Canadian Grocer Sept/Oct 2022

gen

Dan Bregg

Mornings Just Got Smoother

Coming this October,Kraft Café Barista coffee will be available in two rich and indulgent flavoured blends, Chocolate Hazelnut and Salted Caramel.

ADVOCATING

People

Buzz

Jeff & Alicia Lahey

Potato Chips’

Ideas

Save the dates

says:

to best

An elevated experience

look inside Save-On-Foods’

new B.C. store

PlantX marks its spots

how the company is planting its

in the global vegan market

Help wanted

big hiring challenge

what they can do about it

Sustainability in the bag Walmart unveils reusable bag program at Guelph, Ont. stores

Global Grocery

and ideas from the world of food retail

Aisles

‘Tis the season

holiday entertaining period is coming up, here’s what to expect

Keeping it fresh

ways to boost sales in the produce department

Milk: Four things to know

look at the trends at play in this beverage category

New on shelf

latest products hitting shelves

Lane

The big squeeze

Sourcelight Canada’s Veronica Frisch on what it takes to

the war on talent

BURRUS

FORTINO

ERIC LA FLÈCHE

MICHEL MANSEAU

CARMAN ALLISON

Global Thought Leadership, North America, NielsenIQ

PUBLISHER

Vanessa Peters vpeters@ensembleiq.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shellee Fitzgerald sfitzgerald@ensembleiq.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Kristin Laird klaird@ensembleiq.com

DIGITAL EDITOR

Jillian Morgan jmorgan@ensembleiq.com

ART DIRECTOR Josephine Woertman jwoertman@ensembleiq.com

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Michael Kimpton mkimpton@ensembleiq.com

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GROCERY AND CONVENIENCE, CANADA

Sandra Parente sparente@ensembleiq.com

VICE PRESIDENT, EVENTS Megan Judkins mjudkins@ensembleiq.com

SENIOR DIRECTOR, DIGITAL CANADA

& SPECIAL PROJECTS

Valerie White vwhite@ensembleiq.com

SALES

NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Katherine Frederick kfrederick@ensembleiq.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Karishma Rajani krajani@ensembleiq.com

SALES COORDINATOR

Juan Chacon jchacon@ensembleiq.com

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES

Subscriptions: $85.00 per year, 2 year $136.00, Outside Canada $136.00 per year,

Single Copy $12.00,

Digital Subscriptions: $60.00

Category Captain:

Fresh

Who’s

year

$61.00,

A STICKY SITUATION

Email: contactus@canadiangrocer.com

Phone: 1-877-687-7321

www.canadiangrocer.com/subscription

“NavigatiNg aN extreme obstacle course,” is how The Food Industry Association (FMI) describes the state of affairs for retailers and suppliers in its newly released 2022 The Food Retailing Industry Speaks report. It’s not difficult to understand how it arrived at that characterization. From the pandemic to supply chain bottlenecks, labour shortages, global conflict and, of course, inflation there’s a lot to navigate.

Among the many challenges, it’s no surprise then that 71% of food retailers participating in the annual study reported inflation had a negative impact on their business in 2021 and 2022 and that it will continue to be a menace, pressuring mar gins and increasing operating costs. They also expect it to negatively impact con sumer shopping behaviour.

Just how long inflation will influence shoppers is unclear. A recent NielsenIQ blog post stated it expects inflation will impact global consumer behaviour for years, and that higher prices are clearly changing the way people, globally, are thinking about their total grocery spend for the next 12 months. And in a Septem ber webinar, Sarah Nash, head of the Trends Team at Innova Market Insights, said food inflation and broader inflation ary pressures would be around “for quite some time—into 2023, maybe beyond.” Therefore, the behaviours consumers are adapting to manage and deal with this are likely to become ingrained. “They are using different money-saving strategies (from buying lower cost items to cook ing from scratch, shopping cheaper out lets) so companies need to think about

targeted solutions and communications,” said Nash, to reach these customers.

One effective tool grocers have to man age inflationary environments is through private label. In this issue, we look at how grocers are upping their private label game in Private Label Powers Up (page 36). Staying on the topic of inflation, in Keep ing it Fresh (page 47) we reveal five ways grocers can win inflation-weary consum ers and boost sales in the produce depart ment. And with the holidays just around the corner, we look at how inflation may shape Canadians’ celebrations this sea son (page 41). CG

I T’S HOW YOU SAY COFFEE IN ITALIAN

The Buzz

The latest news in the grocery biz

(L to R) Joe Ebron, district manager, Metro; Mayor Gordon Krantz; Ward 3 Town Councillor Rick Di Lorenzo; Wayne Hardwick, store manager; and Joe Fusco, SVP, Metro

OPENINGS

METRO’S Milton, Ont. location recently revealed a fresh new look. Following eight months of renovations, the store, which has been part of the community since 2006, had a grand reopening on Sept. 8. The 54,000-sq.-ft. upgraded store features a variety of fresh and local prod ucts including Foodland Ontario produce, an improved deli section with an expanded assortment, ready-meals, and a full floral section. Additionally, the pharmacy has moved to the centre of the store with an added Nature’s Signature section to extend the store’s health and well ness offering. “We are giving customers what they want including an expanded health and wellness offering, local products through our Locally Sourced program and a great selection of ready-made meals,” said Joe Fusco, senior vice-president, Metro, in a release.

Coquitlam, B.C. is home to a new SAVE-ON-FOODS. The 56,000-sq.-ft. store, located at Sunwood Square shop ping centre, is loaded with innovation and as of Novem ber will include a 16,000-sq.-ft. online ordering centre. (For more on the store turn to page 13.)

EVENTS

Grocery Innovations Canada , presented by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, returns to the Toronto Congress Centre Oct. 25 to 26. Visit groceryinnovations.com for more info.

Canadian Grocer’s Grocery Connex is coming to Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York on Monday November 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Grocery Connex combines three great events—Canadian Grocer’s GenNext Awards, Thought Leadership CEO Conference and the Golden Pencil Awards—in one live experience. Visit groceryconnex.com for information and tickets.

Serge Boulanger

Metro has shuffled its executive team. The company announced that Carmen Fortino, currently EVP, Ontario division head and national supply chain, will become Metro’s EVP, national supply chain and procurement in the new fiscal year. The move comes as Serge Boulanger, SVP, procurement and corporate brands, announced plans to retire in early 2023. He joined the grocery company in 1996. Metro says Fortino and Boulanger will work together to ensure a smooth transition. The company also announced that Marc Giroux, EVP, Quebec division head and e-commerce, has been appointed EVP and chief operating officer, food. With the new role, Giroux expands his current responsibilities and will lead Metro’s Ontario division. He will transition to the new role at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Metro also announced that Jean-Guy Tremblay, SVP of its Super C banner, will retire at the end of the year. Tremblay joined the company in 1992 as a store manager. He will be succeeded by Loïc Cloutier, currently Super C’s VP, operations with Éric Leclerc moving into Cloutier’s role.

Larry Chmielewski, VP of wholesale at Associated Grocers, has announced he is retiring after 35 years at the company, which is a division of Buy-Low Foods and the Pattison Food Group. Chmielewski, whose 49-year career also includes roles at Consolidated Grocers and Safety Mart Foods, will step down at the end of September.

Larry Chmielewski

Carmen Fortino Marc Giroux Tim Lalach

At Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), Debbie Unick has taken on the role of director of ag and consumer business transformation. The 18-month term position, a newly created role, will see Unick provide business leadership and support to strategic projects including supply chain and POS transformation. Unick, a 2022 Canadian Grocer Star Women in Grocery winner, has been with FCL for 21 years serving as the company’s director of centre store foods for the past two years. FCL has also announced that Tim Lalach, an 11-year veteran of the company, has accepted an 18-month term position as director of centre store food. Prior to joining FCL, Lalach spent 23 years with Loblaw.

The Kraft Heinz Company promoted Diana Frost to chief growth officer of its North America Zone. Frost was previously the head of North America disruption and Canada chief marketing officer. In her new role, Frost will oversee Kraft Heinz’s in-house agency while also managing the company’s digital, personalization and paid media teams.

Peak of the Market has made changes to its sales team. Dave Whitmore, formerly VP of sales, has taken on the role of VP, product and business development, while Ryan French has been promoted to VP, sales. He was previously sales director for the produce company.

Diana Frost

Debbie Unick

People

Who you need to know

CHIP CHOP

After noticing a lack of organic, environmentally-friendly packaged snack options, Alicia and Jeff Lahey dreamed up their own company with Humble Potato Chips

By Andrea Yu Photography by Tobi Asmoucha

Jeff Lahey first met Alicia in 2008 when they were working as district sales leaders for snack giant Frito-Lay. But it wasn’t until 2012 that the two began dating and shifting their own grocery purchases towards organic and natural foods. “We saw there [wasn’t a] better-foryou option in a lighter, thin, crispy potato chip,” Alicia recalls. The couple thought it would be a great business opportunity, but it remained an idea sitting in the back of their minds.

Once their son, Wilder, was born in 2017, Alicia and Jeff’s perspectives shifted. “We started looking at a future that wasn’t really our own,” Alicia says. “What was this world going to be like for him?” At the time, Alicia and Jeff had moved to jobs at natural, organic food companies, but the products being produced were sold in plastic packaging. They were motivated to revive their potato chip business idea, and decided they would be sold in sus tainable, plastic-free bags.

Alicia researched sustainable packaging companies to get a sense of the cost. “It was very expensive,” she says. “We would end up selling a bag of potato chips for $7 or $8. We knew that was just not possi ble.” She also reached out to a few organic potato farmers to make connections, but found they weren’t easy to get a hold of.

The Lahey’s idea was shelved again until January 2021, when the company Jeff worked for was restructured. At the same time, an organic potato farmer in Everett, Ont. responded (years later) to Alicia’s message and expressed an inter est in working together. By this time, demand for sustainable packaging had grown considerably. “Prices were becom ing more accessible,” Jeff says. “It felt like the right moment to go ahead and create Humble Potato Chips.”

A lot of pieces were put into play over the next few months. The couple worked with a company to make plant cellu lose-based bags. “There are different lay ers of the packaging that are compressed together,” Alicia explains. For the chips themselves, they partnered with local Ontario potato chip veteran Ray Woody to hone in on the cooking process. And for the potatoes themselves, their part ner farmer planted 50 hectares of potato seed into the ground in May 2021 for a fall harvest.

When it came to developing the sea sonings for the chips, Alicia and Jeff had some help from a family member. Rein ier Boermans, Alicia’s brother-in-law, is a chef at Dalhousie University’s agricul tural college in Nova Scotia. “We would talk about what we wanted, and he would make different blends and ship them to us,” Alicia explains. “We worked with the students on campus to be our taste testers and give us feedback.”

The team narrowed it down to five fla vours for their core lineup: original, sea salt and vinegar, smokey barbecue, honey mustard, and creamy dill. They found a production partner in Mississauga, Ont., got the facility certified organic and began production in January 2022. They launched in February to an impressive 500 stores, tapping their existing network of grocers to land national contracts with Loblaw and Whole Foods Market.

A week later, Alicia visited a grocery store to check on the bags and saw they had developed an unusual wrinkling. “We had a packaging fail,” Alicia recalls. “There is very low humidity in grocery stores—10% compared to 30% or 40% in a home. In low humidity, one of the lay ers of our bags dried up, just like a carrot shrivels up when it gets dry.”

Although heartbroken when they saw the wrinkled packaging, the couple were determined to work with their packaging manufacturer to come up with a solu tion. “We made the bag thicker using some additional adhesive so it wouldn’t be as impacted by the humidity,” Alicia explains. The new bags were ready by March and performed well on grocery store shelves. By June 2022, they added Sobeys and Safeway to their distribution lists. And at the end of August, Hum ble Potato Chips could be found in 1,110 stores. Next year, Alicia and Jeff hope to introduce two more flavours and a smaller grab-and-go size to their lineup.

