they feel their hardearned money is going further. This isn’t an issue of, ‘Oh, I wanna create a good image for myself.’ The issue is how people feel after paying for their groceries.
How should grocers be investing in their brands right now?
You want to communicate the things that made you successful, [for example] Loblaw’s President’s Choice and PC Optimum program are very attractive and that [loyalty] card can be used at Shoppers Drug Mart, which gives them even more strength. The only way to grow in this market is by [stealing] business from someone. So, the things they need to do are also relative to what their competitors are doing. If you are larger in one region, you probably have an advantage in terms of buying. So, you may be able to offer more attractive prices CG
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
MORE TRADES. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS OCTOBER 29 & 30, 2024
MAI HAMED Manager, Sponsorship, Membership & Programs
IRMELI KOSKINEN Coordinator, Member Services
TYSON SMITH Account Representative, Sales
CINDY SUH Coordinator, Trade Show Operations
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
WELCOME TO GROCERY INNOVATIONS
CANADA A
MESSAGE FROM RON WELKE, PRESIDENT & CEO
Welcome to Canada’s premier grocery conference & exhibition, Grocery Innovations Canada. Be part of Grocery Week as industry gathers over the two-day event. It’s A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES at the show; with MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS.
Download the Show App to be able to schedule meetings and connect with all facets of the grocery trade. With some 550+ exhibits and 1500+ companies and over 130,000 sq. ft., attendees can find everything under one roof. Must-see pavilions: Sustainability Sentral; Ontario; and First Timers. Keep a look out for the exclusive show specials/offers. Innovations can be seen at the entrance in the New Product Showcases in the main lobby where attendees will be able to cull the latest trends and innovations.
By downloading the show app, attendees can participate in the retailer meeting program. Meeting spaces are located by the new Sip & Sample stage, where food demos will take place. There are free networking events: Monday’s opening reception and Tuesday’s Mix and Mingle Networking cocktail prior to the Merchandising Excellence Awards night, where the best merchandising displays will be featured.
Exclusive sessions and speakers await from the latest news about the grocery code to the best practices for grocers, morning and afternoon sessions will provide data and insights to help your business. Not to miss: Ethnic grocery panel, store design experts, security/theft session and more!
After exhibition closes, retailers and suppliers gather to celebrate the best in the business. Tuesday’s Master Merchandiser Awards celebrates in-store merchandising displays followed by Wednesday’s Independent Grocer of the Year gala honouring the best grocers in Canada.
We look forward to connecting with you at GIC 2024!
MAKE CONNECTIONS AT GIC:
MONDAY, OCT. 28 | 5:30-7:30PM | OPENING RECEPTION ALL WELCOME
TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE (TCC)–NORTH (HALL H)–COLLABORATION CORRIDOR–J. MITCHELL LOBBY
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT
GENERAL INFO
REGISTRATION HOURS
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2024 .............. 8:00AM—4:00PM
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024 8:00AM—4:00PM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2024 7:00AM—4:00PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024 7:00AM—6:00PM
CONFERENCE HOURS
OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2024................. 8:45AM 11:00AM TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE (TCC)–NORTH BLDG. (HALL H) BALLROOMS A,B
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024 7:15AM 11:00AM
*PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL SESSIONS TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–BALLROOMS A,B
TRADE SHOW HOURS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2024 11:00AM—4:30PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024 11:00AM—4:00PM TCC–NORTH (HALL I)
SERVICES
FIRST AID OFFICE
The First Aid Office is located by Hall H wood doors. For any emergency, contact Toronto Congress Centre Building Security (Door 4) at: 416–688–6469
WHEELCHAIR SERVICES
TCC has one wheelchair on standby in first aid room for emergency purposes.
MEDIA OFFICE
Nancy Kwon is the key media contact for Grocery Innovations Canada 2024. All media must be registered before entrance into the trade show. The media office is located beside the trade floor.
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 established across Canada.
& CEO CFIG, Toronto,
✶
Past Chair, Pattison Food Group, Langley, BC
of Companies, Corner Brook, NL
✶RON WELKE President
ON
DOMINIC ARSENAULT Secretary, IGA Coaticook, Coaticook, QC
BRIAN BRADLEY Treasurer, Stong’s Markets, Vancouver, BC
DAN BREGG Honorary
GENE COLEMAN Coleman Group
BRAD FLETCHER Village Grocer, Markham, ON
NATHALIE COUTAYAR Denninger’s Foods of the World, Hamilton, ON
CHRISTOPHER LEE Southside Market AG Foods - Revelstoke, BC
BROOKE KYNOCH Safety Mart Foods & Scotch Creek Market, Chase, BC
*JAMIE NELSON Chair, Pattison Food Group, Langley, BC
PAT PESSOTTO Longo Bros., Vaughan, ON
*RICK RABBA Member at Large, The J. Rabba Company Ltd., Mississauga, ON
MIKE SHARPE Sharpe’s Food Market, Campbellford, ON
DEBBIE UNICK Federated Co-operatives Ltd., Saskatoon, SK
*ERIN HIGDON Vice Chair, Powell’s Supermarket Ltd., Bay Roberts, NL
NEIL KENNEDY Sobeys Strathmore, Strathmore, AB
JUSTIN SCHLEY Quality Foods, Errington, BC
* Executive Committee
JIM HAMILTON Hammy’s, Ponoka, AB
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
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.
TIM MCNERNEY Sr. VP National Sales & Mrkting, Coca-Cola Company
KOSTAS KAPRALOS VP National Sales, Lassonde
ROBERT CLARKE Director of Sales, McCain Foods
*GREG COLES Vice Chair, Chief Customer Officer, Nestlé Canada Inc.
VINCENT NADEAU VP Sales, Kraft Heinz Company
COLIN MANN VP Market Development, General Mills Canada Corp.
SAM MAGNACCA VP & GM, Acosta Canada
MARTIN PAYANT Chief Customer Officer Unilever Canada
TOM SZOSTOK Sr. VP Sales, Lactalis Canada
TRACI WILDISH VP Canada Sales and North American Retail Operations McCormick
JOHN KOTSOPOULOS VP Sales & Trade Marketing, The J.M. Smucker Co.
HENRY VANDENHOOGAN VP Sales Tree of Life Canada
STEEVE LAMONTAGNE VP Sales & Head of Canada Sales, Kruger Products Inc.
*SCOTT LORIMER Chair, Sr. VP Retail Sales, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
MICHAEL BATKE Sr. VP Canada Sales Leader, Procter & Gamble Inc.
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28
8:00AM | INDuSTRy TOuR *REGISTERED RETAILERS ONLY
Sponsored by:
5:30PM – 7:30PM | OPENiNG RECEPTiON OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–COLLABORATION CORRIDOR–J. MITCHELL LOBBY
Sponsored by:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–BALLROOMS A, B
7:45AM – 8:45AM | REgiSTRATiON/ChECk-IN
Annual General Meeting I
Sponsored by:
8:45AM – 9:15AM | CFIg’S ANNuAl gENERAl MEETiNg
Updates from CFIG, Ron Welke, President & CEO
9:15AM – 10:00AM | gROCERy CODE OF CONDuCT: WhAT yOu NEED TO kNOW This Industry must-attend session. What the Code will mean for your business and how you can ensure it benefits you. Industry group members who constructed the Code will go through key provisions and answer questions. Panelists: Diane Brisebois, President & CEO, RCC; Michael Graydon, CEO, FHCP; Ron Lemaire, President, CPMA; Giancarlo Trimarchi, President, Vince’s Market. Moderated by Gary Sands, Sr. VP, CFIG.
10:00AM – 10:45AM | gROCERy FORECAST: TRENDS & OppORTuNiTiES ShApiNg ThE gROCERy INDuSTRy
Aaron Goertzen, BMO Capital Markets; Carman Allison, NielsenIQ and Shabnam Weber, Tea and Herbal Association of Canada joins Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.
Sponsored by:
11:00AM – 4:30PM | TRADE ShOW EXhIBITION
TCC–NORTH (HALL I)
INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS
TRADE FLOOR STAGE SESSIONS
SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS
12:00PM – 12:30PM
Food Means the World to Us: With a focus on community connection and sustainability, Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters, offers insights into the future of food consumption and retail.
2:00PM – 2:30PM
Loyalty & Grocery: Jason Beales, AIR MILES joins Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters, to discuss ways to engage customers and grow their business through loyalty levers and promotional capabilities.
SIP & SAMPLE
STAGE SESSIONS
SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS
1:00PM – 1:30PM
Maple Leaf’s Head of Culinary, Chef Sam Lazuric draws inspiration from the season to showcase sophisticated holiday entertaining with Prime RWA Chicken Breast. Tantalize your taste buds by sampling her Curried Apple, Cranberry, Chicken Salad with Toasted Pistachio and learning sustainable upcooking and upcycling practices. Celebrate ethnic flavour profiles with easy meal solutions that will make a big statement around the table!
3:00PM – 3:30PM
Explore the world of mocktails with Maison Perrier CHIC as Brand Activation Manager, Erik Mili, shares insights on the booming trend of non-alcoholic mocktails and what consumers are looking for.
Discover what sets Maison Perrier CHIC apart and indulge in a delightful sip of the new sophisticated yet low calorie mocktail experience.
EVENING EVENTS
4:30PM – 5:00PM | MIX AND MINglE
NETWORkINg EVENT OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS
TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–COLLABORATION CORRIDOR–J.MITCHELL LOBBY (BALLROOMS A, B)
Join industry colleagues for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks.
Sponsored by:
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
5:00PM – 6:30PM | MERChANDISINg EXCEllENCE AWARDS
Awards will be presented to Master Merchandiser Winners for best in-store displays; Top 10 in Grocery, and Best Booths from GIC. Co-hosts Ron Welke, Tony Chapman
Reception Sponsored by:
9:15AM – 9:55AM
The New Game: How AI Is Changing Your Growth Plans Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of digital marketing and growth strategies. Join leading Digital Marketing Strategist & Entrepreneur Ross Simmonds to uncover how AI tools and technologies are reshaping businesses and how they can adapt to stay ahead. In addition, he brings it all together by sharing tactical ways marketers can use AI while also showing clear examples of ways in which AI could revolutionize the way we work for decades to come.
Sponsored by:
Master Merchandiser Sponsors:
10:00AM – 10:10AM | COFFEE BREAK
Sponsored by:
10:15AM – 10:45AM CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL SESSIONS
TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–BALLROOMS A, B
7:15AM – 7:50AM | BREAKFAST
Sponsored by:
7:50AM – 8:30AM
Sponsored by:
8:30AM – 9:10AM
ROOM 1
THEFT/SHRINK: Retail Theft: from general shrink statistics that tell you how many got away, to the overall economic impact of retail crime. Get access insight that will make the most on your bottom line before it goes public. Presented by Stephen O’Keefe, Bottom Line Matters.
ROOM 2
BENCHMARKING: FMS’ Annual Independent Grocers Survey 2024 results are presented by Robert Graybill, FMS
ROOM 3
Fireside chat on retail trends in design and communication to consumers in today’s environment with JP Lacroix, SLD and Patrick Rodmell, Rodmell & Company with Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: New ideas around the world that help you build loyalty and trust at home. Rachel Loui, Strategic Growth Factor
ROOM 4
IN-STORE RETAIL MEDIA: The Path to Purchase Institute's Cyndi Loza shares proprietary research looking at the impact in-store retail media as well as retailer and brand loyalty programs have on shopper behaviour.