The couple is proud to have brought their vision to life. But when they think back to the company’s inspiration, their son Wilder, they’re grateful for the important lessons their company teaches him. “It’s given us the opportunity to talk to him about plastics, sustainability and why we compost,” Jeff says. “That’s been an incredible revelation for the family and for him, educating him on why it’s important to take care of the Earth.”

CG

JEFF & ALICIA LAHEY

What do you like best about your job?

JEFF: We get to eat chips.

ALICIA: I love that I get to learn new sides of business. I’ve always been in sales and marketing, but now I’m deep in the trenches of operations and finance. It’s a new challenge.

What inspires you?

ALICIA: Wilder, our son. We’re doing it for him.

Best day in the business so far?

JEFF: Doing our first trial run and having everything come together: the seasonings, the oil, the packaging, and tasting the chips for the first time. That was a pretty cool moment.

What is the best career advice you’ve received?

JEFF: A former colleague shared this quote from Michael J. Fox: “Don’t spend a lot of time imagining the worstcase scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice.” I immediately taped it to my desk, it rings so true for entrepreneurship!

HeLlO, HoNeY.

Share and Savour in the irresistible combination of honey & garlic. Available now, Honey Garlic Turkey Bites

adds a delicious new flavour to our existing meat snack

SAVE THE DATES

a s severa L promi N e N t U.K. grocery chains including Waitrose, Morrisons and Tesco plan a total or partial elimina tion of “best before” dates on perishable items—instead urging shoppers to use their best judgement—a new study sug gests Canadian shoppers would be reluc tant to see them phased out.

Conducted by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in partner ship with Angus Reid, the study of 1,508 Canadians found only 27% of respon dents support eliminating best before dates from grocery items.

“There is no appetite for the elimi nation of best before dates in Canada,” Agri-Food Analytics Lab director Sylvain

Charlebois tells Canadian Grocer. “I think we’re addicted to best before dates.”

While health and safety is paramount, there might also be a financial incentive for Canadians to want best before dates to stick around. “Those ‘enjoy tonight’ deals [in which stores sell food items at or near their best before date at a discount] might not be available if you didn’t have best before dates,” he says.

The study also found that whether or not Canadians pay attention to the best before date is dependent on the product in question. For example, while 73% of respondents say they will always look at best before dates on dairy products, 69% say they do the same for seafood, while

only 32% say that they regularly check best before dates on packaged foods/ non-perishable items.

In Canada, only items with an antic ipated shelf life of 90 days or less are required to carry a best before sticker. However, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says an item past its best before date is not unsafe for consumption.

Instead, best before dates are an indi cation that a product purchased before that date will retain its optimal fresh ness, taste, nutritional value or any other qualities claimed by a manufacturer. “It doesn’t actually mean it’s bad after,” says Charlebois. “It boils down to how people want to manage risk.”

—Chris Powell

DON’T REINVENT TheWheel

FARMERS DELIVER ON ANIMAL CARE

AN ELEVATED EXPERIENCE

Save-On-Foods’ innovative new B.C. store offers a taste of what the future holds

By Chris Powell

save- oN foods has opened a store in Coquitlam, B.C.—the grocery retailer’s third new location to open in the province this year—that it says rep resents the company’s future.

1. The produce department features a full-service fruit and veggie cutting station

2. Save-On-Foods Kitchen offers grab ’n’ go items including hand-stretched pizza

3. A custom cake centre welcomes shoppers as they enter the store

4. & 5. A whimsical bulk candy section and a popcorn kiosk offer customers an array of treats

The new store sits on the site of a former Safeway location at Sunwood Square shopping centre and is highlighted by a 16,000-sq.-ft. online ordering cen tre that has been fully integrated into the store. The centre, which is scheduled to open in November, uses automation to fulfil online shopping orders, which Save-On-Foods says frees up staff to focus on customer service. (The company did not provide specifics on how the new technology works.)

The new location, which opened in early Septem ber, also features 56,000 square feet of retail space that offers shoppers a “fresh new grocery experi ence,” highlighted by a large cake shop at the front that senior vice-president of merchandising Brenda Kirk says “sets the tone” for the entire store.

The location also features a grilling station; a selection of sustainable Ocean Wise and local

seafood including an oyster bar; a full-service cheese counter; a fresh-pressed juice bar; a full-service fruit and veggie cutting station as well as a bulk candy store and popcorn kiosk.

There new store also boasts a wine department with more than 1,500 varieties of made-in-B.C. wine as well as a selection of grab n’ go items from the Save-On-Foods Kitchen, including hand-stretched Napoli-style pizza, fried chicken and poké bowls.

Kirk says the Sunwood location has every major competitor—including discount banners—in close proximity, but the area was missing a store that was “experiential” for customers. “It’s about being fresh, convenient, and better for you,” she says.

The Sunwood location is Save-On-Foods’ 186th store and continues a steady growth trajectory that has seen it open 40 stores over the past five years. The grocer’s footprint stretches from British Colum bia to Manitoba and North to the Yukon, with Kirk saying the company plans to open “a number of fresh and innovative stores” in 2023.

2 MILLION MEALS*

NATION

are excited

discover

products,

willing to pay a

for

recently conducted an online survey of

for its 2022

Shopper Study and this is what

found:

respondents said

like trying new

PlantX marks its spots

The Vancouver-based company is joining the vegan movement across multiple platforms

By Kristin Laird

they look for products that are

they would pay

little more for a new product if they thought it would be better than what is currently available

when shopping

that are new

IN A FEW SHORT YEARS, PlantX has grown from an e-commerce site dedicated to plant-based foods to a multiplatform brand that includes a meal delivery service, six brick-and-mortar stores and a partnership with Canada’s oldest retailer.

Its expansion is in line with the growing global plant-based food market, which Bloomberg Intelligence estimates will be worth US$162 billion in 2030, up from $29.4 billion in 2020. And as PlantX expands its footprint, the company’s bottom line increases alongside it. Continuing months of financial growth, PlantX recently posted monthly gross revenues of $1.4 million in August, an increase of 32% compared to a year ago.

But PlantX is more than just a purveyor of plant-based foods. The Vancouver-based company also hosts online education and fitness sessions and in-store sampling events. CMO

Alex Hoffman credits PlantX’s success to “being passionate about the [plant-based] lifestyle and curating the best selection in all touch points.”

Here’s a look at some of the ways PlantX is planting its flag in the global vegan food market.

• Founded in 2019, PlantX goes public in 2020, billing itself as the “digital face of the plant-based community” offering a variety of plantbased groceries, beverages, ready-made meals, vitamins and pet food, as well as a selection of houseplants for delivery across Canada.

• Becomes a seller on Hudson’s Bay Marketplace in April 2021, offering more than 2,000 products including plant-based pantry items and cosmetics.

• Opens XMarket, its first brick-and-mortar retail concept store in May 2021. In addition to prepared vegan meals, beverages and groceries, the

15,000-sq.-ft commercial space in Squamish, B.C. includes a bar and grill, as well as a café and food truck. (2, 4)

• Fall 2021, PlantX debuts its shop-in-shop concept within two Hudson’s Bay stores: Yorkdale Mall in Toronto and Rideau Mall in Ottawa.

• XMarket opens in Tel Aviv, Israel in November 2021. (1)

• In March 2022, PlantX launches same-day delivery to customers in Toronto and Ottawa through partnerships with Instacart, Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes and Door Dash.

• XMarket Chicago—a 6,000-sq.-ft. store dedicated to fresh produce, frozen items, dairy and meat alternatives, and grab-and-go items—opens in June 2022. (3, 5)

HELP WANTED

New survey finds 29% of food and beverage manufacturers are waiting more than a year to hire critical trade roles

By Rebecca Harris

g ood he L p is hard to find for many businesses, but for food and beverage manufacturers, the challenge is practi cally Herculean.

An August 2022 report by Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO) , funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, found that 82% of Ontario’s food and beverage (F&B) processors need, or are actively seeking to hire a skilled trades professional.

Maintenance electricians are in most demand (65%), followed by food product managers (59%) and millwrights (53%).

At minimum, it takes F&B processors about seven months to acquire a skilled tradesperson, and 29% of companies have been trying to fill a position for more than a year. High demand for skilled trades people across the country has industries competing for talent in a limited labour pool, says the report.

The study also found the shortage is making current employees’ jobs more difficult. Survey respondents expressed that workers are often experiencing more

overtime, fatigue and burnout.

“To some extent, the sector is a victim of its own success,” explains FBO’s CEO Christopher Conway. “We’ve held up very well during the pandemic and most people are finding what they need at the supermarket. But behind the scenes, there’s been a lot of struggle to maintain that level of production.”

In addition to the strain on employees, the report notes the skilled labour short age is leading to unplanned equipment downtime, a loss of revenue and reduced product offerings.

The study identified three potential hiring solutions:

• Increase employment opportunities: Employers are seeking supports that allow them to upskill existing employees, build stronger connections with trainers, and better reach qualified job seekers.

• Increase the industry’s access to qual ified foreign workers: Because the need to fill specialized jobs is immediate, the report states processors will benefit from supports that increase their access to

Walmart has sustainability in the bag

qualified foreign and immigrant workers.

• Increase education and awareness of the food and beverage industry: Survey participants expressed a need to invest in programs that attract youth into the trades, and believe more efforts are needed to promote the industry within secondary and post-secondary institutions.

Walmart Canada is piloting a reusable bag program in its Guelph, Ont. stores.

The program allows customers to use in-store GOATOTE kiosks to check out clean, reusable bags for a fee ($1 per use or $3 per month for unlimited access), use them for up to one month and then return them to be cleaned, sanitized and put back into circulation.

A year ago, the retailer introduced a 10-store pilot to eliminate singleuse plastic shopping bags from its stores, with Guelph as one of the pilot locations.

The national rollout of that program began in January and the company says it has prevented nearly 200 million single-use plastic

bags from entering circulation.

“Circular economy solutions, like the GOATOTE option we’re testing in our Guelph stores, focus on eliminating waste and recovering as much value as possible from the goods we use. This means reusing and repairing items while they’re in use and then upcycling or recycling once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan,” said Gaurav Gupta, director, ESG, Walmart Canada, in a release. “Introducing GOATOTE kiosks into our Guelph stores provides our customers with more choice in how they carry out their purchases when they shop with us and provides us with an opportunity to test this concept for broader use.”

—Jillian Morgan

A special thank you to our sponsors for supporting the 2022 Star Women Awards

Tesco’s self-service shift

U.K. grocery giant Tesco revealed in August that it would be placing a greater focus on self-checkouts at its larger stores. The Retail Gazette reports that Tesco said the decision was due to a “lack of customer demand” for traditional checkouts. However, not all customers are happy with the move. Predict ably, people have taken to social media to voice their displeasure and a petition—Tesco Stop the Replacement of People by Machines—on change. org is gaining momentum, with 237,000 people having signed the petition to date.

GLOBAL GROCERY

and ideas from the world

food retail

Sustainable coffee balls

Swiss food retail giant Migros has unveiled what it is calling a “revolutionary” sustainable coffee system. With CoffeeB, the retailer is taking aim at one of the “greatest issues” in the coffee industry–capsule waste. Instead of aluminum or plastic capsules, which the retailer says globally creates about 100,000 tons of waste each year, Migros has come up with a fully compostable coffee ball that has zero waste. Additionally, the coffee used is grown using sustainable cultivation and the balls can be dropped into an energy-efficient coffee machine that switches off after one minute. The coffee system is currently available in Switzerland, France, will soon be available in Germany and, given international interest for CoffeeB, Migros says it will be rolled out to other markets, too.