Sponsored by:
The Demand for Diversity in the Aisles. How ethnic grocery retailing has evolved beyond dumplings and donairs. Rick Rabba, Rabba Fine Foods; Inder Chohan, CJR Wholesale Grocers; Adrian Gianello, Yummy Market, with Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.
Sponsored by:
11:00AM – 4:00PM TRADE SHOW EXHIBITION TCC–NORTH (HALL I)
WIFI SPONSORED BY:
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A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
INSIGHTS & INNOVATIONS
TRADE FLOOR STAGE SESSIONS
SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS
12:00PM – 12:30PM
Detailed Loss Prevention programs: From summary to step-by-step instruction on how to implement programs, Stephen O’Keefe, Bottom Line Matters provides proven solutions for retailers.
2:00PM – 2:30PM
Harnessing Gen AI: A competitive edge for grocery retailers. How to optimally use free Gen AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to get insights about your business. Rachel Loui, Strategic Growth Factor
Sponsored by:
WIFI SPONSORED BY:
EVENING EVENTS
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
TCC-NORTH (HALL H) J. MITCHELL LOBBY, COLLABORATION CORRIDOR (BALLROOMS A, B)
5:30PM – 6:15PM | RECEpTION
Sponsored by:
6:30PM – 9:15PM | INDEpENDENT gROCER OF ThE yEAR AWARDS
Awards will be presented to the best grocers in Canada.
Sponsored by:
SIP & SAMPLE STAGE SESSIONS
SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS
1:00PM – 1:30PM
If ¾ of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best! This dedicated tasting features Fever-Tree’s new Non- Carbonated Mixers, made with only the best naturally sourced ingredients from around the world. Sip and Sample the Margarita, Mojito, and Caesar mixers presented by Fever-Tree, Tree of Life and Beth Havers, Kinda Whisky Inc.
3:00PM – 3:30PM Chef Devan demonstrates how Liberté Plain Yogourt elevates any dish with its versatility and delicious taste, perfect for adding rich flavour and nutrition to everyday meals.
DAILY SHUTTLE
EVERY 15-20 MINUTES
Westin Toronto Airport Hotel to/from Toronto Congress Centre
Monday, October 28—4:45PM – 8:00PM
Tuesday, October 29—7:00AM – 7:30PM
Wednesday, October 30—6:30AM –11:00PM
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
DRAW FOR GRAND PRIZE TRIP TO NgA ShOW IN lAS VEgAS!
Sponsored by:
Awards
Dinner
Dessert
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS*
Grocery Innovations Canada 2024 thanks the following sponsors for their support. *As of October 18, 2024
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
EXHIBITOR BY COMPANY ✪
2.0 FOOD INC.
7000 Rue Émile Nelligan Trois-Rivières, QC G8Y 7C1
T: (143) 888-2273
E: info@20food.ca www.en.20foods.ca
2.0 food is an innovative company bringing dairy and non-dairy ice cream to the retail market. Booth #735
ACOSTA
2700 Matheson Blvd East, East Tower, Suite 101 Mississauga, On L4W 4V9
T: (905) 238-8422
E: tal.dovas@mosaic.com www.acosta.com
Acosta provides trusted brands with integrated sales and retail merchandising solutions to move products off shelves and into shopper’s baskets. Booth #1424, 1424A
ADCO DISPLETECH
1310 Chabanel O Montreal, QC H4N 1H4
T: (514) 381-2396
E: info@displetech.com www.displetech.com
Adco Displetech specializes in store fixtures and shelving. We are an electronic shelf label solutions provider. Booth #530
ADVANTAGE SOLUTIONS
60 Courtney Drive Park West, Unit #3 Mississauga, On L5W 0B3
We provide branded, retailer and experiential services. We team up to figure out the best ways to get those products on shelves, online, and in shopper's baskets. Booth #725
AFFILIATED INDEPENDENTLOBLAW INC.
1 President’s Choice Circle
Brampton, ON L6Y 5S5
T: (888) 495-5111
E: businessdevelopment@loblaw.ca www.loblaws.ca
The Affiliated Independent Group includes over 300 Independent, Freshmart® and L’Intermarche® retailers from coast to coast. Booth #1503
✪ AFFINITY GROUP CANADA
21 East Wilmot Street
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1A3
T: (905) 763-2929
E: info@affinitysales.ca www.affinitysales.com
Keep your brand connected to a community of resources and relationships that will drive your business. Booth #1708
AGROPUR DAIRY COOPERATIVE
4600 Rue Armand-Frappier
Saint-Hubert, QC J3Z 1G5
T: (800) 268-7777
E: peter.alfonsi@agropur.com www.argropur.com
Agropur Cooperative is a producer of highquality dairy products for the retail food service and industrial markets.Booth #1912
AIR MILES is one of Canada’s most recognized loyalty programs, with participation from more than half of Canadian households and 300+ Partners in-store and online. Booth #1914
A. LASSONDE INC.
170, 5e Avenue
Rougemont, QC J0L 1M0
T: (888) 477-6663
E: info.sales@lassonde.com www.lassonde.com
Lassonde is the North American leader in the development, manufacture and sale of fruit and vegetable juices, beverages and snacks. Booth #1509
AMERLUX, LLC
178 Bauer Drive
Oakland, NJ 07436 USA
T: (937) 882-5010
Info@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 #734
AM/PM SERVICE
2237 Hawkins Street Unit 1110 Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 0M2
T: (800) 336-2622
E: inquiries@ampmservice.com www.ampmservice.com
For over 35 years, AM/PM Service has provided world-class POS solutions for the grocery industry across Canada. Booth #1603
ARARAT TRADING 2002 CORP.
5820 Kennedy Rd. Mississauga, ON L4Z 2C3
T: (416) 878-4071
E: alex@araratfoods.com www.araratfoods.com
Ararat Trading is a leading import and distribution company specializing in grocery items, dry items, deli products, candies, oil, and olive oil. Booth #512
ARBUTUS FOODS #201-1497 Admirals Road Victoria, BC V9A 2P8
T: (250) 952-7100
E: jcoombs@jadefinefoods.com www.arbutusfarms.ca
Arbutus Foods provides high quality, delicious, retail-ready products for food service and retail. Booth #1008
ARMAGH POS SOLUTIONS
180 Dundurn Street South Hamilton, ON L8P 4K3
T: (904) 528-5903
E: solutions@armaghpos.com www.armaghpos.com
Founded in 1979, and based in Ontario, Armagh POS Solutions is one of the oldest and most established point of sale systems provider in Canada. Booth #437
ARNEG CANADA 18 Richelieu Lacolle, QC J0J 1J0
T: (289) 795-5012
E: sfeere@arnegdml.com www.arneg.ca
The largest Canadian refrigeration case and compressor systems in Canada. Proudly manufactured and assembled and serviced in Canada for the retail grocery industry. Booth #1519
Arterra Wines Canada owns and distributes over 100+ wine brands and operates eight wineries. Headquartered in Mississauga, ON. Booth #909
✪ AVANTI PRESS, INC.
155 W. Congress, Suite 200 Detroit, MI 48226 USA
T: (800) 228-2684
E: stuartbunn@avantipress.com www.avantipress.com
Avanti Press is a Detroit-based publisher of greeting cards. We offer vendor managed greeting card programs on a plan-o-gram with free displays and shipping. Booth #936
BMO Business Banking is proud to support CFIG and its members with a tailored banking and financing industry program for independent grocers in Canada. Booth #1304
&
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
BEE MAID HONEY LIMITED
645 Black Diamond Blvd. Winnipeg, MB R2J 4M7
T: (204) 786-8977
E: honey@beemaid.com www.beemaid.com
Visit Bee Maid Honey, a 100% Canadian honey cooperative, showcasing our pure Canadian honey products and Auntie Bea’s coldbrewed teas, crafted with Bee Maid Honey. Booth #1327
BEER NUTS INC
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
E: dalia@beernuts.com www.beernuts.com
Snackin' since 1953. We welcome you to our nutty Beer Nuts®. Don't be late to the party. Original peanuts and bar mixes. Booth #2002, #2003
Since 1992, Beland Organic Foods has done sales and marketing throughout Canada. We have built up an in-depth knowledge of the Canadian organic food industry. Booth #2018
Importer and distributor of well-known brands from Asia: Prima Taste, Itsuki, Daisho, Mr. Viet. Authentic Asian specialty foods from Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam. Booth #435
BEVERAGE WORLD INC.
590 South Service Rd. Stoney Creek, ON L8E 2W1
T: (905) 719-1885
E: info@beverageworld.ca www.beverageworld.ca
Brand owners of the PoP Shoppe & Canadian exclusive importer of Alo & Calypso Lemonade & MELA Watermelon Water. Servicing customers across Canada. Booth #1203
✪ BIG CHIEF MEAT SNACKS INC.
3900 52 Avenue NE Calgary, AB T3J 3X4
T: (403) 264-2641
E: chuck@bigchief.ca www.bigchiefmeatsnacks.com
Tender, gluten-free beef jerky made with 100% Canadian beef, available in a variety of flavours and convenient package sizes for a satisfying snacking experience. Booth #1137
BIMBO CANADA
2 International Boulevard, Suite 100 Etobicoke, ON M9W 1A2
T: (800) 465-5515
E: crelations@grupobimbo.com www.bimbocanada.com
Bimbo Canada is the country’s largest and oldest bakery, feeding Canadians delicious and nutritious food for more than 110 years. Booth #1403
BOB BAKERY WORLD LTD
#210 20285 Stewart Cres
Maple Ridge, BC V2X 8G1
T: (778) 233-9081
E: bob@bobbakeryworld.com www.bobbakeryworld.com
We are a 1 Stop Shop for Tools, Equipment and decorations for your bakery. From full program support to simple tools, we are here to help. Booth #1502
BOS SMOKED FISH INC.
1175 Pattullo Ave. Woodstock, ON N4S 7w3
T: (519) 537-5000
E: office@bossmokedfish.com www.bossmokedfish.com
Bos Smoked Fish Inc. is a leading smoked fish supplier to numerous distributors, food service companies, major grocery chains, and small retailers across North America. Booth #1728
✪ BRAVE AND YOUNG DISTRIBUTORS LTD
11955 95A Ave
Delta, BC V4C 3W1
T: (778) 395-2992
E: sales@braveandyoung.ca www.braveandyoung.ca
We import snacks and chicken soup, instant coffee, and kimchee produced in Korea and sell them all over Canada. Booth #1127
BRITTLES ‘N MORE LTD.