France cracks down on dark stores

In France, the government is cracking down on micro-fulfilment centres or “dark stores” operated by ultra-fast grocery services, some of which promise delivery in under 10 minutes. While operators such as Gorillas, Getir and Gopuff have proliferated in French cities over the course of the pandemic so, too, have complaints from local residents and city officials that the dark stores generate too much noise and disruption in the neighbourhoods in which they operate. In response, the French government has decreed the stores be classified as warehouses rather than shops, the BBC reports, in a move that will make it easier for municipalities to shut down dark stores. Complaints of disruption also prompted, earlier this year, the Dutch cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam to ban the opening of any new dark stores.

MEAT FEELS THE HEAT

In a world first, the Dutch city of Haarlem has moved to ban most meat advertisements in public spaces. The motion, drafted by the GroenLinks party, is an effort to combat the climate crisis by discouraging meat consumption. It’s unclear whether sustainably produced meat will be included in the ban, but the controversial move has sparked much opposition from the country’s meat industry. Haarlem, a city of 160,000, will start enforcing the advertising ban in 2024.

30 FOR €30

Carrefour Spain has introduced an initiative to make grocery shopping more affordable for those grappling with the rising cost of living. The retailer is offering customers a list of 30 commonly used grocery items—which includes breakfast products, canned food, pasta, coffee, oil, cleaning items etc.—for €30 (around C $39). The promotion will run until January at its network of stores and online. Last April, Carrefour Spain launched its “Able to Choose Means Able to Save” campaign that allowed its customers to choose the biggest discounts on the items they consume most, without restriction. In September, Carrefour Belgium launched an initiative to freeze the prices of 100 products for 100 days to help “boost people’s purchasing power.”

INCREASED VISIBILITY AND EXPOSURE

Our jury of retailers and industry

PERSUASIVE TRADE MARKETING

Finalists and winners are profiled in showcase flyers on reebee and featured on The Food Professor Podcast and in leading grocery publications like Grocery Business, Canadian Grocer, Western Grocer and Food in Canada Magazine.

INDUSTRY-WIDE RECOGNITION

Celebrate your team and recognize their outstanding work.

It ain’t easygoing green

Sustainability efforts and the messaging around them are critical to building consumer trust

most caNadiaNs care about the environment and believe the food they eat impacts the planet and, by extension, their quality of life. In fact, three quarters of Canadians view environmental issues such as climate change as “increasingly feeling relevant to [their] dayto-day lives,” according to Mintel Reports Canada, Sustainability in Food, 2022. Four in five Canadians also agree that “what people choose to eat and drink has a meaningful impact on the environment.”

Beyond this, many Canadians also view climate change as a pocketbook issue. Again, four in five Cana dians worry that “less predictable weather patterns related to climate change will lead to food scarcity and higher food prices.” Given current inflation levels, any thing that contributes to higher food prices stands to be particularly important. If concern for the planet and personal well-being isn’t enough to motivate people to consider the environmental impact of their actions, concern over one’s finances can tip the scales.

There are two main challenges for food and drink producers to consider. The first is operational, which involves shifting to more sustainable production methods. The second is conveying those efforts to consumers in a manner that builds further trust in a company or brand.

Here’s the difficulty, many Canadians are skep tical. Just under half think “most environmental claims on food and drink packages are a scam.” If a company is going to dedicate its resources toward making more sustainable products, it should get credit for those actions.

MESSAGING MATTERS

For messaging around sustainability to resonate, it needs to be simple, understandable and relatable. Who delivers the message and the focus of the mes sage matters. Consumers don’t believe well-known food brands or companies are positioned to be their own best advocates. Canadians actually put com panies near the bottom of the list when asked what sources they trust with environmental messages. At the top of the list are climate experts followed by farmers. Farmers are particularly noteworthy as they are widely trusted in Canada, so using them as campaign spokespeople can resonate with a broad cross-section of Canadians.

It’s worth noting that specific concerns around sustainability vary by food category. For instance, Canadians are more likely to associate beef, poul try and dairy with greenhouse gas emissions. With produce, the use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides is more likely to be a concern, and waste matters more with beverages and packaged goods.

Finally, shoppers are looking for easier ways to compare products when it comes to understand ing their environmental impact. More than 80% of Canadians agree they “would trust claims around sustainability more if there were standardized/reg ulated environmental labels across products.” This could be akin to nutritional labels, but instead of providing a consistent way to compare calories or sodium content, environmental labels could be used to compare the carbon output needed to make the products on shelves.

Concern for the environment, specifically around climate change, is here to stay. Regardless of other geopolitical and economic challenges, this issue consistently remains among Canadians’ top wor ries. To stay relevant, brands must have a strategy around sustainability when it comes to operations and messaging. In short, not only do companies need to “walk the walk”, but they also need to know how to “talk the talk” effectively to be recognized and trusted advocates for environmental health.

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

@JoelDGregoire

BUSINESS BRING IT ON.

Your industry. Your agency.

you’re competing

industry

and

creative

that knows

with

WHAT’S

Oh my Nosh!

Nosh & Co. Everything Bagel Cashews are delicious whole cashews coated with the perfect everything bagel seasoning.

The premium seasoning includes sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic and onion. Biting into this tasty treat will remind consumers of a warm bagel coming fresh out of the oven. Great quality whole cashews provide the perfect crunch for this delicious snack that is made in Canada.

Mix it up with Lime & Yuzu

Fever-Tree’s delicious Sparkling Lime & Yuzu is made with a blend of bright, zesty Tahitian limes from Mexico and the wonderfully floral sweetness of Japanese Yuzu.

This flawlessly balanced combination creates a uniquely refreshing mixer that is lower in calories and perfect to have on-hand for hosting, or to simply enjoy on its own. Available in a 200 mL format, these mixers contain naturally-sourced ingredients with no artificial colours, flavours, or sweeteners.

What’s not to Love?

New from Unilever, Dove Body Love Moisture Boost Body Cleanser is formulated to boost skin’s moisture and fortify the skin barrier.

The skin-quenching formula is enriched with hyaluronic acid serum (yes, the same ingredient that’s in face care products), moringa oil and Dove’s unique 10X Moisture Boost Complex,* to help skin retain moisture.

maple syrupmake way for

This Canadian staple is versatile, delicious—and nutritious

If you think maple syrup is reserved for pancakes and waffles, think again. This Canadian cultural icon is catching consumers’ attention for use in all sorts of tasty food and beverage options. Plus, its popularity is only expected to keep on growing. Here’s a look at why maple syrup should be getting prominent play in grocery aisles these days.

It’s natural and versatile Prepared from the sap of maple trees, maple syrup is a natural substitute for processed sugars for sweet and savory dishes. Consumers are adding it to salad dressings and desserts, as well as to meat and vegetable marinades and sauces. It’s also a natural sweetener in coffee, tea, smoothies and juices.

It’s a healthy choice

There’s good reason maple syrup has been dubbed a super food. In its pure state, maple syrup contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids known for their high antioxidant qualities, along with minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron and zinc. It also contains 33% fewer calories than an equal quantity of granulated or brown sugar.

It’s a growing market

According to the latest market analysis report from Grand View Research, the size of the global maple syrup market was valued at US$1.49 billion in 2021 and

is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% from 2022 to 2028. This growth is attributed to the growing use of maple syrup in bakery, confectionary, cereal and dairy industries, as well as its use as a natural sweetener in various products.

Jessica Boutin, sales director for Maple Joe, new maple syrup brand in Canada and the U.S., says the category has certainly evolved during COVID-19 as people seek out ways to eat healthier and improve their immunity. “We believe the category is still underdeveloped in English Canada and can be twice as big as it is now,” she says, noting that 62% of Quebeckers consume maple syrup at least once a month, compared to 39% of Canadians outside of Quebec. “We see a huge opportunity to grow this category.”

It’s SUSTAINABLE

In the aftermath of pandemic supply issues, local and sustainability are more important to consumers than ever. Good-quality, pure maple syrup is produced right here in Canada. Moreover, brands like Maple Joe ensure that the vast majority of their maple syrup producers live and work within 100 kms of their production facility, which is also the first and only carbon-neutral maple syrup manufacturing plant.

Product Spotlight

Made from 100% pure maple, Maple Joe Maple Butter is a delicious spread for breakfast, or a dinner addition atop baked sweet potatoes and squash.

Maple Joe’s dripfree, squeezable bottle packs in the rich maple syrup flavour while making it easy to control portions—and avoid messy drips.

Advocating for INDIES

CFIG’s incoming chair Dan Bregg talks to Canadian Grocer about making tough decisions, the industry code of conduct and always supporting independents

By Shellee Fitzgerald Photography by Lucas Finlay

DAN BREGG DIDN’T set out to work in grocery. Having grown up in his fam ily’s Surrey, B.C. restaurant he thought his path was set. “I fully expected to be a restaurateur,” he says. But when his fam ily decided to up and sell the business just before his 18th birthday, Bregg had to come up with a different plan.

After pursuing a designation as a cer tified public accountant (CPA), he landed a job at a small accounting firm that worked with Buy-Low Foods, the B.C.based independent grocer. A few years later, an opportunity came up to join the Buy-Low team and Bregg, wooed by the fast-paced nature of the grocery business, seized the opportunity. In the ensuing 36 years, he hasn’t looked back. “Because Buy-Low was, at that time, a small com pany [it has since expanded to include Nesters Market, Nature’s Fare Markets, Van-Whole Produce and Choices Markets], I had opportunities to be involved in far more than just the finance area,” he says. “As the company grew, particularly after we became part of the [Jim] Pattison Group, I had the chance to run IT, legal, human resources and, ultimately, oper ations. The diversity of experience and opportunity to make a real difference in the company got me hooked.”

These days, in addition to serving as

president of Buy-Low Foods and Associ ated Grocers, Bregg is part of The Pattison Food Group’s executive team. The group was formed last year to unite Jim Patti son Group’s grocery businesses, which include Buy-Low Foods as well as SaveOn-Foods and Thrifty Foods, among oth ers. Come October, Bregg will be adding to his duties when he takes on the role of chair of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) where he’ll be working to advocate for the country’s indie grocers. We recently caught up with Bregg and spoke to him about everything from his career in grocery, his priorities as CFIG chair and the opportunities ahead for independents. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Buy-Low Foods has been around for more than 55 years—how do you ensure it stays relevant to customers?

Over the years, our company has evolved and grown. And today, as part of the Pattison Food Group, our operations focus is as solid as ever. We are relevant because we believe we are in the people business, not the food business. Our goal is to deliver on our Always Customer First mission and do the right thing for our customers and communities every day. And we are successful because we

are truly part of the fabric of the commu nities we serve.

In your long career in grocery, what has been the toughest decision that you’ve had to make?

This is a really hard question. The most difficult decisions are always about people. I have always believed that if an individual is not meeting expecta tions, it usually means that we as lead ers have not done a good enough job of providing them with the necessary training, resources or support. At the same time, there are some who simply are not capable or will not do their part to meet expectations and a parting of the ways is necessary. Decisions like that are always tough and I’ll keep asking myself if we’d done all we should have before taking that last option. At the end of the day, it comes down to relationships and integrity, and doing the right thing for everyone involved.

What do you find most rewarding about working in the grocery industry?

The most rewarding part for me is how the independent retailers that I work with have become my friends. I’m sure that’s because of the type of people the grocery business attracts, but it might also be

Cover story

because we are the only ones that under stand each other [laughs].

What’s next for Buy-Low Foods/ Pattison Food Group?

In my view, the Pattison Food Group is going to continue to work to grow its busi ness and, particularly important for me, its continuing commitment to the inde pendent grocer.

Through Associated Grocers, VanWhole Produce and our strategic partner ships, we are completely committed to ensuring the independent grocer in West ern Canada, in particular, and Canada as a whole, continue to have all the tools they need to be successful. The inde pendent grocer is a critical link in food security in the smaller, rural and remote communities. They fill a need in their communities beyond just food, though; they provide employment, and they sup port local in every way. I have seen com munities that just simply dried up and disappeared because the grocery store closed down and the community could no longer support people living there. We work hard to do our part to ensure this doesn’t happen.