180 Frobisher Dr., Unit 2 Waterloo, ON N2V 2A2
T: (519) 884-3505
E: contactus@brittles.ca www.brittles-n-more.com
Canada’s largest gourmet Copper Kettle Brittle and Fudge maker. Everything handmade, fresh-to-order! Brittles 21 varieties, Beer nuts 15 varieties, plus Sponge Toffee & Chocolate Pizzas. Booth #1838
✪ BRRR BOX – ATLAS CONTAINERS LTD
85 Millwick Drive
North York, ON M9L 1Y4
T: (416) 716-2214
E: aumentarcanada@gmail.com www.brrrbox.com
BRRR Box is a 100% recyclable, biodegradable cooler made using the most modern patented technologies in corrugated packaging. Our goal is to help eliminate Styrofoam Packaging, Sustainable Bags Packaging, Refrigeration. Booth #434
✪ BSI GROUP CANADA
6205B Airport Road, Suite 108 Mississauga, ON L4V 1E1
BSI empowers you and your people to manage business risks and food safety hazards through training, standards certification, and support from industry experts. Booth #606
We do printing (business cards, labels, folders, brochures, and flyers), signage (outdoor/indoor, signs, vinyl, window branding, LED/neon, etc.), logo designing, and branded giveaways. Booth #614
Cambridge Treats Inc. located in ON, Canada produces high quality pet treats for private labels, including dental treats, jerky, chews and vitamin treats. Booth #1825
CANADA BEEF
2550 Argentia Rd., Suite 210 Mississauga, ON L5N 5R1
T: (905) 821-4900
E: info@canadabeef.ca www.canadabeef.ca
Canada Beef Inc. is an independent national organization representing the research, marketing and promotion of the Canadian cattle and beef industry worldwide. Booth #1134
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
Canadian Grocer is the #1 magazine, website, and e-newsletter for the Canadian grocery industry, with an audience of 170,000+ retailers and decision makers. Booth #1141
CANADIAN PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION
162 Cleopatra Drive
Ottawa, ON K2G 5X2
T: (613) 218-3832
E: www.hurban@cpma.ca www.cpma.ca
CPMA is an organization that represents companies that are active in the marketing of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables in Canada. Booth #612
Be a Taste Bud and visit us to discover women-led food businesses featuring: SOLENZI Foods, Jewels Under The Kilt, and No. 7 Mexican Hot Sauce! Booth #1524
CAVENDISH FARMS
100 Midland Drive
Dieppe, NB E1A 6X4
T: (506) 858-7777
www.cavendishfarms.com
Cavendish Farms is sampling new frozen potato and appetizer products, including French Fries, Tots, and Onion Rings. Booth #1033
CHEF BRANDZ INC.
7050 Telford Way, Unit 100B Mississauga, ON L5S 1V7
At Chef Brandz Inc., we’re not just a meal provider – we’re your partner in delivering exceptional dining solutions. Flexibility is our hallmark. Booth #1645
CHENS ENTERPRISE CORPORATION
5830 Coopers Ave.
Mississauga, ON L4Z 1Y3
T: (905) 624-1188
E: chens@chensec.com www.chensec.com
National wholesale distributor of Food & Household goods servicing large chains, supermarkets, cash & carries & food services. We offer 300 renowned brands at competitive pricing. Booth #1030
CHEP CANADA CORP
7400 East Danbro Crescent Mississauga, ON L5N 8C6
T: (866) 261-2437
E: customercare.ca@chep.com www.chep.com
CHEP is a global leader in supply chain solutions, providing pallet and container pooling services to optimize logistics and reduce environmental impact for businesses worldwide. Booth #1525
✪ CHIARA CUCINA
5200 Dixie Rd, Unit 6
Mississauga, ON L4W 1E4
T: (437) 928-4762
E: info@chiaracucina.com www.chiaracucina.com
We produce gourmet frozen pizza. Chiara Cucina brings you the authentic flavours of Italy in as little as 9 minutes or less. Booth #1940
CIAO CHAR INC.
12 Northwestern Avenue Toronto, ON M6M 5G1
T: (647) 746-6751
E: char@ciaochar.com www.ciaochar.com
Pasta sauce, inspired by true Italian cuisine. 100% Made in Italy. Booth #420
Circular Innovation Council offers circular and innovative solutions to the grocer industry through training, pilot programs, education and customized resources. Booth #541
CJR WHOLESALE GROCERS
260 Brunel Road
Mississauga, ON L4Z 1T5
T: (905) 361-1081
E: sales@cjrwholesale.com www.cjrwholesale.com
Family-owned & independent for 30+ years, offering 7,500+ products, CJR’s your onestop-shop for grocery, refrigerated, freezer, specialty & product innovations. Specializing in distribution & supplychain-solutions. Booth #1224
✪ CLICKHIRE.AI
5928 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC V7R 4N4
T: (604) 988-7653
E: geoff@clickhire.ai www.clickhire.ai
We pre-screen, rank and deliver job applicants for Franchisees, so they can build a better business. Booth #946
CLOROX CANADA
150 Biscayne Cr.
Brampton, ON L6W 4V3
T: (905) 595-8200
E: info@clorox.com www.clorox.ca/en
Green Works® offers powerful, naturallyderived cleaning products without harsh smells. Glad® helps Canadians waste better and waste less with smart compost, waste, and recycling solutions. Booth #1344
COCA-COLA CANADA BOTTLING LTD.
335 King Street East Toronto, ON M5A 1L1
T: (800) 438-2653
E: mtam@cokecanada.com www.cokecanada.com
Coke Canada Bottling is an independent, family-owned business. As Canada’s Local Bottler, the company proudly makes, distributes, merchandises, and sells the most-loved beverages Canadians enjoy. Booth #1409
We manufacturer of Colio Estate Wines including Girls' Night Out Wines, Hopetown Craft Co, and Most Wanted Wines and Thornbury Craft Co - Cider & Beer. Booth #2046
Conagra offers a diverse range of food products, including frozen meals, snacks, & pantry stables with brands like Orville Redenbacher & Hunts. Booth #603
CONCORD NATIONAL
2515 Meadowpine Blvd., Unit 2 Mississauga, ON L5N 6C3
At Concord National, we build great brands. Our sales, marketing and management experience spans virtually every product category and nearly every corner of the world. Booth #1233
CONGLOM
2600 Marie Curie Avenue
St-Laurent, QC H4S 2C3
T: (514) 333-666
www.ksande@conglom.com
We are a manufacturer, supplier and distributor of a wide variety of consumer and industrial products. Booth #1413
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
&
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
CONTIPACK INC.
1160 Birchmount Rd., Unit #2A Toronto, ON M1P 2B8
T: (416) 321-6444
E: marketing@contipack.ca www.contipackinc.com
Based in Toronto, Contipack Inc. provides flexible packaging solutions. Our offerings include stand-up pouches, flat-bottom bags, roll stock films, poly bags and more. Booth #628
Helping grocers meet the demand for fresh, premium quality foods while lowering operating costs with our full range of facility controls, components and monitoring services. Booth #1803
✪ COPPA INC.
34 Swiftsure Ct. London, ON N5V 4L1
T: (519) 521-8374
E: ryan.c@coppainc.ca www.coppainc.ca
Coppa Inc., London, ON crafts premium gelato and sorbet, proudly featured in major grocery banners and expanding daily. Our passion is "a smile in every cup." Booth #1924
CORRIGAN CORPORATION
104 Ambrogio Drive
Gurnee, IL 60031 USA
T: (847) 878-4734
E: sales@corriganmist.com www.corriganmist.com
Préserve is a non-wetting, low energy fogging system that creates the optimum humidity environment for perishables. The clean, closed plumbing design exceeds all sanitation requirements. Booth #1302
COSTCO BUSINESS CENTRE
3 North Service Road
St. Catharines, ON L2N 7R1
T: (289) 434-6021
E: w01436mkm@costco.com
www.costcobusinesscentre.ca
Costco Business Centre offers the same great quality and value you expect from Costco, in a variety of unexpected sizes and choices. Booth #1605
COVERED BRIDGE POTATO CHIPS
35 Alwright Court
Waterville, NB E7P 0A5
T: (506) 375-2447
E: info@coveredbridgechips.com www.coveredbridgechips.com/en/ We’re a vertically integrated 4th Generation Family potato farm and food manufacturing facility. We strive to make top-quality products for our customers. Booth #1325
CRAFTY RAMEN
85 Willis Way Unit 119 Waterloo, ON N2J 0B9
T: (151) 984-1318
E: adam@craftyramen.com www.craftyramen.com
Crafty Ramen brings restaurant-quality ramen to the frozen aisle for consumers to enjoy in the comfort of their home in just 7 minutes. Booth #1935
CROSSMARK CANADA INC.
5580 Explorer Drive, Suite 200 Mississauga, ON L4W 4Y1
T: (905) 366-6333
E: contactuscanada@crossmark.com www.crossmark.ca
CROSSMARK delivers your brand's growth leveraging our HQ Sales Agency, In-Store merchandisers, Analytics, Back Office Administration & Marketing Solutions. Ask us how we can help! Booth #913
DAIRY FOUNTAIN INC.
1080 Fewster Dr., Unit 14 Mississauga, On L4W 2T2
T: (437) 215-5316
E: info@dairyfountain.com www.dairyfountian.com
Dairy Fountain provides premium cultured dairy products for food service and retail, including various types of yogurts, yogurt drinks, kefir, and sour cream. Booth #1631
DANA INDUSTRIES
109 Woodbine Downs Blvd., Unit 1 Toronto, ON M9W 6Y1
Manufacturer of an in-aisle retail signage and supplier of shelving and carts. Exclusive distributor in Canada for Bruegmann merchandising solutions, including pushers and rollers. Booth #1719
DANONE
100 Rue de Lauzon
Boucherville, QC J4B 1E6
T: (450) 655-7331
E: danone@canada.ca
www.danone.ca
We offer innovative yogurt, plant-based food and beverages, and coffee creamers. Booth #1009
DAUPHINAIS
4136 Unit 8 South Service Rd.
Burlington, ON L7L 4X5
T: (800) 864-7879
E: info@dauphinais.co www.dauphinais.co/en
Dauphinais specializes in designing, manufacturing, & distributing refrigerated commercial display cases for food retail. Booth #1335
DELMAR FOODS
25 South Service Road
St. Marys, ON N4X 1A7
T: (519) 274-1021
E: kpeachey@delmarfoods.ca www.delmarfoods.ca
We offer private label sauces, dressings, marinades and mayonnaise in a variety of retail packaging options in an SQF certified nut-free facility. Booth #1637
✪ DEMETRES
111 Strada Drive Woodbridge, ON L4L 5V9
T: (416) 544-3411
E: hello@demetres.com www.demetres.com
Locally made handcrafted artisanal ice creams in unique but approachable flavours. Booth #1625
DIGI CANADA INC.
87 Moyal Ct. Concord, ON L4k 4R8
T: (416) 648-2243
E: cara.tulloch@ca.digi-group.com
DIGI Canada Inc. is a global leader in the food industry, offering a complete line of high-quality food equipment for over 30 years. Ask us about what we offer! Booth #919
DIRECT PLUS FOOD GROUP
8261 201 Street, #120 Langley, BC V2Y 0G9
T: (604) 881-7751
E: info@directplus.ca www.directplus.ca
Your complete solution for choice, distribution and sales of the highest quality food products. Booth #834, #835
✪ DISTRIBUTION CANADA INC./ CANADIAN INDEPENDENT GROCERY BUYERS ALLIANCE
DCI fosters collaboration in the Canadian food market, offering a platform for sharing funding and solutions to boost sales and profits. Booth #1543
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
✪ DONUT EXPRESS
2545 9th Line Rd.