What would you say are the biggest challenges on the horizon for independent grocers?

It would be easy to point to industry con solidation and relative size as the biggest challenges for the independent grocer. These are concerns to be sure, but there will always be a place for the independent grocer. Independents will always be the innovators, the ones that fill unmet needs in their markets, the ones with their fin gers on the pulse of their communities and, therefore, I believe they will always have a place in the industry.

To me, the bigger challenges are around the transition we are seeing in the workforce and the demographic changes we are going through. Many independent grocers are reaching retirement age and are having difficulty transitioning their businesses to new ownership, for various reasons. In my own organization we are working to develop ideas and programs to help the independents we work with to make this transition successful for both them and new ownership.

As for the workforce, over the past couple of decades we have not done a

good job of educating the next genera tions about the highly rewarding, diverse and exciting opportunities the grocery industry offers. I mean just look at me–I was a kid that worked in a restaurant, became an accountant, then lucked into the grocery industry and had interest ing roles in human resources, real estate and facilities management, information technology, distribution and transporta tion operations and, ultimately, execu tive leadership. There is really no limit to career aspirations. We need to do a better job as an industry in telling our story, oth erwise the independent grocer is going to struggle to fill roles in their business as we will only be seen as a first job or a stepping-stone to somewhere else.

What will independent grocers need to do to be competitive in an increasingly competitive marketplace?

I think independent grocers need to keep doing what they have always done. Inde pendents need to identify the two or three things that they can do better than the competitor, whatever that may be, and be the best at those two or three things. Support local, know your customer and make sure that you are delivering what customers want.

Of course, I think there is a real bene fit in being involved with CFIG, if noth ing more than taking advantage of all the benefits of membership. And I think independents need to ensure they are getting the level of support needed to be successful from their wholesale supplier, but I am a little biased on that topic.

In your upcoming role as CFIG chair, what will be your priorities?

My priorities are completely aligned with the overall objectives of CFIG—protecting the interests of the independent grocer in Canada.

This will, of course, include the ongo ing efforts of CFIG to ensure the needs of the independent grocer are considered and protected in the grocery code of con duct, the continued efforts to address credit card processing fees, and ensuring that industry and government continue to understand and appreciate both the size of independent grocers in Canada as a group and their critical role in food security and community support across the country.

Progress has been made this past year on a code of conduct for the grocery industry–what must happen for it to become a reality? Are you/CFIG optimistic about a positive outcome?

I fully believe that by the end of the year the industry will come together with a consensus on an industry-wide code of conduct for recommendation to the Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Agriculture Ministers, that the FPT will be pleased with the outcome, and that shortly thereafter we will see a made-inCanada code of conduct that the grocery industry will support for the benefit of all participants in the industry: manufactur ers, suppliers, distributors and retailers— no matter if they’re large or small.

How will the code make things better for independents?

In general terms, I think one of the ben efits of the code will be recognizing the importance of fair access to products for the smaller independents.

What are you most optimistic about? What do you see as the opportunities ahead for independent grocers?

I am optimistic there will always be a place for the independent grocer.

I see the opportunities for indepen dents to continue to be the innovators in the provision of new or enhanced ser vices; in the introduction of unique prod ucts; and first to market with products that their customers want.

Because of their relative size and local connection, the independent grocer can make decisions quickly, take advantage of their flexibility and be a trial purchaser of new innovative products that a small producer is introducing to market, but that cannot produce enough to satisfy the [requirements of] large national retailers.

Independent grocers were the first to offer their customers specialized dietary offerings, they were the first to bring organic and natural products to the shelf, the first to experiment with tastes from around the world, and on and on. The independent still has that opportunity. I have never met a more creative bunch than the independent grocers serving a niche market—so I am full of confidence that they will continue to be successful for the long term. CG

MAKING EVERYDAY LIFE MORE COMFORTABLE, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE AWAY FROM HOME

Canadians are very familiar with Kruger Products’ leading consumer brands – Cashmere® and Purex® bathroom tissue, Scotties® facial tissue, SpongeTowels® paper towels, White Swan® and our newest line, Bonterra™. But did you know we also service the away-from-home segment? In fact, we are Canada’s leading commercial tissue manufacturer. We manufacture and distribute a range of high-quality, cost-effective product solutions, including paper towel, bathroom tissue, napkins, hand care, wipers and dispensers for most segments across Canada: hospitality, education, public facilities, food service, property management, health care and manufacturing. Our AFH team works closely with customers to tailor product solutions to meet their needs, whether they are concerned with hygiene, cost, performance, aesthetics, or anything else. Visit krugerproducts.com/afh for more information.

*

GEN Generation Next thinking

To woo generation Z as shoppers and employees, you need to understand them

By Rosalind Stefanac

GENERATION Z NOW MAKES up one-fifth of Can ada’s population and are turning out to be a major retail force with more buying power than their mil lennial predecessors. According to a U.S. report from Gen Z Planet, a research and advisory firm focused on this cohort, gen Z spending power in the United States reached US$360 billion in 2021, generated from full- or part-time work, parental support or side hustles. To earn their loyalty for the long-term, industry analysts say grocers need to know how to engage with this digitally savvy, money-minded and diverse group, as both shoppers and employees.

“There really are some unique differences with this group,” says Jo-Ann McArthur, president and found ing partner of Nourish Food Marketing in Toronto, noting that gen Zs include those born between 1997 and 2008 (some definitions include those born up to 2012). One difference she points to is that this group has particularly high levels of “eco anxiety,” with 72% expressing some concern about how climate change will affect them, according to the Nourish Network 2022 Trend Report, produced by Nourish Food Mar keting. Plus, they’re coming of age during a global pandemic, which McArthur says will affect the way

Generation Next thinking

they view science and its impact on food. “They don’t think GMO s or additives are as unhealthy as other groups,” she says. In fact, according to the Nourish report, generation Z sees science as a necessary way to save the planet and are the most willing of all gen erations to try food produced using technology.

VALUES-BASED SHOPPING HABITS

With shopping habits, McArthur says a brand’s val ues are top of mind for this generation. “We know that social responsibility was a priority with mil lennials but with this group it’s an expectation, and they’ll call you out if you’re inauthentic,” she says.

As a result, it’s important for retailers to carry brands that are value-based and to launch initiatives them selves to prove they’re thinking about sustainability and future impact, too. “Rather than market to me, it’s matter to me for this generation,” she says.

As true digital natives, generation Z will go online to discover and research future purchases, but will still turn to traditional brick-and-mortar stores more

often than millennials or gen-Xers to buy them. According to ongoing research on this generation from global management consulting firm Kearney, this is because they view retail as a way to get into an environment where service is important and options are curated for them.

Shelley Balanko, senior vice-president of business development at The Hartman Group, says mid-pan demic Food Sourcing in America data showed this group was making 2.5 in-person shopping trips a week, compared to millennials at 1.9 and gen-Xers at 1.5. “But more than anything, what we’ve seen is that gen Zs are even more comfortable in this reimag ined world of being able to shop anywhere and they’re going to have more expectations [than previous generations] for an omnichannel experience where everything is integrated,” she explains. “What you’re providing in the store should mirror what you’re pro viding them online.”

Thanks to the pandemic, Balanko says this cohort is also much more savvy when it comes to health

THE GEN Z PROFILE THIS NEXT GENERATION OF SHOPPERS AND EMPLOYEES HAVE SOME UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS:

»

As the first generation to grow up with the internet, they are true digital natives (on average they received their first smartphone at age 10)

»

They value societal change and are more aware of issues around them globally compared to previous generations

»

They are more likely than other generations to have grown up in diverse family structures; they are more fluid when it comes to gender norms

»

They like to shop online, but also in-person— more so than millennials

»

They rely on technology and social networks to make informed decisions about their purchases; they value personalized products, too

» They are proactive about their health in terms of doing things to lower health risks and prevent diseases

» They are cautious and calculated with their money, especially having felt the economic impact of COVID-19 from a young age

»

Whereas millennials were raised with a focus on sustainability, gen Zs are looking further towards regeneration and preventative measures

LEFT: GETTY IMAGES/FG TRADE, BOTTOM LEFT: GETTY IMAGES/ALESSANDRO BIASCIOLI

and wellness. “They think very holistically about it, in particular in the integration of mental health and how food and beverage are part of that.”

Considered big snackers, Balanko notes that gen-Z shoppers view snacking as a much more culturally acceptable way to eat compared to previous gener ations. “For this younger set, anything could be [a] snack so they don’t necessarily have granola bars top of mind,” she says. Hartman’s latest research also shows this group is more inclined to experiment with foods, with 67% saying they love to try new foods and cuisines. Having grown up with diverse cuisine options, gen Zs take for granted that global foods and ingredients are on the menu, expecting even “famil iar” and “comfort” foods to be part of this.

In making the grocery store more appealing to gen Zs, Balanko says retailers need to recognize that this cohort is more fluid around their identity. “Think about gender stereotypes in signage and in-store com munications,” she says. “A poster with a white nuclear family, two kids and a dog may not speak to them.”

According to the latest report on Marketing to Gen Z released by Nashville, Tenn.-based CM Group (Feb ruary 2022), this cohort may be the most ad-averse generation, but they are the most receptive to valueoriented messaging and tactics. They’re also more likely than millennials to seek out recommendations from influencers they trust and have a higher prefer ence for interacting via social media.

GEN Zs CAN MAKE VALUABLE EMPLOYEES

As well as being engaged shoppers, grocers are find ing gen Zs can make highly valuable employees once they’re engaged in their work. More than a third of the staff at Save-On-Foods is made up of gen Zs, and “we’re thrilled to have them,” says Heidi Ferriman, the grocer’s senior vice-president, people and cor porate affairs. “Our gen-Z team members are our emerging leaders, and we are fully embracing the opportunity to showcase the grocery business as a career path for them.”

Given that this generation of employees is look ing for a more personalized workplace experience, Ferriman says her company has made concerted efforts to provide leadership development special ists that are dedicated to helping gen Zs along their career path. “In addition to ongoing opportunities for mentorship and coaching with senior leaders, as part of our ongoing effort to support the growth and development of this generation we have built a robust online learning management system to sup port [their] individual growth,” she says. “We also offer education reimbursement, including sponsor ship for master’s degrees.”

At Longo’s, where gen Zs make up 44% of the work force, learning is extremely important to this group of employees, says Liz Volk, chief human resources offi cer. “They are very open to cross-training and learn ing new skills across our stores,” she says. Longo’s

STAY

I

uses a digital platform for staff that houses company information and opportunities for learning in “bitesized pieces” on a daily basis. “It’s also got some gam ification in there because [gen Zs] love to compete and it’s a way to pull them into daily learning.”

Volk says Longo’s is also developing more bitesized learning and training information in video format. “This is an audience that we know lives on YouTube and takes in information this way,” she says, noting that the communication style for gen Zs has proved appealing across all Longo’s staff. “It tends to be that this group might lead the way, but then you’ll find that others get on board because they see the value of it.”

A common myth about this generation is that they don’t know how to communicate because of their reliance on technology, but Volks says the opposite is true. “A lot of them are excellent communicators and wouldn’t be on our front line if they couldn’t communicate,” she says.

At Toronto’s Summerhill Market, co-owner Christy McMullen, says she’s noticed that gen-Z employees appreciate regular meetings more than previous gen erations. “It has to be a more collaborative approach

Generation

thinking

According to Deloitte’s global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, almost two in five gen Zs say they have rejected a job because it didn’t align with their values

to communication and not authoritarian either,” she says. “They’re very bright, but they need reassurance and feedback on their work on a regular basis.”

McMullen says it’s important for gen Zs to know they’re part of something bigger than just “a job.”

The latest research from Deloitte’s global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial Survey confirms this idea. According to the report, almost two in five gen Zs say they have rejected a job because it didn’t align with their values (35% reported they would even leave a job without another one lined up). On the flip side, those satis fied with their employers’ societal and environmen tal impact—and their efforts to provide a diverse and inclusive culture—say they are more likely to want to stay with their employer for more than five years.

In her experience, McMullen says gen-Z employees want to know you have good recycling policies in place at the store level, as well as other initiatives underway geared to the environmental issues they care about.

“We also have a social committee for the first time at our store as these are the kinds of things they get excited about,” she says. “We do a big carnival every

year and it’s always well-attended by this generation.”

Grocers and industry analysts also agree that tech nology will always be a big focus of the gen Z way of shopping and working—and grocers need to keep on evolving accordingly. Save-On-Foods’ Ferriman says there have been a large number of retailers, such as Sears and Blockbuster, who have failed to adapt to the digital revolution by not fully understanding the importance of the online space to consumers today.

“Throughout the pandemic, more Canadians adopted the ‘digital lifestyle’ and as retailers it’s our responsibility to ensure we meet the digital expecta tions of our customers and especially this generation [of gen Zs],” says Ferriman. “We know we need to use digital to captivate their attention, whether through our marketing campaigns, our recruitment efforts or simply the way we represent Save-On-Foods on our social media platforms.” CG

Generation Next Thinking is an ongoing series that explores the cutting- edge topics that are impacting grocery retail today and in the future.

The

grocery industry resource in Canada

Private label powers up

By Danny Kucharsky

Sale S of private -label brands have only one direction to go, and that is up. Canadian grocers need only look over seas for proof, says Marie-France Gibson, vice-president, corporate brands at Metro.

“There is more opportunity to increase private label, especially when we look at our European counterparts with 30%plus share in private label,” she says.

Gibson adds that at her company, pri vate label has seen “strong sales perfor mance and growth” in the last few years and now represents more than 20% of Met ro’s total store sales. With consumer adop tion of private label on the rise, “now is more important than ever to make sure we have the right products at the right price.”

Grocers have upped their private-label

Amid high inflation and supply chain issues, store brands are making their mark

game in recent years, says Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “I think that’s Loblaws’ legacy,” he says of the retailer’s President’s Choice brand. “They’ve actually been able to convey to the public that you can buy a private-la bel product and get some quality along with that.” Charlebois estimates private label’s market share for food in Canada is between 17% and 20%.

Canadian shoppers have become more reliant on private label in today’s high inflation environment and there is no sign that sales will slow, says Brian Ettkin, head of strategy and solutions, Canada at Numerator, a market research firm. In early July, private-label grocery

sales were up 11% versus the same period in 2021, he says, and 89% of shoppers have purchased private-label foods at grocery stores at least once a month over the last 12 months.

“We expect consumers to stick with private label post-pandemic and after inflationary pressures ease,” Ettkin says, noting only 18% of private-label buyers plan to return to more premium brands if inflation eases. “National brand shrink flation and possible formula changes have tilted that value equation in the favour of store brands.”

And it’s a misconception that pri vate label is primarily for lower-income households, Ettkin says. All Canadians buy private label and even in today’s

inflationary times, more affluent shop pers are driving the growth in private label, he says. According to Numerator data, high-income Canadians have spent 5% more on private-label grocery, house hold, and health and beauty goods in 2022 versus last year.

Low-income Canadians are spending 1% less on private label, he says, possi bly because “low-income shoppers have already stretched their budgets as far as they can. Inflation is really cutting into their weekly shopping budgets, irrespec tive of brand.”

According to Ryan Harris, principal, client service for Canada at IRI , private label has not grown as much as would have been expected given the pandemic

Private label

and today’s inflationary environment. Instead, to find savings, consumers are seeking deals at discount banners.

One frequent mistake grocers make is allowing branded products to drop to the same price as their private-label counter parts, Harris says. As a result, consumers wait until national brands go back on sale and pantry load. “It hurts private label, and it hurts branded products. It’s not a great strategy.”

Given inflationary pressures, “having your own store brand, being able to have better control over your pricing, is mis sion critical right now in terms of win ning over consumers,” says Joel Gregoire, associate director, food and drink at Mintel. It’s “an essential plank in the strategy to drive traffic.”

Gibson notes that Metro asks its sup pliers to provide in-depth details about cost increases, a strategy that “has been very useful during this inflationary time, to allow us to compare and challenge a variety of suppliers.”

To gain better control over its offerings and to improve local connections, Cal gary Co-op launched its own private-la bel lines in 2020, including Founders & Farmers and Cal & Gary’s.

“This is a journey for us and we’re only approaching year three,” says Chris Gru ber, managing director, private brands at Calgary Co-op. “It takes many, many years to build a brand and the equity and the consumer following and loyalty.” But, “we’re well on our journey to hit our goals.”

Calgary Co-op is constrained by the fact it has only 24 food stores, so it pro duces smaller quantities of private label than the major grocers, “but we’ve lev eraged that by saying let’s be unique and special,” says Ken Keelor, CEO of Calgary Co-op. “Our game is the uniqueness and the Calgary identity that we can bring.”

It does so by using local producers and including Calgary “isms” on packaging that often resonate only with Calgari ans. Cal & Gary’s brown organic eggs, for example, say “Ready to crack like your windshield,” which is a cheeky reference to the city’s harsh weather.

Canadians are turning to private label to seek out new flavours and experiences and the days when store brands could merely copy national brands are long gone, Gibson says. “Now, not only do we need to be good quality, but we must also bring more attributes such as better nutri tion, trendy flavour profiles, recyclable

packaging and locally sourced to attract the attention of today’s consumers.”

Gibson says Metro has launched more than 1,000 private-label products in the last few years. With the growing interest for vegan offerings, Metro has developed plant-based products under its LifeSmart brand. The grocer also added a line of gourmet oat and coconut milk-based products, and protein and deli products are being developed for its Naturalia product line, which targets consumers seeking simple ingredients.

“The key is to understand consumer trends and needs and data from customer habits, then act on them with innovative and differentiated offers to drive them to our stores,” Gibson says.

Jenny Longo, senior director of pri vate brands at Ontario-based Longo’s, says consumers are seeking niche-type private-label items. At Longo’s, these include legacy items like pasta sauce that she says continues to convert those Italians used to making their own sauces, to premium-quality Curato products imported from Italy.

Consumers are “looking for what’s new and exciting and you can do that through your private label by offering unique offer ings” that create a following, says Longo. “It’s fun. You can create those treasure hunt items. Hopefully, they like them, and they come back and find them again.”

Calgary Co-op is also innovating with Cal & Gary’s. At its midtown store, the Co-op opened its first Cal & Gary’s Bis tro within the deli area, which contains about 40 seats and sells a range of cus tomized products using private-brand ingredients. “We think we can take this to a whole new level of not just deli or home meal replacement but the broader experi ence our consumers expect,” Gruber says.

As part of its environmental, social and governance focus, Calgary Co-op recently launched a three-pack of produce bags that allows shoppers to avoid using plas tic bags. They contain the catchphrase “Less waste for the city we love most,” and are selling well, Keelor says.

Calgary Co-op also plans to install technology at its head office early next year that will extract carbon emissions from the building, which can then be transformed into natural soap. The Co-op will launch a range of Cal & Gary’s soap made from the office building’s captured carbon “with really neat storytelling behind it,” Gruber says.

Higher tier private brands “offer people a reason to visit your stores to get some thing they’re going to have a hard time finding somewhere else,” says Mintel’s Gregoire. Another plus is that since gro cers don’t have to pay listing fees for pri vate-label brands, the costs associated with launching products is less than for name brands. ‘The cost of failure” for pri vate label is usually lower “because if it doesn’t work you delist it.”

Unlike name brands, private label can cover the store, which is important given that Mintel research shows many con sumers are more likely to consider a pri vate-label product in another category if they have a good experience in one cate gory, adds Gregoire.

Although grocers control their privatelabel brands, this hasn’t helped to solve supply chain issues, says Longo. “We’re being told you’ve got your allocation and that’s it. You didn’t book more; you’re not getting more.”

The reality, she says, is that if the ven dor can’t get the ingredients or can’t get the shipping, it’s going to affect all brands. “It doesn’t matter if it’s private label or national.”

Numerator’s Ettkin says there is still plenty of room for private label to grow given that most consumers now say pri vate-label products meet (65%) or exceed (25%) their quality expectations, he says, compared to national brand products.

However, if inflationary and supply chain pressures force retailers to down grade the quality of their products, newly won converts could be turned off and pushed back to national brands.

“The ball is in [the] retailer’s court and it’s theirs to lose,” Ettkin says. CG

The

of

Anthony Longo

Joe Fusco

Sam Corea

Michael Medline

Tom Shurrie

Darrell JonesPaul Bravi

Aisles

‘TIS THE SEASON

The holiday entertaining period is coming up fast, here’s what to expect

By Laura Pratt

Over the last twO years, holiday gatherings with family and friends have been cancelled or downsized dramatically in observance of COVID -19 protocols limiting the number of people allowed to gather under one roof. But as restrictions have been lifted, a sense of normalcy has returned and, even against the backdrop of elevated inflation, Canadians are ready (and willing) to celebrate.

According to Mintel’s Holiday Celebrations 2022 report, 73% of Canadians say they have missed a holiday celebration because of the pandemic. “To me, that indicates a lot of pent-up demand to go back to normal,” says Scott Stewart, associate director, lifestyles and retail at Mintel. “The 2020 holiday was personal sacrifice for the greater good. Last year, [attending or hosting a holiday gathering] was more of a personal risk. Even if the risk is the same this year as it was last year, there are a lot of people that would still say

PRODUCTS

Aisles

yes [to celebrating together].” Also, 50% of respondents say they are comfortable attending a big event. “If that many peo ple are comfortable going to a place with 20,000 people, having Christmas with 15 is fine,” says Stewart. “Between the com fort level and that pent-up demand, we’re expecting a pretty big season relative to the past two years.”

Kathy Perrotta, vice-president of mar keting strategy and understanding at Ipsos Canada, says attendance at holiday activities was at an all-time low in 2020. It increased slightly in 2021, but “this year we expect to see a rebound—probably not quite to pre-pandemic levels, but close, so definitely something retailers want to invest in.” She says Ipsos has already noticed long weekend celebrations grow ing “in size and complexity” and that these “special gatherings” are up 6% in 2022 compared to 2021, “an indication that we’re moving in the direction of rein stating the gatherings. There’s pent-up demand to reconnect.”

Still, Perrotta says the number of peo ple gathering is lower than before the pandemic, with average parties of two to three people, rather than the typical four-plus. According to Perrotta, 30% of Canadians say the cost and workload are barriers to hosting large groups. “It’s incumbent on retailers to plan for those events and inspire consumers to enter tain in a value-conscious way,” she says.

Inflation

Undoubtedly, inflation will make the 2022 holiday season more expensive for Cana dians. In July, Statistics Canada reported that food costs were up 9.9% compared with a year ago. Year over year, the price of canned and other prepared vegetables has risen 15.4%, butter is up 17.3%, and the cost of eggs has increased 15.8%.

Despite this, Mintel’s Stewart believes tradition and desire might prevail over financial concerns. “My hypothesis is because this is such a special time and people have waited so long for it, most will find a way to make it work. Inflation has been difficult, but for most Canadians it’s more a nuisance than a crisis.”

Mintel research conducted in June found that 58% of Canadians were price comparing and 38% would forfeit non- essentials. “So, before people give something up, they’ll put more effort into finding it, maybe go to two differ ent stores to get the cranberry sauce they

love,” says Stewart. “Discounts will prob ably resonate more than they normally would for a holiday season because peo ple have their antenna up.”