Metcalfe, ON K0A 2P0
T: (514) 583-5370
E: mik@donutexpress.c www.donutexpress.ca
We are committed to manufacturing and delivering unparalleled products and service, through innovation, and exceptional client experiences. As leaders in the donut industry, we strive to blend tradition with creativity, using the finest ingredients. Booth #1741
✪ DORA
176 St-Joseph
Ste-Anne-des-Plaines, QC J5N 3W9
T: (514) 865-8975
E: amelie@piedmontdora.com www.piedmontdora.com
Specialized in Canadian-made breakfast condiments since 1945: jams, syrups spreads, coulis. GFSI certified, gluten-free, offering branded and private label products for retail and food service. Booth #2018
Since 1998, Drakkar International designs, manufactures and markets the largest selection of shopping carts and material handling equipment used in every food store in Canada. Booth #1612
DRINKS ONTARIO
1500 Upper Middle Road West, Suite 228 Oakville, On L6M 0C2
T: (416) 522-7321
E; info@drinksontario.com www.drinksontario.com
Drinks Ontario is the leading advocate for agents, suppliers, and associations in the Ontario beverage alcohol industry.
Dynamic Productions transforms retail spaces with customized audio solutionsenriching customer experience through tailored announcements and curated music playlists to drive sales. Booth #1345
✪ DYNA-PRO ENVIRONMENTAL 575 Roseberry Street
Winnipeg, MB R3H 0T3
T: (204) 774-5370
E: larryj@dyna-pro.com www.dyna-pro.com
Dyna-Pro Environmental has provided Ultra-Pure’s reverse osmosis water dispensing machines, water treatment systems, and customized solutions to water problems across Canada for 30 years.
Booth #929
ENJAY CONVERTERS LTD.
495 Ball Street
Cobourg, ON K9A 3J6
T: (905) 372-7373
E: customerservice@enjay.com www.enjay.com
We specialize in manufacturing high quality, cost-effective, food-safe packaging. SQF certified. Booth #1135
Erato Coffee Inc., the private label gurus, blending innovation, quality, and sustainability into every cup, brewing a future steeped in passion, integrity, and excellence. Booth #548
ESSLINGER FOODS LTD.
5035 North Service Road, Unit B7 Burlington, ON L7L 5V2
T: (905) 332-3777
E: info@esslingerfoods.com www.esslingerfoods.com
We are manufacturers of dehydrated sauces, gravies, soup bases and spice blends. Booth #1727
EFI SALES LTD.
515 Hanlon Creek Boulevard
Guelph, ON N1C 0A1
T: (519) 822-1895
E: info@efifoodequip.com www.efifoodequip.com
EFI Sales is an industry leader in commercial foodservice equipment. Offering a wide range of products, including refrigeration, preparation & cooking, small appliances and more. Booth #518
FCC
7025 Langer Drive, Unit 210 Mississauga, On L5N 0E8
T: (888) 332-3301
E: csc@fcc-fac.ca www.fcc.ca/food
FCC provides financing, while creating value through knowledge and expertise. FCC offers financial and non-financial products and services to support evolving needs of the industry. Booth #1919
FEDERATED INSURANCE
COMPANY OF CANADA
2540 boul. Daniel-Johnson, Suite 110 Laval, QC H7T 2S3
T: (514) 730-6781
E: mauro.ditullio@federated.ca www.federated.ca
Federated Insurance is committed to working closely with our partners and members like you to develop tailored solutions that meet your unique needs. Call 1.844.628.6800. Booth #1313
We are the leader in Pan-Asian food import and distribution. Whether for foodservice or retail, we offer a vast selection of products from Asia. Booth #1339
✪ FLIPP OPERATIONS INC.
350 – 3250 Bloor St. W., East Tower Etobicoke, ON M8X 2X9
T: (647) 492—0776
E: contactus@flipp.com www.corp.flipp.com
Flipp is a retail technology company connecting major North American retailers and brands with over 100 million shoppers weekly through shoppable digital visual merchandising experiences. Booth #1915
FLORA FOOD CANADA
480 University Ave., Suite 803 Toronto, ON M5G 1V2
T: (613) 890-7387
E: maham.khan@upfield.com www.florafoodgroup.com
Upfield is a global leader in plant-based foods category -across 4 markets: plant butters, cheeses, creams, liquids-driving change for the people and the market. Booth #1133
✪ FMS SOLUTIONS
800 Corporate Drive, Suite 350 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 USA
FMS provides a comprehensive suite of financial applications specifically for the retail grocery industry including critical accounting functions, payroll services, and retail inventory management. Booth #1702
Every bite is a better world. L’Ancêtre Cheese Factory is proud to offer authentic organic cheeses and butters! Booth #2018
FRUIT OF THE LAND
1 Promenade Circle – Box 977 Thornhill, ON L4J 8G7
T: (905) 761-9611
E: info@fuirtoftheland.com www.fruitoftheland.com
A WORLD OF
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
Fruit of the Land features local, award winning, specialty foods including jams, honeys, pepper jellies, wine jellies, jarred fruits, condiments, syrups, nut butters & more. Booth #1840
FUMOIR GRIZZLY INC.
159 D’Amsterdam
Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
QC G3A 2V5
T: (418) 558-1393
E: sml@grizzly.qc.ca www.grizzly.qc.ca/en
With 30+ years of passion, Fumoir Grizzly is a top Canadian smokehouse. Enjoy our smoked salmon, trout, tartare, and readyto-eat fish for a feast! Booth #2018
✪ FUNKY FUNGHI
775 Church St. Fenwick, ON L0S 1C0
T: (905) 788-5474
E: pastoanthony@gmail.com www.FunkyFunghi.ca
We have created a line of healthy soups and risottos from farm to table. We are the only mushroom farm with an executive chef. Booth #1646
FUN TYME FOODS
102-455 DeBaets St. Winnipeg, MB R2J 4M 3
T : (204) 918-8999
E : john@funtymefoods.com www.funtymefoods.com
We offer a wide variety of snack foods, sauces, dried fruit, and shelf stable meals. Booth #1613, #1808
GBS FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT, INC.
2871 Brighton Rd. Oakville, ON L6H 6C9
T: (905) 829-5534
E: pdouglas@gbscooks.com www.gbscooks.com
Canada wide stocking distributor of foodservice equipment focused on the retail/grocery HMR channel. GBS is your one stop resource. Booth #1217, #1317
GENERAL MILLS
1875 Buckhorn Gate Suite 201 Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5N9
General Mills, making food the world loves. Join us to experience exciting new products for your family to enjoy. Booth #719
GIOVANNI RANA
25 – 1195 Queensway #. Mississauga, ON L4Y 0G4
T: (905) 276-7262
E: sales@giovannirana.ca www.giovannirana.ca
From Giovanni Rana’s kitchen in Italy to yours, we share our love and passion for fresh pasta. Always in the refrigerated section. Booth #1013
GLOBE POS SYSTEMS
294 Walker Dr. Brampton, ON L6T 4Z2
T: (416) 900-4050
E: paul@globepos.ca www.globepos.ca
Globe POS Systems is your retail technology expert. Any technology solutions you require we can provide. Booth #1332
✪ GOLDY’S
6 Chapel Rd. Etobicoke, ON M8W 1G1
T: (416) 873-0920
E: meredith@goldys.ca www.goldys.ca
Goldy’s Superseed Cereals and Instant Oatmeal is on a mission to bring wholesome nutrition and fun back to the breakfast table. Booth #1829
✪ GOODLEAF FARMS
3-35 Cooper Drive
Guelph, ON N1C 0A4
T: (226) 332-3213
E: sales@goodleaffarms.com www.goodleaffarms.com
Pesticide-free, nutrient dense, and oh so delicious Microgreens, Baby Greens and Dressing Optional Blends! Canadian grown, and vertically farmed in Alberta, Ontario & Quebec. Booth #634
GOURMET FOODS INTERNATIONAL
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3 www.gfifoods.com
Family-owned since 1967, Gourmet Foods International has been purveying the most extensive offering of specialty foods, focusing on a diverse range of international products, including imported cheeses, charcuterie, olives, sauces, and the largest assortment of American Artisan cheeses in North America. Booth #2002, #2003
We are a family-run company dedicated to crafting authentic Middle-Eastern products, including Garlic Sauce, Fattoush Salad Dressing and Chicken Shawarma Marinade. Booth #1938
GRAY RIDGE EGG FARMS/ EGGSOLUTIONS
644 Wright Street
Strathroy, ON N7G 3H8
T: (800) 387-0087
E: info@thgray.com www.lhgray.com
Gray Ridge Eggs. Sparks Eggs. Golden Valley Eggs. EggSolutions. EggSolutions-Vanderpols Eggs. Together, we’re L. H. Gray & Son: All Things Eggs in Canada. Since 1934. Booth #1034
GREAT CANADIAN MEAT COMPANY LTD 1390 Hopkins Street, Unit 5 Whitby, On L1N 2C3
We are Canada’s Premier Meat Snack Company that produces tasty, 365 day shelf-stable meat snacks using the finest Canadian ingredients. Booth #1629
GREAT LAKES GREENHOUSES INC.
834 Mersea Rd. 4
Leamington, ON N8H 3V6
T: (519) 419-4937
E: tinah@greatlakesg.com www.greatlakesg.com
Great Lakes Greenhouses in Leamington, ON has been family owned and operated for over 40 years. Growing, shipping, packing the highest level of quality products. Booth #1928
Healthy Chocolate snacks made form 70% Dark Peruvian Cacao, Organic, Vegan, 100% Natural and 100% Real natural products. Proudly Canadian Company. Booth #409