From a messaging perspective, Stew art calls this “the best opportunity in two years to give people a break. Just as the pandemic is slowing, you’ve got inflation exploding. If I were running communi cations for a store the message would be, ‘Hey, Canada, let’s celebrate, let’s make this special, let’s take a day to be normal.’ The hope would be a response of: ‘I do have a tight budget, but I don’t want to skimp on this. I’ve been waiting three years and it’s finally here.’ I think there’s an audience for that.”

Ryan Baraniuk, director of marketing at Arla Foods, says inflation makes it crit ical for brands to showcase value. Con sumers, he says, will be looking to buy what gets them the most bang for their buck. That means portioned cheeses and recipes that let people serve more for less.

“Consumers are hungry for [value],” says Baraniuk. “Although inflation might mean they’re a little more pressed for money, they’re still going to [entertain]. Brands that deliver a value-added mes sage that people can still treat themselves will capitalize on that pent-up demand.”

Even though consumers might be cut ting back, Nick Chirichella, director of domestic channel marketing at Canada Beef, encourages grocers not to abandon choice cuts. “No doubt, you’ve got to stick to your traditional favourites,” Chirichella says. “People who want tenderloin and

prime ribs still want them.” Alongside those items, this fall and winter, retail ers should consider offering traditional value cuts such as hip and chuck roasts, and make a point of merchandising them against the richer pieces. “It might encourage someone to try something dif ferent,” he says.

Nostalgia

As Canadians return to the comforts of celebrating in groups, Mintel’s Stew art anticipates a reliance on traditional meals and comfort foods. In Mintel’s Hol iday Celebrations report, 82% of Cana dians say the holidays remind them of their childhood, and 46% say they make the dishes they grew up with. “Nostalgia plays a huge role in the holidays,” says Stewart. “For people who’ve wanted to celebrate for the last two years, their wish is making it how it was.”

Knowing it will resonate with consum ers, grocers should celebrate that love for tradition, says Stewart. “It’s what people are feeling right now and they want it echoed back at them: let’s do the Christ mas we haven’t done for two years.”

Jo-Ann McArthur, president of Nourish Food Marketing, a full-service food and beverage marketing agency in Toronto, agrees. She believes nostalgia will dom inate this season as consumers rekindle family traditions. Associated with that is the continuation of cooking at home with elevated ingredients. Mary Graham, president of Toronto food retailer Fresh City, says home cooking is one of the

pandemic’s sweetest impacts. “People have had time to think about cooking and get reacquainted with their kitchens,” she says. “Over the holiday they’ll be wanting to embrace traditions and will be mak ing their turkeys and using cranberries and green beans, but because there’s a heightened interest in foodie-ism, they’ll do this with a food twist.”

Merchandising

Toronto’s Summerhill Market is prepar ing for celebrations both large and small this year. Pre-pandemic, the independent grocer was filling holiday meal orders to feed six and eight guests, but demand for these dipped in 2020 and 2021, says pres ident and co-owner Brad McMullen. In response, Summerhill offered prepared meals for two and four people that cus tomers could buy off the shelf. Though McMullen is expecting a return to preCOVID sizes for gatherings, Summerhill will offer holiday meals in a range of sizes. “We’re expecting it’ll go back to the way it was,” says McMullen. “But we’ve got to take our best guess and keep a close eye on things.”

To combat the notion that entertain ing larger groups is too much work, Perrotta from Ipsos recommends that retailers convince consumers it’s not the slog they anticipate. “I want to walk in [as a customer] and see the retailer is doing the ideation for me,” she explains. “That they’re inspiring me to say this is a simple, cost-effective way to reconnect with my loved ones. It’s an opportunity for retailers to remind consumers of the emotional benefit of these behaviours, which outweigh the cost barriers.”

This is where appetizers can shine— they’re less labour intensive but can still impress, says Fresh City’s Graham. Lisa Bishop-Spencer, director of brand and communications for Chicken Farmers of Canada, suggests brochettes, arancini balls, satays and skewers.

Right now, retailers face what Perrotta calls trigger and tensions. The trigger is to reconnect, to remember person- toperson connection and how awesome it is. The tensions are the cost, the work involved and the safety. “You have to dial up the trigger to overcome the tensions.” She suggests pre-made charcuterie

boards, robust bakery goods and pairing sides with sauces. Retailers also have an opportunity with hard goods—things like napkins, candles and trays, anything they might tie together as inspiration for shop pers. “The consumer can arrive and say, ‘It’s all there for me to pick up and invite people over to celebrate and get together. And it’s not a lot of work.’”

To that end, Bishop-Spencer sug gests grocers make recipes available to shoppers. “People have upped their game in the kitchen in the last two years and stores need to be [prepared].” The Chicken Farmers of Canada’s website has 800 recipes, but Bishop-Spencer says they’ve seen a surge in demand for more recipes from different cultures, with new flavours and textures.

Nourish’s McArthur recommends retail ers start their holiday efforts “earlier than they ever have.” The path to purchase isn’t linear, she says. “People are going online, to social, into stores, so any way you can inspire [them], do. Show them examples and really think nostalgia, elevated com fort foods, because that’s what this is going to be about: family favourites with a twist.”

KEEPING IT FRESH

Buying habits may be shifting, but there are bountiful ways to encourage spend in the produce department

By Rebecca Harris

as fOOd prices g O up, it’s bananas to think con sumers aren’t feeling the pinch in the produce department. In fact, 78% of Ontarians noticed prices going up for fresh vegetables and 75% noticed this for fresh fruits, with 55% saying the hikes are con cerning, according to a recent study by Numerator.

In many cases, price hikes are leading to changing buying habits as inflation-weary shoppers seek ways to stay on budget. In the study, 46% of consumers said they’re buying more fresh fruits and vegetables only when they’re on sale, 32% are cutting back on fresh produce, and 30% have switched to less expen sive types. In addition, 30% said they’re buying more frozen fruits and vegetables, 27% are buying less produce overall, and 13% are buying more canned fruits and vegetables.

Purchase drivers have also shifted, and shoppers no longer feel that appearance is everything when it comes to buying fruit and veggies. In the 2022 Power of Produce report by FMI – The Food Industry Associ ation, 25% of U.S. shoppers ranked price as the No. 1 factor when making fresh produce purchasing deci sions, followed by appearance (19%) and ripeness (15%). This marked the first time price came out on top in the annual study’s eight-year history.

“Clearly this inflationary time is changing con sumers’ attitudes towards how they buy the produce they’re looking for,” says Rick Stein, FMI’s vice-pres ident of fresh foods. “They are being hit with a lot of economic pressures, including rising food and housing costs. So, they have to be discerning. But it’s important to note it’s a complex situation.”

By that he means volume sales may be down in some categories, but the industry is coming off two years of very strong growth. In addition, Stein says it’s difficult to make blanket statements about con sumers’ shopping behaviours. “Consumers behave very differently depending on their socioeconomic backgrounds and what’s important to them.”

It’s a tough road to navigate for grocers, who are dealing with rising prices and shifting buying habits across departments, which is why it’s vital to take a fresh approach to encourage sales and consumption of fresh fruits and veggies.

Here are five ways grocers can win with today’s produce shoppers:

1 GO (EVEN MORE) LOCAL

CONSUMERS AND RETAILERS alike have been liv ing the “go local” mantra for years, but enthusiasm is stronger than ever. When FMI asked consumers what they’d like to see their produce department carry more of, “locally grown” was the top choice across generations: gen Z (47%), millennials (47%), gen X (56%) and baby boomers (67%).

“Local is a big deal for consumers, and if I were a retailer, I would play up my local offering and show case the benefits of purchasing local,” says Stein. “It’s not enough to say it’s local, but you can narrate the stories of the farms and the people behind them. This can create mission-driven purchases for con sumers who want to support [these farmers].”

That’s the approach Vancouver Island’s Coun try Grocer takes across its seven locations. Every week, the flyer highlights a B.C. grower and directs consumers to find their fresh produce at their local Country Grocer. “We look after our growers and make sure they get paid properly,” says Rob Johnson, produce operations manager at Country Grocer. “If we don’t support them in our advertising and mer chandising and make sure our customers know we’re buying produce from these [growers], 10 years from now we’re not going to have any [local] produce.”

With a sharp focus on local, along with clean, well-merchandised produce departments, Johnson says sales remain strong. “[Our customers] don’t ques tion pricing and they haven’t stopped buying because they still see the value of having fresh produce.”

2 HELP SHOPPERS SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE FOOD WASTE

TO HELP CONSUMERS navigate rising food prices, grocers and industry groups alike can help them shop, store and eat fruits and veggies more wisely. For example, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) developed resources such as a shelf-life guide to help consumers reduce food waste (and wasted money) by storing fruits and vegetables properly.

“What we are trying to get people to focus on is not cutting back, but making sure they’re shopping [and consuming] wisely to eliminate food waste,” says Sue Lewis, vice-president of market develop ment at CPMA. “That might mean an extra trip to the grocery store so they’re not buying so much at once, and teaching people to eat berries first and keep the apples for later.”

CPMA is also encouraging consumers to shop store flyers for specials and plan before they shop, so they’re only buying what they need. “Canadians are getting into the habit of consulting flyers—whether they’re digital or physical—before they go to the gro cery store, which can help save a lot of money,” says Lewis. “From a retailer’s point of view, it’s important to make those items easy to find in the store. If it’s in the flyer, it should have good signage and be pretty close to the front of the store.”

Sweet

lorida

With food prices rising, grocery retailers can help customers get more bang for their buck. “Consumers’ income has not increased at the same pace as infla tion, so the same amount of money they had avail able for groceries last year does not buy the same amount this year,” says Lawrence Wright, produce operations director at Calgary Co-op. “The dollar has to stretch further so there is a slight shift towards lower retail products and sale items to fill the basket. But we’re working with our supplier partners to get the best produce at the lowest costs available and pass along the savings to consumers.”

3 GET RECIPE IDEAS—AND QUANTITIES— RIGHT

FOR RYAN HARRIS, principal at IRI Canada, the pro duce department is ripe for innovation, given today’s generational differences. “The idea that shoppers are writing their ingredient list on a piece of paper or Post-it note, walking around the store and trying to grab things is antiquated thinking,” says Harris. “A 25-year-old has a smartphone and an app with a recipe and shopping list. When they walk into a store, they want to find exactly what they need and purchase the items in the exact quantities.”

One idea for retailers is to showcase a “recipe of the week” and have the exact ingredients and quan tities available and on display. “Retailers should align recipes they’re promoting to customers with the fresh experience,” says Harris. “So, if the recipe calls for a cup of broccoli florets, shoppers can buy in those quantities.”

More broadly speaking, Harris says it’s about understanding exactly how consumers shop the cat egory to make it as easy as possible for them to get what they’re looking for. “The produce department is long overdue for an evolution and retailers need to figure out what consumers are really looking for and how they shop the category,” he says.

4 SATISFY THE CRAVING FOR CONVENIENCE

WHILE PRICE IS TOP of mind, FMI’s Stein says con venience is still very important for consumers. The Power of Produce study, for example, found that 45% of shoppers frequently purchase convenient vege table solutions and 48% purchase convenient fruit

solutions, such as pre-cut and grab-and-go options. Still, Stein notes convenience can mean many things to consumers. “We used to say convenience is pre-cut fruit and vegetables,” says Stein. “But convenience can also be giving consumers recipe ideas.”

Another convenience play is to give consumers ideas on how to bring produce into more meal occa sions. “Grocers can remind consumers that produce can play a role in their breakfast, snacking, lunch, dinner and even dessert for that matter,” says Stein. “When you give them ideas, you’re making their lives a bit more convenient.”