GREY JAY SALES & DISTRIBUTION
257 Stirling Cres.
Bradford, ON L3Z 4L5
T: (647) 780-7299
E: jordan@greyjaysales.com www.greyjaysales.com
Grey Jay Sales & Distribution drives retail grocery innovation, partnering with national customers across Canada to deliver unique, high-quality products and exceptional value. Booth # 2024, #2025
GREY JAY-CITY SELTZER
15-5510 Canoteck Road
Ottawa, ON K1j 9J4
T: (613) 688-6207
E: yo@cityseltzer.ca www.cityseltzer.ca
Made with nothing but fresh Ontario water, bubbles and imaginatively crafted natural flavours, the result is a lineup of intensely refreshing sparkling water. Booth #2024 + 2025
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 |
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
✪ GREY JAY-GLOW BEVERAGES
5655 rue beaulieu Montreal, QC H4E 3E4
T: (514) 451-0950
E: info2varoncorp.com www.varoncorp.com
GLOW is an Immune Forward, Sparkling Functional Hydration beverage, with an additional line of energy products. Booth #2024, #2025
Health Garden is the only company offering a full line of non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, low-glycemic sweeteners and condiments. Booth #2024, #2025
GREY JAY–JACK ASTOR’S BAR AND GRILL
5360 South Service Rd., suite 200 Burlington, ON L7L 5L1
T: (905) 681-2997
E: mgolba@sircorp.com www.jackastors.com
Jack Astor’s Bar and Grill branded condiments (hot sauce, buffalo sauce & bbq sauce). Booth #2024, #2025
✪ GREY JAY– MARY
MACLEOD’S SHORTBREAD
80 Galaxy Boulevard, Unit 16 Toronto, ON M9W 4Y8
T: (416) 461-4576
E: sales@marymacleod.com www.marymacleod.com
Permium all-butter shortbread cookies packaged for CPG, Bakery, Food Service, Gourmet, Seasonal Gifts, Hotel Amenities and Turn Down, HMR, Grab ‘n Go, and Independents. Booth #2024, #2025
Muskoka Springs has been producing craft beverages in cottage country for over 150 years, like our original Pale Ginger Ale and new Maple Cream Ale. Booth #2024, #2025
GREY JAY-SAKURA
MAPLE FOOD GROUP
899 7th Line
Innisfil, ON L9S 4E9
T: (164) 778-0729
E: jordan@sakuramaple.com www.sakuramaple.com
Sakura Maple Food Group specializes in premium products and pancake mixes, delivering high-quality, natural ingredients for exceptional taste, with a focus on innovation. Booth #2024, #2025
GROCERY BUSINESS MAGAZINE
PO Box 23103 Longworth PO Bowanville, ON L1C 0H0
T: (905) 697-0467
E: admin@grocerybusiness.ca
www.grocerybusiness.ca
Grocery Business Magazine is Canada’s leading grocery publication and eNews provider, serving independents across Canada with trending information they can use to increase profit. Booth #1810
GROUPE NUTRI
6655, rue Picard
Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 1H3
T: (450) 771-4627
E: info@nutrigroupe.ca www.nutrigroupe.ca/
Nutri Group, a company owned by local farming families. Artisanal-style pickled eggs made with passion: a healthy snack for any occasion! Booth #1909
✪ HARLOW BLEND
2020 Winston Park Drive, #200 Oakville, ON L6H 6X7
T: (416) 806-2895
E: debbie@harlowblend.com www.harlow-blend.com
Harlow Blend Pet brand considers the animal’s total wellness – looking beyond basic dietary requirements to achieve optimum equilibrium between body, mind & spirit. Booth #402
HEALTHY CRUNCH
160 Matheson Blvd East, Unit 4 Mississauga, ON L4Z 1V4
T: (416) 575-9531
E: julie@healthycrunch.com www.healthycrunch.com
Healthy Crunch is on a mission to innovate everyday foods making them better-foryou while still being super delicious. Booth #2105
The Splenda® Brand is the #1 brand in the low-calorie sweetener (LCS) category and the most recognizable in the world. We want to inspire people. Booth #1529
✪ HERBALAND NATURALS INC.
12340 Horseshoe Way Richmond, BC V7A 4Z1
T: (604) 284-5050
E: service@herbaland.ca www.herbaland.ca
Herbaland is Canada’s largest gummy product manufacturer, offering delicious, fun and functional snack innovations to over 40 countries. Booth #529
✪ HNA DISTRIBUTION
1530 Birchmount Rd.
Scarborough, ON M1P 2G9
T: (647) 249-5346
E: adam@hnadistribution.com
www.hnadistribution.com
HNA is the leading Canadian food service & grocery distributor supplying essential foods to restaurants & retailers. Booth #637
HOBART CANADA
105 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 801 Toronto, ON M2H 3P8
T: (888) 334-2371
E: marketing@hobart.ca
www.hobart.ca
Hobart Canada offers the broadest line of equipment including cooking, food preparation, refrigeration, bakery systems, ware washing and waste systems, and weighing, wrapping, and labeling systems. Booth #1504
HOLY PEROGY!
777 The Queensway, Unit E Toronto, ON M8Z 1N4
T: (416) 451-8254
E: info@pelmen.com www.pelmen.com
Pelmen Foods produces premium frozen perogies, offering an exceptional variety of flavours, each crafted with quality ingredients for an authentic and delicious experience. Booth #1628
HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION
1 Hormel Place
Austin, MN 55912 USA
T: (905) 625-4000
E: hormel@cbpowell.com www.hormelfoods.com
Discover SKIPPY® Brand’s new Canadian retail cookie snacks! Booth #1703
HOTSOURSALTYSWEET INC
58 Cumberland Lane Ajax, ON L1S 7K4
T: (647) 629-0551
E: info@h3s.ca www.h3s.ca
UnButter TM the first line of plant-based butters with all the attributes of real butter- allergen, GMO & gluten free in Unsalted, Salted, Herb & Garlic. Booth #1743
Howell Data Systems with 21 Canadian offices provides, Enterprise Management, Point-of-Sale (POS) Self-Checkouts, Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) Smartphone Loyalty Apps, ECommerce. Booth #1103
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 |
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
HUSSMANN
5 Cherry Blossom Road
Cambridge, ON N3H 4R7
T: (519) 653-9980
E: Ashley.fuller@hussmann.com www.hussmann.com
Hussmann is a leader in providing display merchandisers, refrigeration systems, installation and services to food retailers around the world. Booth #825
IDEAL BY DESIGN HOUSE
41 North main Street, Suite 202 Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 USA
Ideal is a dynamic digital circular including video, shopping-lists, recipes, and digital coupons. Our targeted programmatic media-distribution drives eyes to your circular + Key Data Analytics. Booth #644
IN&OUT GENERAL TRADING WHOLESALER
2446 Cawthra Rd., U2 B4 Mississauga, ON L5A 3K6
T; (902) 877-0096
E; wail@noutrade.ca www.noutrade.ca
IN&OUT General Trading Wholesaler offers confectionery and premium chocolate bars and treats, renowned for unique flavours, superior quality, and attractive packaging. Booth #2110
Inca Gold Organics is an importer and wholesaler. Organic gluten-free superfoods. We sell organic quinoa, organic chia and organic maca. Women-owned business. Booth #1927
✪ INDIGO SODA
794 Bd Arthur-Sauvé
Saint-Eustache, QC JR7 4K3
T: (514) 603-0333
E: info@indigosoda.ca www.indigosoda.ca/en
Canadian company providing CO2 Carbonators at significant savings for in-home sparkling water machines. Compatible with all devices on the market. Booth #412
✪ INFIN8BRANDS
500 Esna Park Drive
Markham, ON L3R 1H5
T: (905) 604-4066
E: sales@infin8brands.com www.infin8brands.com
We will be exhibiting confectionary, such as gummies, lollypops, Turkish delights and juices. Booth #635
INSTACART
50 Beale Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94105 USA
Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. Booth #1336
Supplier specializing in Refill Water Vending, Departmental Water Filtration, Produce misting/Fogging. Booth #445
ISHIDA CANADA INC.
2220 Argentia Road, Unit 7
Mississauga, ON L5N 2K7
T: (888) 517-1556
E: info@ishidacanada.ca
Ishida Canada is a leader in the design, manufacture and installation of complete weighing and packaging solutions. Canadian supplier of Proluxe and Watanabe food equipment. Booth #928
ITALPASTA LIMITED
116 Nuggett Court Brampton, ON L6T 5A9
T: (905) 792-9928
E: info@intalpasta.com www.italpasta.com
Providing the highest quality pasta with love and care isn’t just our job, it’s our purpose. Because it’s not just pasta, it’s Italpasta. Booth #1125
JACK LINK’S PROTEIN SNACKS
2476 Argentia Road, Suite 103 Mississauga, ON L5N 6M1
T: (416) 803-8804
E: info@jacklinks.com www.jacklinks.com
Jack Link's has the meat snacks you need to power thru life: jerky, bites/nuggets, sticks, steaks, and bars. Booth #746
JAKEMAN’S MAPLE PRODUCTS
454414 Trillium Line, RR1 BEACHVILLE, ON, N0J1A0 (519) 539-1366
chad@themaplestore.com www.jakemansmaplesyrup.com
The Jakeman Family has been producing our award-winning blend of 100% pure Maple Syrup since 1876. Booth # 1725
✪ JIMMY ZEES DISTRIBUTORS INC
1145 1579 Kingsway Ave.
Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 0H1
T: (604) 945-9337
E: sales@jimmyzees.com www.jimmyzees.com
Candy, Toys and Guy Gifts check out all our Retro Candy, and Tik Tok Trending items, If It’s Hot Jimmy Zee’s Got It!! Booth #1512
JRTECH SOLUTIONS
2365 rue Guénette Montreal, QC H4R 2E9 T: (514) 889-7114
E: info@jrtechsolutions.ca www.jrtechsolutions.ca
JRTech Solutions, Canadian leader in Electronic Shelf Labels since 2008, integrates robotics, digital waste management, and wireless signage to revolutionize retail as the trusted leader in store connectivity. Booth #611
JTM FOODS
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
E: dhill@jtmfoods.net www.jtmfoods.net
The Best Choice in Snack Pies and Crispy Treats and Home of America's #1 Snack Pie
Booth #2002, #2003
✪ KALCOR CANADA INC.
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON l6H 0C3
T: (866) 779-9850
E: rjohnson@kalcor.ca www.kalcor.ca
Developing innovative strategies for food companies – achieving growth in Canada. We work with Vendors outside Canada to give them access to the Canadian market. Booth #2002, #2003
✪ KANEL SPICES
795 Bd Arthur-Sauve #102
Saint-Eustache, QC J7R 4K3
T: (514) 797-3120
E: camille@kanel.com
Kanel makes perfectly balanced salts and spice blends from premium ingredients. Using exciting flavours from around the world, our all-natural blends make home cooking easier. Booth #2018
KEBAB FACTORY
5757 Kennedy Rd., Unit 8 Mississauga, ON L4Z 0C5
T: (647) 328-5545
E: info@kebab-factory.com www.kebab-factory.com
Showcasing the market leader in the Ethnic, Halal Meat category Kebab Factory ! Locally produced, please see our booth at the Ontario pavilion for samples! Booth #1640
KELLANOVA CANADA
5350 Creekbank Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 5W1
T: (905) 290-5276
E: lisa.carabetta@kellanova.com www.kellanova.com
Kellanova Canada is a leading company in global snacking, with iconic, worldclass brands like Cheez-It®, Pringles®, Pop-Tarts®, Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®, RXBAR®, Rice Krispies Treats®. Booth #747
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
Single use foodservice packaging, tableware and service items, specializing in molded fiber and RPET. Expertise in custom packaging and private label retail programs. Booth #524
✪ KOREA FOOD TRADING
8500 Keele St. Vaughan, ON L4K 2A6
T: (905)532-0325
E: info@koreafood.ca www.koreafood.ca
Showcasing a selection of Korean favourites that are delicious for all ages, offering a unique taste of Korea. Booth #1542
KOSTKLIP
119 1611 Broadway St. Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2M7
T: (604) 468-1117
www.kostklip.com
Kostklip’s solutions include ticket molding shelf edge strips, reusable ShelfTalkers, shelf management product organizers, sign holders, product merchandisers and fixture mounts for electronic shelf labels. Booth #935
KRACKCORN
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
Welcome to The Ultimate Snacking Experience!® Sweets & SnacksMost innovative new product awards winner 2022. Booth #2002+2003
KRAFT HEINZ CANADA
207 Queens Quay W, 700 Toronto, ON M5J 1A7
T: (416) 441-5000
E: info@kraftheinz.com www.kraftheinzcompany.com
Kraft Heinz provides high quality, great taste, and nutrition for all eating occasions. Kraft Heinz’s iconic brands include Kraft Peanut Butter, Heinz Ketchup and KD. Booth #1225
KRUGER PRODUCTS INC.
2 Prologis Blvd, Suite 500 Mississauga, ON L5W 0G8
Estalished in 2004, La Fourmi has become synonymous with quality and luxury, bringing a bold, contemporary angle to classic and grain-free granolas. Booth #2018
LA PRESSERIE
1401 Morningside Avenue
Scarborough, ON M1B 3J1
T: (647) 351-5433
E: info@lapresserie.com
La Presserie is a Toronto-based manufacturer of innovative premium foods and beverages that set the benchmark for delicious taste, artisanal quality, and nutrition. Booth #519
LA TERRA FINA
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
E: chess@laterrafina.com www.laterrafina.com
We're the food you’d be proud to call homemade. Booth #2002, #2003
LAVAZZA
100 Commerce Valley Dr. Markham, ON L3T 0A1
T: (905) 749-2598
E: scaiger@sofinafoods.com www.lavazza.ca/en
We operate in every sector of the coffee industry, offering our products through every channel with our high-quality coffee blends. Booth #1439
LECOUPE ICE
2451 Evans Rd.
Val Caron, On P3N 1L1
T: (705) 675-4423
E: info@luxuryiceballs.com www.luxuryiceballs.com
Elevate your beverage experience with Lecoupe Ice. Our luxury ice balls and towers ensure minimal dilution, maximum chill, and sophisticated flavour infusion. Booth #441
LEGO CANADA
25 Centurian Dr.
Markham, ON M2k 1P5
T: (416) 819-1268
E: john.murphy@lego.com www.lego.com
The LEGO System in Play allows children and fans to build anything they can imagine. There are 1,000 LEGO branded stores across the world. Booth #1538
LemonTree Products is a leading North American manufacturer of grocery store fixtures. Booth #938
✪ LES ALIMENTS MERJEX INC./ TEMPEHINE
3-1300 Av de Valleyfield Laval, QC H7C 2K6
T: (514) 795-6578
E: sonel@merjex.ca www.tempehine.ca
Tempehine is a family-owned business specializing in organic tempeh, offering North America's largest, innovative product line recognized for quality and first-in-class standards.
LPB Distribution specializes in European products and manufacturing chocolaty treats. We serve a large network of retailers, Specialty Grocery stores and supermarkets. Booth #819
BBQ pellets, sauces, rubs, BBQ’s, accessories and more! Booth #1809
MACTRANS LOGISTICS INC.
81 Zenway Boulevard, Unit 16
Vaughan, ON L4H 0s5
T: (905) 856-6800
E: info@mactrans.ca www.mactrans.ca
Mactrans Logistics offers transportation solutions across North America.
29 & 30
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
We provide customized services to several food producers, distributors, retailers and their vendors. Booth #538
MADINA FARANGIZ ZAMINI
FARMING KENAGAS VILLACE
Samarkand, Samarkand 141611
UZBEKISTAN
T: (998) 933-4421
E: samgoldfarm@gmail.com www.samgoldfarm.uz
Ecologically clean dry fruits. Booth #845
MAD MEXICAN PREPARED FOOD PRODUCTS LTD
64 Crockford Blvd.
Toronto, ON M1R 3C3
T: (647) 352-2555
E: info@madmexican.ca www.madmexican.ca
We craft preservative-free, authentic Mexican food using quality, fresh ingredients, preserving the true enjoyment of food as intended. Booth #1833
MAMA YOLANDA’S GOURMET LASAGNA
Unit #1 – 175 Nebo Rd. Hamilton, ON L8W 2E1
T: (905) 645-0447
E: info@mamayolandas.ca www.mamayolandas.ca
CFIA-certified pasta manufacturer specializing in authentic Italian recipes, innovative $&D, premium frozen lasagnas, and competitive pricing for private label and co-packing solutions. Booth #1636
MAPLE LEAF FOODS
6987 Financial Drive
Mississauga, ON L5N 0A1
T: (800) 268-3708
E: eric.bond@mapleleaf.com www.mapleleaffoods.com
Maple Leaf Foods is Canada’s leader in pork, poultry and plant protein under the Maple Leaf, Schneiders, Greenfield, Mina, Field Roast, and Light Life brands. Booth #1025
MCCAIN FOODS
439 King Street West Toronto, ON M5V 1K4
T: (866) 622-2461
E: consumeraffairs@mccain.ca www.mccain.ca
Celebrating real connections through delicious, planet-friendly food. McCain show-cases its new Shareable Appetizers and Plant-Based Meals, plus world famous Potato Products, Desserts and Handheld Snacks. Booth #1003
M-C DAIRY & FUTURE BAKERY
106 North Queen Street Etobicoke, ON M8Z 2E2
T: (647) 225-1173
E: sale@futurebakery.com www.futurebakery.com
Everything we make from our sourdough breads, to kefir and cheeses are traditionally made, natural, and best in class. Booth #1844
Lenbrook is Canada’s Value-Added Distributor for Motorola Two-Way Radios & Body-Worn Cameras. Visit us to learn about the benefits of the digital ecosystem. Booth #1213
MRAKOVIC FINE FOODS INC.
80 Galaxy Boulevard, Unit 1-3
Etobicoke, ON M9W 4Y8
T: (416) 695-5656
E: info@mrakovic.com www.mrakovic.com
Producer of premium frozen & smoked meat products. Based in Toronto, Canada, we pride ourselves on delivering halalcertified meats with exceptional quality. Booth #1837
MMN helps fast-moving consumer goods companies get their products onto retailer’s shelves and into the hands of consumers. Booth #525
MUSKOKA BREWERY
1964 Muskoka Beach Road
Gravenhurst, ON P1P 1R1
T: (705) 646-1266
E: info@muskokabrewery.com www.muskokabrewery.com
Nestled in the heart of Muskoka, Muskoka Brewery handcrafts premium beverages as unique and refreshing as the region they’re from. Proudly independent since 1996. Booth #1738
Muskoka Mornings’ No Yolking egg white protein powder is perfect for smoothies, baking, and cooking, providing a versatile, clean, and high-protein boost to any recipe. Booth #1644
✪ NELLIE’S CLEAN INC.
2455 Dollarton Hwy, Unit 114 North Vancouver, BC V7H 0A2
T: (888) 984-7471
E: wendy@neliiesclean.com www.nelliesclean.ca
Nellie’s provides you with a planet-friendly, simple honest choice for all your cleaning needs. Not to mention our packaging sells itself! Booth #515
Nestlé Canada Inc has a wide variety of food, beverage, and nutrition products to help you and your family live happier and healthier lives. Booth #811
NORTHAM BEVERAGES
501-68 Water Street
Vancover, BC V6B 1A4
T: (604) 679-0321
E: info@northamgropu.com www.northamgropu.com
Try Forager gluten free beer, Sneaky strong beer, Lonetree alcoholic & de-alcoholized cider, Bumper Crop cider 7% and Hey Y'all Hard and non-alcoholic iced teas! Booth #2115
We pride our success on passion for the business, integrity, honour, and truth. We align the consumers’ needs with the manufacturers we represent. Booth #702, #703
Distributor & Broker: Guinness 0, Libra Craft Beer, Nozeco Non-Alc Wines, ALT Non-Alc Spirits, Chef Woo Ramen Noodles, Star Snacks Nuts & Bar Mixes Booth #303
NOS CABANES
1382 boul Marie Victorin Longueuil Longueuil, QC J4G 1A3
T: (514) 242-5307
E: info@noscabanes.com www.noscabanes.com
By choosing Nos Cabanes, you choose to travel on a treasure hunt that elevates your everyday by bringing to home the best quality maple. Booth #2018
✪ N'TAKE CUSTOM BAGS & PRODUCTS BY SYRACUSE
ENVIRO GROUP
2345 Stanfield Road, Suite 100 Mississauga, ON L4Y 3Y3
T; (905) 272-2247
E: s.mitchell@ntake.com www.ntake.com
N'Take is Canada's leading supplier of cost-efficient reusable Enviro bags and products. Contact our team to design a new Enviro bag program for your company. Booth #1214
Old Dutch Foods is a national snack food company, manufacturing and distributing a full assortment of your favourite Old Dutch and Humpty Dumpty snacks. Booth #1408
ONTARIO BEEF MARKET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
25 Enterprise Dr. London, ON N6N 1A3
T: (905) 301-0137
E: john@ontariobeef.com www.ontbeef.ca
Promote Local Flavour with an Ontario Beef program and show your support for farmers and Ontario’s economy. Ask how we can help! Booth #1528
ONTARIO LOTTERY AND GAMING
70 Foster Dr., Suite 800
Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 6V2
T: (800) 387-0098
E: jmurdock@olg.ca www.olg.ca/en/home/html
Stop by the OLG booth to see the exciting new Self-Serve Terminal. Booth #1132
ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND AGRIBUSINESS
Ontario is home to over 4,600 food and beverage producers exporting food products to consumers globally. Let us connect you to Ontario’s agri-food sector. Booth #1735
ORGANIC MEADOW/ROLLING MEADOW
1-335 Laird Rd.
Guelph, ON N1G 4P7
T: (519) 767-9694
E: info@organicmeadow.com www.organicmeadow.com
Local Guelph Ontario dairy cooperative, producing a full line of organic and grassfed dairy products including milk, butter, cheese, cream, kefir, yogurt, sour cream. Booth #1932
Our culinary expertise blends years of rigorous quality, tradition, and taste in a wide range of ready-to-eat curries, rice, soups, breakfast mixes, dessert mixes, and snacks. Booth #737
OUT OF THE BOX PACKAGING INC.
581 Trethewey Drive
North York, ON M6m 4B8
T: (905) 291-1013
E: info@ootbinc.com www.ootbinc.com
Co-Packer, Contract manufacturer (Private Label and branded cotton candy, cookies, snacks). Nut-free bakery, re-pack and rework and so much more! Booth #1010
✪ PANELA BAKERY FACTORY
2768 Slough St.
Mississauga, ON L4T 1G3
T: (289) 384-9965
E: info@panelafactory.com www.panelafactory.com
Panela is a SQF certified manufacturer of baked goods & confectionery. Discover the delicious food we have to offer. Booth #1726
✪ PAN-OSTON LTD.
660 Neal Drive
Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7
T: (705) 748-4811
E: info@panoston.ca www.panoston.ca
Pan-Oston is a manufacturer of checkouts and other various fixtures. Convertible checkouts & self-scan cabinets, Produce & Bakery Tables, Refrigerated cases & Shelving. Booth #1303
Since 1998, Parmida has been dedicated to the artistry of chocolate-making, crafting chocolates that exemplify excellence in taste, texture, and overall experience. Booth #427
Decorated Shortbread, Sugar and Gingerbread Cookies. “Alfajores”, branded and custom cookies Booth #1937
PAZO GLOBAL
35 Keys Crescent Guelph, ON N1G 5J7
T: (905) 460-4534
E: gary.taylor@pazoglobal.com www.pazoglobal.com
Leader in Frozen Category Pizza and Ethnic (Korean) style foods products. Booth #738
PEPSICO CANADA
2095 Matheson Blvd. E. Mississauga, ON L4W 0G2
T: (647) 321-4890
E: jason.ricketts@pepsico.com www.pepsico.ca
PepsiCo Canada is the country’s largest food and beverage company with brands including Pepsi, Gatorade, Aquafina, Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos, and Quaker. Booth #903
PINE RIVER FOOD PRODUCT INC.