5 PROMOTE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF FRESH PRODUCE

THE BEST THING going for the produce department is obvious: health. In The Power of Produce report, the vast majority of shoppers (96%) consider buy ing from the produce department an investment in personal health and well-being. The report notes consumers increasingly associate fresh produce with digestive health, weight management as well as disease management. “In fact, one third of con sumers who pay a lot of attention to health tend to see fresh produce as playing a central role in their diet, and six in 10 shoppers purchase fruits and veg etables to deliver on specific health benefits,” the report states. “This positive association has spurred higher demand for more information about nutri tion, health benefits, recommended daily amounts, and other health-centric insights.”

“Play to the strengths of the category and the pri mary one is: it’s healthy and nutritious,” says Stein. “Grocery retailers can integrate dietary guidelines for fruits and vegetables into their marketing and merchandising, speaking to what the average con sumer should be eating daily.” They can also play into the strengths by providing information on the health benefits of specific fruits and vegetables.

For Calgary Co-op, health is the very thing that will keep the produce department, well, healthy. “Consumers want to eat healthier in their day-to-day lives and are increasingly understanding the value and health benefits of fresh produce,” says Wright. “This creates a desire to purchase more produce whenever possible.”

CPMA’s Lewis predicts the health and mindful eat ing trend is here to stay. “If anything, it’s probably getting stronger,” she says. “A lot of our data suggests millennials are very conscious of their eating choices and they are choosing less meat. So that also bodes well for the category.”

the goodness everyday!

1 TALE OF TWO MILKS

In milk, dairy is a massive market in Canada versus plant-based options. The dairy segment (including flavoured milk drinks and powder milk) is worth $3.2 billion, according to 2022 estimates from Euromonitor International. Compare that to milks from soy, oat, almond, cashew and other nuts and plants at $510.2 million. However, only one of these categories is on the rise. Plantbased milk increased 35.2% from 2017 to 2022 as a category, and according to Euromonitor’s forecast, will be worth $600.8 million by 2027, for a five-year growth rate of 17.8%. “Growth in dairy alternatives is set to accelerate, thanks to a growing number of consumers trying to follow a plant-based diet and limit their intake of dairy,” says Monique Naval, senior analyst at Euromonitor. The story for dairy? It is forecasted to retract 18.9% from 2022 to 2027, but will still be worth a considerable $2.6 billion.

Aisles

Milk Four thingsto know 2 CHOICE AND CONFUSION

3 OAT IS THE G.O.A.T.

By Chris Daniels

Given so many options, shopper education is critical. Noting that 80% of decision-making in the category occurs at shelf, Danielle Pearson, president of Agrifoods Nutrition Division, says a2 brand milk has “a full menu of promotional tools and materials available to our retail partners to create impactful in-store and online programs.” The retailer Goodness Me!—which is revamping its consumer education program after pulling it back due to COVID-19—is using social media and e-mail to talk about both dairy and plant milks.

4 DAIRY DIVERSIFIES

Oat has been a game changer for plant-based milks, say both grocers and manufacturers. Compared to other dairy alternatives, oat milk is more nutritious—loaded with fibre, iron, calcium and vitamin D—and requires less water and emits significantly less greenhouse gas emissions to produce.

Oat milk is also creamy, making it ideal for morning cups of java. “That had been the last bastion for dairy—coffee, even among those who had converted to plant-based milks otherwise,” says Brittany Hull, vice-president of marketing at Vancouverbased Earth’s Own Food Company. “Oat milk has the texture and taste that enables people to continue their coffee habit. We are seeing amazing growth with it.”

The Canadian market for plantbased milk will grow to $600.8 million by 2027, up nearly 18% from 2022, esti mates Euromonitor International.

Eco- and healthfocused grocers like The Big Carrot and Goodness Me! Natural Food Market tell Canadian Grocer that oat milk is outpacing everything. “It has taken off above and beyond anything else,” says Robin Langford, product category manager at Goodness Me!

While almond is still the leader among plant-based milks, it has suffered of late from price hikes and negative press that it requires a lot of water to make.

Dairy milk is ramping up on innovation. The category has expanded into ultra or micro filtered milks such as Neilson TruTaste and Fairlife ultrafiltered milk. Both claim a longer shelf life than regular pasteurized milk with out using preservatives, and TruTaste says its microfiltration process creates a creamier milk.

Newer on the block is a2 Milk, a brand that Burnaby, B.C.-based Agrifoods Cooperative licensed from a company in New Zealand and launched in Canada in late 2020. “A2 milk

comes from cows that naturally produce only the A2 protein, which research has shown to be easier to digest than conventional milk, which contains A1 and A2 proteins,” explains Agri foods’ Danielle Pearson.

A2 Milk has expanded its reach and can now be found in 1,200 stores across Canada, includ ing Goodness Me! in Ontario. “We put some on our shelves shortly after it launched, and we continue to see it grow,” says the store’s prod uct category manager, Robin Langford.

New on shelf!

1 TIM HORTONS ESPRESSO CAPSULES

Customers can now grab a Tim Hortons espresso without leaving home. Launching at grocery stores across the country, Tim Hortons Espresso Capsules, compatible with Nespresso Original line coffee machines, are available in four varieties: Classic Lungo (rich and refined flavour), Bold Espresso (intense and full bodied), Bright Espresso (light and fruity), and Decaf Espresso (balanced and smooth).

2 DAIYA FLATBREADS

From Daiya Foods comes two plant-based and allergen-friendly Italian trattoria-inspired flatbreads. The new flatbreads feature the company’s Cutting Board Cheeze Shreds on top of a thin gluten-free crust. Found in the frozen food section, the flatbreads are perfect for lunch, dinner or as an appetizer and are available in two varieties: Meatless Italian Sausage Flavoured Crumbles, Roasted Pepper & Kale, and Mushroom, Caramelized Onion & Fig.

3 SODASTREAM NEXT GEN SPARKLING WATER MAKERS

SodaStream has launched a line of next generation sparkling water makers. “The Art” (pictured) has a slim silhouette, stainless steel trim and a carbonating lever; “The Duo” has an industrial design and is the first sparkling water maker to be compatible with a 1-litre glass carafe and a 1-litre dishwasher safe carbonating bottle; and “The Terra” has both a high polish and matte finish and a more ergonomic carbonating button.

4 ENER-D

Plant-based and sugar-free, Ener-D is a hydrating, effervescent vitamin D-rich drink that also contains vitamins C and B as well as beta carotene, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Available in orange and raspberry flavours, Ener-D is sweetened with a mix of erythritol and stevia and has no bitter aftertaste.

5 CAMPBELL’S RICH & THICK STOCK

With cooler temperatures on the way, it’s time to get your customers thinking about cozy comfort foods. To help them create hearty fall dishes like chicken pot pie or beef bourguignon, there’s Campbell’s Rich & Thick Stock made with real chicken and beef broth, field-ripened vegetables, as well as herbs and spices. The new stock is available in three varieties: Herbed Chicken & Spices, Savoury Beef & Onion, and Ginger, Garlic & Soy.

THE BIG SQUEEZE Why companies need to revamp their hiring strategies to address Canada’s talent crunch

By Kristin Laird

CANADA’S JOB market remains excep tionally tight: The country’s unem ployment rate is at an historic low, job vacancies are high (employers looked to fill more than one million jobs in July, according to Statistics Canada) and find ing strong candidates is incredibly dif ficult. We recently spoke with Veronica Frisch, executive vice-president and head of Randstad Sourceright Canada—a firm offering staffing, recruitment, outsourc ing, consulting and workforce manage ment solutions—about what it takes to win the war on talent. (Hint: it takes more than just dental benefits!) The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Employees have the upper hand in a hot job market. How should companies rethink how they hire, attract and engage both fulland part-time staff?

Where organizations are going to make a difference is where they start to invest in people through re-skilling, up-skill ing, showing them a path forward in their career and [providing] opportunities to grow within the organization. Think about the benefits packages in a different way— not the standard here’s your dental, here’s your vision, here’s your two weeks off. That’s just table stakes. Get creative about what you’re offering employees [because] that’s how you’re going to retain them.

What perks are employees seeking?

It used to be dental, vision; now it’s about access to mental health, not just aware ness and training, but actually having the benefit to seek out additional help. Think about how many people lost loved ones through COVID. Think about how many people found themselves having to stay home and care for somebody else. What do they need? They want things like life insurance. They want things like RSP s. They want things like profit sharing. They want things that are going to impact their life. They want support for their aging parents. Also, ask them. See what matters to them and then try to embed that.

What should companies consider when developing a talent acquisition strategy?

The talent acquisition strategy has to be reflective of the problems and the nuances that you’re facing. It will change again, so be adaptable and flexible in your strategy. It also needs to be people focused. Where are we going to find our people? How many people do we need? How do we avoid the burnout? And how do we continue to attract talent, but then use our own workforce to fill the spots of the future within our organizations.

A lot of companies talk the talk, but they’re out of touch with the true impacts of what’s going on in the market. They

think, “Oh, we don’t have to increase our rates. We don’t have to increase our ben efits packages.” Well, you do. If you want to be competitive in the workforce, and you want to attract talent, you need to consider those things.

What about companies with front-line staff?

Listen to them, hear what they want, understand what their needs are and understand they go above and beyond. They don’t have that privilege to work from home, so incentivize them and reward them and let them know they’re being heard, too, and that their voice counts and their work counts in the over all output of an organization.

Anything else?

Be open to listening to what the work force is looking for. We need to be ready for the changes happening in the work force. It’s not bad change, it really isn’t. It’s about better work-life balance. It’s about feeling better about the organiza tions that we work for. It’s about having pride in what we do. It gets bumpy along the way, but I think those companies that get people focused faster are going to be the winners at the end of the day. CG

WITH VERONICA FRISCH

FOR MORE

Angie’s

Voilà

HOYA

Casper

Snow

Dairy Free

Sol Cuisine Cauliflower Burger

Ziploc Recyclable

Blender Bites 1 Step Organic Smoothie Pucks

The Laughing Cow® Mix Chickpea with Herbs

Health Break with collagen

One by Sonicare

Dove Hair Therapy Breakage Remedy Range

Dempster’s Chickpea Tortillas Hamilton Beach FlexBrew® TRIO Coffee Maker

Sol Cuisine Hot N’ Spicy Chik’n Wings

The Endy Sofa

Live Right Cran-Cherry Cashew Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bar

Sara Lee Little Bites Party Cake Mini Muffins

Neutrogena Bright Boost Overnight Recovery Gel Cream

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Noir Balm Mascara Compliments Smoked Gouda Cheese Beef Burgers Stuffed

T-Fal Platinum Hard Anodized Cookware

Heinz Crowdsauced

Takis® Dragon Sweet Chili™

Cocoon™ by Sealy Classic Mattress

SpongeTowels UltraPRO Paper Towel Campbell’s® Concentrated Broth

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Boursin Minis Garlic & Fine Herbs

Compliments Maple & Aged White Cheddar Popcorn Mix

T-fal Easy Fry Grill & Steam XXL Air Fryer

Vector Maple Crunch Cereal Dempster’s Signature Bagels

Should I offer a Smartphone Loyalty App to my customers?

Some shoppers claim to be immune to merchant loyalty rewards and brand loyalty incentives. However, a quick poll of friends and colleagues will reveal that virtually everyone has used at least one loyalty program to increase shopping convenience and receive customer perks.

Customers today are familiar with being rewarded for being loyal to a brand. When they buy fuel, stop for coffee, go to the movies, book a hotel room, or purchase airline tickets, they now expect to be recognized for their loyalty.

The advent of the Smartphone App has removed the inconvenience of carrying multiple loyalty cards. Does the competition offer a loyalty program and is it drawing clients to them?

Do I have to offer points or discounts? . . . it seems expensive!