22 Melanie Dr., Unit 6 & 7
Brampton, ON L6T 4K8
T: (905) 790-8133
E: info@pineriverfood.com www.pineriverfood.com
Pine River is an Ontario-based dairy offering a variety of high-quality cheeses. Booth #1729
POP DADDY SNACKS
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
Gourmet flavour without the guilt. 100% All natural ingredients and Kosher certified. A healthy alternative to chips. Non-GMO. Resealable bags. Booth #2002+2003
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
POPPI
309 – 3223 5 Ave NE
Calgary, AB T2A 6E9
T: (647) 224-9988
E: mikep@impactsales.ca www.buypoppi.ca
Modern Soda for a Modern Generation. We’re bringing soda back! Good for you, gut healthy, contains ACV. Booth #1529
Prestige Maple producer, manufacturer of Organic Conventional maple syrup, maple granulated sugar and maple flakes. Retail, Food service, HoReCa, Guarantee of constant supply all year-round. Booth #2018
PROCTER & GAMBLE INC.
4711 Yonge St. Toronto, ON M2N 6K8
T: (416) 730-6830
E: calugareanu.g@pg.com 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 #625
R&H TRADING INC.
22 Amstel Ave.
Richmond Hill, ON L4E 0P7
T: (647) 937-2966
E: andy@rntrading.ca www.rnhtrading.ca
Custom-made restaurant supplies. Wooden Cutlery (spoons, forks, and knives), Wooden Utensil Kits, Bamboo Chopsticks, Coffee Stirrer, and paper souple bowls. Booth #418
Red Bull Energy Drink is appreciated worldwide by top athletes, busy professionals, college students, and travelers on long journeys. Booth #1240
REUVEN INTERNATIONAL
1881 Yonge Street, Suite #201
Toronto, ON M4S 3C4
T: (437) 433-7330
E: frankd@reuven.com
www.reuven.com
Reuven International is a Canadian family owned and operated company. We have been supplying quality chicken and beef products to Canada since 1977. Booth #403
R. HENRY & ASSOCIATES INC. (CAMBRO MANUFACTURING)
6-295 Queen St. East, Suite 437 Brampton, ON L6W 4S6
Shelving, sheet pan rack, pan trolley and storage solutions that will save time and money and reduce labour costs. Booth #436
RITTAL CANADA
6485 Ordan Drive
Mississauga, ON L5T 1X3
T: (905) 795-0777
E: kyriazis.ch@rittal.ca www.blog.rittal.ca/home
Rittal Canada provides enclosures, power distribution, climate control, IT infrastructure, automation systems, and related software and services. Booth #736
create high-quality, personalized wines at home or in Vin on Premise stores. Booth #1626
RLG SYSTEMS CANADA
900S-175 Bloor St. E. Toronto, ON M4W 3R8
T: (437) 577-9340
E: canada@rev-log.com www.rev-log.com/en_ca
Explore innovative circular economy strategies and solutions, including advanced Data Management services, the EcoVend reverse vending machine, and the ground-breaking LiSa battery safety box. Booth #535
Rotobale’s a Canadian manufacturer of compactors and balers with over 50 years experience. We design custom recycling equipment solutions for grocery retailers. Booth #1338
ROOT SMARTS
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
E: alejandro.falck@rootvf.com www.rootsmarts.com
A family-owned farm located in the heart of Honduras – Root Smarts tuber chips. Farm-to-Bag in 24 Hours. Fresh taste and nutrient-rich benefits. Booth #2002, #2003
Explore Ryde: Energize, Focus and Relax wellbeing shots. Meet our Retail Team, learn about stocking opportunities, trial products, and join the exciting Fast Hands Challenge! Booth #2037
SAPUTO DAIRY PRODUCTS CANADA GP
101 Royal Group Crescent Vaughan, ON L4H 1X9
T: (905) 266-8800
E: salescanada@saputo.com www.saputo.ca
Manufacturer/distributor of a vast range of fluid/cultured dairy products and specialty cheeses. Some of our brands include Neilson, Milk2Go, Armstrong, Alexis de Portneurf & Vitalite. Booth #1419
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
SASKATCHEWAN TRADE & EXPORT PARTNERSHIP
#400-402 21st St. E. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7K 0C3
Schinkel’s Legacy is a family owned and operated business, with roots back to 1963. We produce high quality meats for every Meal. Booth #1831
SCHOLTENS CANDY INC.
279 Sumach Dr. Burlington, ON L7T 0B5
T: (905) 631-2999
E: info@scholtensinc.com www.scholtensinc.com
We specialize in the importing, packaging and distribution of Candies, Nuts, and Trail Mixes! National DSD coverage & your Private Label EXPERTS! Booth #1630
✪ SELLERS PUBLISHING
161 John Roberts Rd. South Portland, ME USA
T: (800) 625-3386
E: ashapiro@rsvp.com www.rsvp.com
RSVP Greeting Cards, Sellers Publishing Calendars & High Note Planners. We provide vendor managed programs across Canada – customized to fit your space and store demographics. Booth #1715
✪ SGS
201 Route 17 North Rutherford, NJ 07070
T: (201) 508-3000
E: food.nam@sgs.com www.sgs.com/foodsafety
As the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, SGS leads the way in food safety with product testing, auditing/certification, tailored solutions, training and more. Booth #424
SHAN FOODS
4033 Hurontario Street, 420 Mississauga, ON N4G 4W9
Shan Foods offers spice mixes, cooking sauces, frozen food entrees, and innovative food options that are used by families around the world. Booth #1609
✪ SHARMAN’S PROPER, INC.
1750 Plummer Street, Unit #20
Pickering, ON L1W 3L7
T: (416) 938-6871
E: toni@sharmansproper.ca www.sharmansproper.ca
Sharman’s Proper is bringing Pie Culture to Canada. Frozen, handmade savoury and sweet pies that go straight from the freezer to the oven. Booth #1841
SHAW’S ICE CREAM
10 Clearview Drive
Tillsonburg, ON n4G 4G8
T: (519) 631-2510
E: info@shawsicecream.com www.shawsicecream.com
Shaw’s Ice Cream crafts quality ‘cream first’ ice cream. Powered by three sisters, they offer unique flavours like Grammy’s Cupboard, Unicorn Toots and Polar Eclipse! Booth #1639
Experience the authentic taste of India with Shivani’s Kitchen! Real ingredient pastes and fresh paneer, plus easy heat-and-eat Indian dinners. Booth #414
We have liquid apply seamless flooring that cures fast. We provide fast cure overnight installation decorative systems. Booth #944
SILVER PALATE KITCHENS INC.
211 Knickerbocker Road
Cresskill, NJ 07626 USA
T: (201) 568-0110
E: peter@silverpalate.com www.silverpalate.com
Pasta sauce with low sodium varieties
available. Healthy cereals made with exclusive Onyx Sorghum. Booth #439
✪ SIMPLIFY FOODS RA PURAM Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600018 INDIA
T: (984) 129-7159
E: biz@simplifyfoods.com www.simplifyfoods.com
Simplify Foods offers a delicious range of 100% Clean Label (zero preservatives, additives or anything artificial), instantly ready foods and MORE! Booth #440
✪ SIR SOLUTIONS
2700 14eme Avenue, Bureau 3 Markham, ON L3R 0J1
T: (844) 687-4747
E: info@sirsolutions.com www.sirsolutions.com
SIR Solutions offers innovative ESLs, POS systems, and retail technology solutions, enhancing store efficiency, customer experience, and operational excellence through cutting-edge software and hardware. Booth #629
Canada’s leading e-paper provider, deliver 32 years of unmatched industry excellence. Booth #1435
SMART SERVE ONTARIO
5090 Explorer Drive, Suite 800 Mississauga, ON L4W 4T9
T: (416) 645-4517
E: info@smartserve.ca www.smartserve.ca
Smart Serve® Ontario is a registered charity, dedicated to delivering responsible alcohol beverage training to all individuals who sell, serve, or handle alcohol in Ontario. Booth #407
Southern Recipe Small Batch Pork Rinds. Low Carb, Keto-Friendly, Gluten Free, Collagen Protein. GREAT FLAVOURS. Be Big. Be Bold. Be Adventurous. Booth #2002, 2003
Springhills is your new local Ontario fish supplier. We raise trout, salmon and char on eco-certified farms. Come taste our FIN-tastically fresh and smoked fish! Booth #1824
For 130 years, we have been a dairy cooperative manufacturing fresh cheese curds and aged cheddar blocks. Booth #1732
STEAM WHISTLE BREWING/ BEAU’S BREWING
249 Evans Ave.
Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1K2
T: (416) 362-2337
E: info@steamwhistle.ca www.steamwhistle.ca
Steam Whistle Brewing is Toronto's largest independent craft brewery located downtown at the historic John Street Roundhouse. Booth #305
STM DISPLAY SALES INCADVANCE WAREHOUSE
2230 Meadowpine Boulevard Mississauga, ON L5N 6H6
T: (905) 814-5252
E: info@stmdisplays.com www.stmdisplays.com
STM Displays Sales is your source for POP Display/Store Fixture needs from steel shelving, slat wall, gondola systems, snap frames, hooks, to custom acrylics. Booth #1024
STUDIO BRAND BY KORHANI HOME
7500 Keele Street
Concord, ON L4K 1Z9
T: (905) 660-0863
E: craigwatson@korhani.com www.korhani.com
Surprise & delight your customers with GM seasonal impulse programs all at MSRP $2.00! Merchandised on colour PDQ’s. Come see what we have to offer! Booth #1513
SUGAR BOWL BAKERY
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3 www.sugarbowlbakery.com
Every bite is just right. We believe in bringing joy through simple, delicious food. Booth #2002, #2003
SUNSHINE PICKLES
30043 Jane Rd.
Thamesville, ON N0P 2K0
T: (519) 692-4416
E: info@picklesplease.ca www.picklesplease.ca
Sunshine Pickles grows and processes a variety of vegetables in Ontario. We offer conventional and certified organic pickles Branded and co-packing available. Booth #1740
SUNTORY SPIRITS (CANADIAN CLUB COCKTAILS)
3280 Bloor St. W., Suite #510 Toronto, ON M8X 2X3 T: (416) 518-0861
Ready to drink coolers – Featuring Canadian Club and Ginger Ale samples!
Booth #1907
SUPER ASIA FOOD AND SPICES
8905 Hwy 50 Vaughan, ON L4H 5A1
T: (647) 522-7276
E: salman@superasia.ca www.superasia.ca
Our exhibit showcases in-house brands: Handi Recipe Mix, Sherbon packaged drinks, and Soofees gummies, offering a diverse range of quality packaged goods. Booth #1129
Sushi Pockets: Where Sushi Meets Sandwich. A frozen, innovative fusion of taste and convenience, perfect for healthconscious, on-the-go consumers. Booth #536
✪ TALTHI INC
4025 Avenue Berard Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 8Z8
T: (450) 888-1059
E: info@talthi.ca www.talthi.ca
Talthi Inc. offers 100% recyclable food packaging solutions focussed on sustainability and quality. Booth #1811
✪ TFB & ASSOCIATES
3100 Steeles Ave. E., Suite 205 Markham, ON L3R 8T3
T: (705) 796-6047
E: maria.cernak@tfb.ca www.tfb.ca
As importers and distributors of fine food, beverages, and confectionery products, we will display an assortment of our tasty treats from around the globe. Booth #1308
A national dessert manufacturer. From delicious creamy cheesecakes to homestyle cake rolls. Our desserts are all baked from scratch. Booth #2002, #2003
✪ THE HEALTEA
1926 Re Sainte Helene, #101 Longueuil, QC J4K 3t3
T: (438) 506-9836
E: victor@thehealtea.com www.thehealtea.com
Healtea is a sparkling herbal iced tea crafted to provide an organic, caffeine-free refreshment sweetened with pure maple syrup. It’s a convenient, guilt-free beverage brewed. Booth #1724
✪ THE ICEMAN
782 Adelaide Street West Toronto, ON M6j 1B4
T: (416) 504-6615
E: info@the-iceman.com www.the-iceman.com
As Ontario’s leading ice supplier, we specialize in packaged ice, cocktail ice, dry ice & ice machines. Booth #2104
✪ THE LOW CARB CO
281 Heath St E Toronto, ON M4T 1T3
T: (647) 981-9793
E: jack@thelowcarbco.ca www.thelowcarbco.ca
Providing delicious, nourishing low carb snacks with benefits. Growing a community to help you achieve better metabolic health. Booth #1638
TIELMAN NORTH AMERICA
180 Middlefield Rd. Toronto, ON M1S 4M6
T: (416) 297-9775
E: tnamail@tielman.com www.tielman.com
Tielman North America is a market leader in innovative paper baking containers. We provide environmentally conscious solutions that includes recyclable, compostable, biodegradable, and sustainable options. Booth #1713
At TOMRA Canada, our expertise lies in designing state-of-the-art equipment for the collection, sorting and processing of beverage containers. Booth #546
✪ TOOTSI IMPEX: BULK, ELAN & YUPIK
8800 Henri Bourassa West Montreal, QC H4S 1P4
T: (514) 381-9790
E: bgift@tootsi.com www.tootsi.com
We provide, bulk, private label, packaged brands, elan yupik, nuts, dried fruits, ingredients, organic, gluten free, kosher, fairtrade, non-GMO, vegan, and SQF. Booth #1918
TREE OF LIFE CANADA
6185 McLaughlin Rd. Mississauga, ON L5R 3W7
T: (905) 507-6161
E: kayla.booth@treeoflife.com www.treeoflife.ca
At Tree of Life Canada, we are passionate about delivering elevated food and beverage experiences to our retail partners and the Canadian market. Booth #1108, #1108A
TRES PICOSOS
2275 Upper Middle Road East, Suite 101 Oakville, ON L6H 0C3
E: jane@trespicosos.com www.trespicosos.com
You don’t need another burrito. You need a better burrito. Authentic home style, packed full of flavour. From breakfast through lunch and snacks and dinner, Tres Picosos has mucho gusto! Booth #2002, #2003
TRUE NORTH NUTRITION
88 East Beaver Creek, Building A Unit 1 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4A8
For 25+ years, True North Nutrition has provided Canadian Retailers with Industry Leading Performance Nutrition Products: Featuring Mammoth Supplements and Bars & INFIT Protein Chips. Booth #829
✪ TRUFFLES & CIRCUMSTANCE
2 Marconi Drive Bolton, ON L7e 1E5
T: (416) 464-9018
E: cosmic@bundpard.com www.trufflestance.com
Real black truffle condiments-no aromas/ artificial flavours! We’ll be sampling our locally produced hot sauce, ranch, hot ranch & cold pressed EVOO-must try! Booth #1731
✪ TUK TOOK BITES
2921 West 38th Ave., Suite #272 Denver, CO 80211
T: (281) 217-5248
E: contact@tuktook.com www.tuktook.com
Authentic and healthy shelf stable Indian flavors - freeze-dried fruits (mangoes, sapodilla), curry sauces, frozen favorites like Naan, Samosa, Naan Pizza & Indian Burritos. Booth #438
“The secure choice” Turnstile Security Systems didn’t just happen upon the security market; it has been an evolving journey since 1980. We have had a steadfast vision of creating pedestrian control products that are durable, reliable and backed by a service department dedicated to the customer’s interests. Booth #934
Trouw Nutrition Canada Inc has been producing Nutri Choice Advantage Meat: first cat food then dog food, since 1986. Our Nutri Choice Brand is priced lower than the national brand and with lower price. Booth #1842
A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS
OCTOBER 29 & 30 2024 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING
#GICSHOW24 | NETWORK: GIC 2024 | PW: gic2024!
TY, INC.
280 Chestnut Avenue
Westmont, IL 60559 USA
T: (630) 455-7879
E: polberys@tymail.com www.shop.ty.com
Ty Inc. is the largest manufacturer of stuffed plush toys in the world. An iconic plush impulse brand that delivers your customers great value. Booth #1908
Unilever Canada is excited to showcase its top innovations and wide product range in Beauty & Personal care, Household, Food, Vitamins/Supplements segment and more. Booth #711
UNITED CRAFT INC. – BEVERAGES
50 Wynford Dr. Toronto, ON M3C 1J7
T: (416) 792-6553
E: hello@unitedcraft.ca www.unitedcraft.ca
United Craft Inc. offers a wide range of popular beverage alcohol-craft beers, RTDs, ciders, spritzers & radlers-that meet the needs of today's consumers. Booth #1946
We provide industry leading cleaning and janitorial services as well as specialized services to retail and food service brands across Canada. Booth #608
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough Toronto, ON m1C 1A4
T: (416) 627-7710
E: Madhur.kishore@utoronto.ca www.utsc.utoronto.ca/artscicoop/ The University of Toronto Scarborough assists employers with short-term hiring needs with co-op students from 58 programs in Arts, Technology and Sciences. Booth #426
VADILAL INDUSTRIES INC.
5805 Whittle Road, Unit 112 Mississauga, ON L4Z 2J1
Van Holten’s Pickle in a Pouch. Low calorie, fat free, gluten free, low carb. From Dill to Tapatio to Warheads flavours-DILL-icious! Booth #2002+2003
✪ VANILLA CHARM
475 Cochrane Dr. Markham, ON L3R 9R5
T: (647) 906-8822
E: vanillacharm@outlook.com www.vanillacharm.com
Vanilla Charm provides premium organic Madagascar vanilla beans, extract, paste & powder to manufacturers in the baking, frozen novelties & pharmaceutical industries. Booth #425
WAJAX
10 Diesel Drive Toronto, ON M8W 2T8
T: (416) 259-3281
E: info@wajax.com www.wajax.com
Founded in 1858, Wajax (TSX: WJX) is one of Canada’s longest standing and most diversified industrial products and services providers. Booth #1818
WANZL NORTH AMERICA
700 Technibilt Drive Newton, NC 28658 USA
T: (800) 351-2278
E: custserv.US.NEW@wanzl.com www.wanzl.com/na
Wanzl is North America’s leading solution provider to retail, grocery, and c-store markets, from shopping carts, retail shelving, and access gates, to custom turn-key solutions. Booth #619
Wellington Brewery is one of Canada’s original craft breweries known for producing award-winning beers with a focus on quality, sustainability, and creativity. Booth #1839
One of Canada’s oldest trade publications serving as a voice for Western Canadian grocery stores since 1916! We cover the grocery industry news out west! Booth #513
Williwaw Dog Treats: Made with locally sourced, human-grade ingredients. Premium dog treats for the growing demand of high-quality pet products at affordable prices. Booth #1624
WIREWORX DISPLAYS INC.
7765 Tranmere Drive
Mississauga, ON L5A 1V5
T: (905) 676-1115
E: info@wwdcomplete.com www.wwdcomplete.com
From ideation to installation and everything in-between. We do it all! your one-stop complete retail merchandising solution partner. Booth #502
Suite 300, 5110 Creekbank Road Mississauga, ON L2W 0A1
T: (905) 614-1400
E: customercare@wsps.ca www.wsps.ca
WSPS is a not-for-profit organization, serving more than 174,000 member firms and 4.2 million workers across the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors.
Booth #540
ZAB CAFÉ/CAFÉLIMO
6750 Rue Hutchinson Montreal, QC H3N 1Y4
T: (514) 239-7672
E: yan@zabcafe.com www.zabcafe.com
We are specialty coffee roaster, and we are trying to have the best coffee beans the world has to offer. Booth #2018
737 Orkla India Pvt. Ltd. 738 ...................... Pazo Global 746....................... Jack Link’s Protein Snacks
747 Kellanova 811 Nestlé Canada Inc 819 LPB Distribution 825 Hussmann 829 True North Nutrition 834, 835 Direct Plus Food Group 845 Madina Farangiz Zamini Farming 846 Montalis Fine Foods Inc. 903 PepsiCo Canada 909 Arterra Wines Canada 913 Crossmark Canada Inc.
918 ....................... Burnbrae Farms Ltd. 919 DIGI CANADA Inc. 925 Shiny Star Canada Ltd. 928 Ishida Canada Inc. 929 Dyna-Pro Environmental 934 Turnstile Security Systems 935 Kostklip
936 Avanti Press, Inc. 938 LemonTree Produce Displays 944 Silikal America 946 ClickHire.ai 1003 McCain
1519 Arneg Canada 1524 ..................... Canadian Women in Food 1525 ..................... CHEP Canada Corp 1528 Ontario Beef Market Development Program 1529 Heartland Food Products (Splenda) 1529 Poppi 1538 LEGO Canada 1542 Korea Food Trading 1543 Distribution Canada Inc./Canadian Independent Grocery Buyers Alliance 1603 AM/PM Service 1605 Costco Business Centre 1609 Shan Foods 1612 Drakkar International 1613, 1808........... Fun Tyme Foods 1624 Williwaw Dog Treats 1625 Demetres 1626 RJS Craft Winemaking 1628 Holy Perogy! 1629 Great Canadian Meat Company 1630 Scholtens Candy Inc. 1631 Dairy Fountain Inc. 1636 Mama Yolanda’s Gourmet Lasagna 1637 Delmar Foods 1638 The Low Carb Co 1639 Shaw’s Ice Cream 1640..................... Kebab Factory 1641 RIZ Brands Inc. 1644 Muskoka Mornings-No Yolking 1645 Chef Brandz Inc. 1646 Funky Funghi 1692 Great Canadian Meat Company Ltd. 1702 FMS Solutions 1703 Hormel Foods Corporation 1708 Affinity Group Canada 1709 Vadilal Industries Inc. 1713 Tielman North America 1715 Sellers Publishing 1719 Dana Industries 1724 ..................... The Healtea 1725 Jakeman's Maple Products 1726 Panela Bakery Factory 1727 Esslinger Foods Ltd. 1728 Bos Smoked Fish Inc. 1729 Pine River Food Product Inc. 1730 The Bee Works 1731 Truffles 1732 St-Albert Cheese Co-op 1735 Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming & Agribusiness 1736 ZoRaw Chocolates 1738 ..................... Muskoka Brewery 1739 Real Sweets Bakery Corp. 1740 Sunshine Pickles 1741 Donut Express