Customers are loyal to your brand because of great service, high quality products, and convenience. Offering a Loyalty App can enhance that experience in many ways with or without providing discounts or points. An app allows you to email receipts to your customers who may be environmentally aware. An embedded digital flyer enables you to send images and information, quickly and regularly, directly to your loyal subscriberclients replacing expensive and wasteful paper flyers. Merchants can introduce new items, suggest recipes, or announce upcoming events. An app also enables digital gift cards that display the customers’ available balance in real-time. There is no greater demonstration of loyalty than when a client is willing to pay in advance for products and services they will buy in the future. A client holding a balance on your private branded gift card inside your store’s custom shopping app is the gold standard in loyalty. Offering points for customers to collect

and redeem for products has proven to be a great incentive and it does not have to be complicated.

How does it benefit my business?

Identifying and knowing your best customers’ shopping habits allows you to improve the shopping experience. A loyalty app is a vehicle to surprise and delight your clients with small perks and conveniences. Some offer clients a cupcake and a coffee, on the house, at any time during their birthday month. If a family has been shopping in your store for many years, would you know today if they have never purchased bakery or meat items? Being able to identify and group clients that are not purchasing items in a certain department allows you to encourage them to try a product from those categories. Most importantly the data you gather regarding your loyal clients’ shopping habits versus the anonymous client baskets can tell you a lot about your business and your customers’ needs and wants. Importantly, your product vendors may offer you incentives

Paul Howell, Founder and CEO Howell Data Systems Inc.

to place their products in your digital flyer as they know these are being viewed by loyal and frequent shoppers.

Is it a lot of extra work?

Having a meaningful and effective loyalty program doesn’t happen on its own, but it doesn’t need to take more than two to four hours a week. There are no forms for your staff to hand out or complete as the client downloads the smartphone app from the app store.

You can decide what information you will ask your customer to share on the sign-up form. Reading basic reports, grouping clients (optional), and posting product and store updates requires a couple of dedicated hours per week. Our team can do that for you if you choose.

To learn more about Howell Data Systems’ custom smartphone loyalty apps, please visit us at Grocery Innovations Canada Booth 1103 or call Paul Howell, Corey Carter, or Jamie Somers at 1-800-410-6871. You can also email us at sales@ howelldatasystems.com. We look forward to speaking with you!

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

CENTRE,

DOWNLOAD SHOW APP

WELCOME TO GROCERy INNOvATIONS CANADA A MESSAGE FROM TOM SHURRIE, PRESIDENT & CEO

After the pandemic, being able to gather again in person with colleagues comes at a time when there have been significant changes to our industry. Making this year even more memorable is that the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers is celebrating its 60th anniversary! It’s more important than ever to be able to offer an event such as Grocery Innovations Canada wherein all facets of the grocery industry can gather to collaborate and take advantage of A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES at the show. Download the GIC Show App to maximize your time at the 2-day event and participate in these on-site business and networking opportunities: MORE TRADE. MORE TASTES. MORE TRENDS.

With some 500+ exhibits and 850+ companies and over 110,000 sq. ft., attendees can find everything under one roof. NEW! Sustainability Sentral Pavilion featuring all the latest green, and sustainable products and services. Take advantage of the bevvy of exclusive show specials/offers. Check out the New Product Showcase in the main lobby to see the newest innovations hitting the shelves in grocery! Connect 1:1 in the exclusive Retailer Connect meeting program to pitch your products to grocers.

Find the latest products/services in all categories! Must-see pavilions include Choose Ontario, Sustainability Sentral and First Timers. Regional, and global trends can be discovered over two-days; hear what products will win the Top 10 in Grocery contest on day 1. All are welcomed to the Mix and Mingle Networking cocktail prior to the Merchandising Excellence Awards night, where the best merchandising displays will be celebrated in front of the industry.

Catch exclusive speaker sessions on day 1. Hear from FCC chief economist J.P. Gervais about the factors that will impact your sales. The Grocery Code Panel discussion will also provide industry with key information pertinent to your business. Fresh data from Kantar’s Amar Singh Wednesday morning will give a lens on what’s to come in the next year; benchmark your business against other after listening to FMS’ Annual Financial Survey on Wednesday’s workshops – one of four concurrent workshops offered. Afternoons drop by the numerous education sessions on the Interac Insights & Innovations trade show stage to tackle pain points and leading trends. The keynote from Dragon's Den star Arlene Dickinson on why marketing must be a top concern of leadership is a must-attend event.

GIC will celebrate collaboration and innovation starting with Tuesday’s Master Merchandiser Awards (celebrating in-store merchandising displays) followed by Wednesday’s Independent Grocer of the Year gala honouring the best grocers in Canada. This year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers celebrates its 60th anniversary. No more so than the past two years during the pandemic has an industry such as grocery stepped up to ensure they served communities when everything was shuttered. We look forward to gathering together, again.Network and connect at GIC:

Monday, Oct. 24 – Opening Reception – All Welcome – 5:30pm – 7:30pm (A. Lassonde Stage) Tuesday, Oct. 25 – Networking Event & Merchandising Excellence Awards – All Welcome 4:30pm – 6:30pm (Ballrooms A, B, C) Wednesday, Oct. 26 – Independent Grocer of the Year Awards (Ballrooms A, B, C) *preregistration required

Get ready for business at Canada’s premier grocery conference and exhibition!

TOM SHURRIE

&

some muscle to your hustle

A

OF OPPORTUNITIES

GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

25 & 26 2022 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW

GENERAL INFO

REGISTRATION HOURS

Sunday, October 23, 2022 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Monday, October 24, 2022 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

CONFERENCE HOURS

Tuesday, October 25, 2022..........................9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS

Toronto Congress Centre – NORTH Building (A. Lassonde Stage, Hall H)

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 ..............7:00 AM – 11:00 AM

PRE REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL SESSIONS

TCC-NORTH (Ballrooms A, B, C)

TRADE SHOW HOURS

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 11:00AM – 4:30PM

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 ........... 11:00AM – 4:00PM

TCC-NORTH (Hall I)

EvENTS

Monday, October 24, 2022

OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS

5:30PM – 7:30PM

Opening Reception

TCC-NORTH (A. Lassonde Stage, Hall H)

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS

4:30PM – 6:30PM

Merchandising Excellence Awards

Master Merchandiser & Top 10 Awards announced TCC-NORTH (Ballrooms A, B, C)

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

*PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

5:30PM – 6:15PM

*Independent Grocer of the Year Reception

TCC-NORTH (Collaboration Corridor)

6:30PM – 9:15PM

*Dinner & Awards TCC-NORTH (Ballrooms A, B, C)

>

SERvICES

First Aid Office

The First Aid Office is located in the northeast corner of the floor. For any emergency, contact Toronto Congress Centre Building Security (Door 4) at: 416–688–6469

Wheelchair Services

There will be wheelchairs available at the First Aid Office, located on the northeast corner of the floor. Attendees borrowing a wheelchair will be required to leave their driver’s license with the First Aid service agent until the wheelchair is returned.

Media Office

Nancy Kwon is the key media contact for Grocery Innovations Canada 2022. All media must be registered before entrance into the trade show. The media office is located beside the trade floor. (Meeting room 9) T: 416–219–0952 E: nkwon@cfig.ca

Recommended Attire

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Merchandising Excellence Awards~Smart Casual Conference~Business Casual Trade Show~Business Casual

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Evening Dinner & Awards~Business (Black Tie Optional)

Badge Colours

RED—Retailers/Wholesalers

GREEN—Manufacturers/Suppliers/ Restaurant/Foodservice

YELLOW—Distributor/Importer/Exporter

BLUE—Exhibitors

GREY—Media

2022 CFIG BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

✶THOMAS SHURRIE President & CEO CFIG, Toronto, ON

DOMINIC ARSENAULT IGA Coaticook, Coaticook, QC

BRIAN BRADLEY Stong’s Markets, Vancouver, BC

✶DAN BREGG Vice Chair, Pattison Food Group, Surrey, BC

PIERO CARBONE Garden Foods Bolton Ltd. Bolton, ON

ANTHONY GRECO Concord Food Centre & Oak Ridges Food Markets, Thornhill, ON

BILL COLEMAN Coleman Group of Companies Corner Brook, NL

EMMY MIN Korea Food Trading/ Galleria Supermarket Vaughan, ON

✶MIKE LONGO Secretary Longo Brothers Fruit Markets, Vaughan, ON

JAMIE NELSON Treasurer, Pattison Food Group, Langley, BC

RICK RABBA

The J. Rabba Company Ltd., Mississauga, ON

JUSTIN SCHLEY Quality Foods Errington, BC

✶

WELKE Honorary Past Chair Federated Co-operative Ltd., Saskatoon,

BROOKE KYNOCH Safety Mart Foods Chase, BC

CHRISTOPHER LEE Southside Market AG Foods Revelstoke, BC

TRIMARCHI Chair, Vince’s Market, Newmarket,

HIGDON Member at Large, Powell’s Supermarket Ltd. Bay Roberts, NL

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS’ COUNCIL

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.

DAVID

KEVIN

SCOTT LORIMER

GREG COLES

PETER BOWMAN

*MIKE LUST

JOHN KOTSOPOULOS

VINCENT

SAM

MICHEL

COLIN

PATRICK HEFFERNAN

TIM MCNERNEY

TODD JOHNSTON

MARTIN PAYANT

ERIN ROONEY

THOMAS SHURRIE

ANDREA ALMARZA

GARY SANDS

FRAN NIELSEN

NANCY KWON

ALEENA KHAN

IRMELI KOSKINEN

SUZANNE REGIMBAL

JOE SAWAGED

TYSON SMITH

DIANA STEVENSON

ROLSTER TAYLOR

inspired and made with real eggs, our new ready to eat EGG Bites! Sous Vide provide Canadians with a better-for-you breakfast option or anytime snack.

APPEARING AT GIC

Lisa Bishop-Spencer, Director of Brand and Communications, Chicken Farmers of Canada

Lisa is a marketing, communica tions, and PR professional with over 20 years of experience of public relations, crisis management, branding, consumer relations and strategic planning leadership. She is a certified crisis consultant and has served as Chair of the Canadian Part nership for Consumer Food Safety Education.

Diane J. Brisebois, President & CEO, Retail Council of Canada Diane J. Brisebois is President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and has held that position since 1995. She has been leading industry associations in Canada for more than 40 years. RCC represents over 45,000 retail establishments across Canada which account for more than 75% of all retail sales in the country.

Chef David Burnett, Sr. Culinary Development Manager, McCormick & Company

With an extensive television and media background doing multiple shows on Food Network Canada and Global, Chef David Burnett Burnett has spent the last 10 years of his career focused on product development and manufacturing developing products for both the grocery retail and foodservice sides of the business.

Tony Chapman, Radio HostPodcaster - Speaker

Tony Chapman is the creator and host of Chatter that Matters, a media platform that includes two national radio shows, podcast and a blog. Tony Chats with ordinary people who do extraordinary things and uncovers life lessons that inspire us to do more and to be more. Tony's guests have included Harry Connick Jr, Brooke Henderson, Penny Oleksiak, Bryan Baeumler, Dan Ariely, Chris Hadfield, Dr Ann. Cavoukian and many more.

Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications; Star of Dragons’ Den Arlene Dickinson is the General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund focused on helping market, fund and grow entrepreneurs and their companies, in the food and health space. She is a three-time best-selling author and accomplished public

speaker. Dickinson is widely recognized for her role as a Dragon/Venture Capitalist for over 12 seasons on the multi-award-winning television series, Dragons Den.

J.P. Gervais, Vice President and Chief Economist, Farm Credit Canada

J.P. Gervais’ insights help guide strategy, monitor risks and identify opportunities in the economic environment. In addition to acting as a FCC spokesperson on economic matters, J.P. provides commentary on the food industry through videos and the FCC Economics blog. Prior to joining FCC in 2010, J.P. was a professor of agri-food economics at North Carolina State University and Laval University.

Robert Graybill, President & CEO, FMS

Robert Graybill, President & CEO of FMS, joined the company in 2000, and has over 20 years of experience in the retail grocery industry. Currently, Robert leads the FMS team in meeting their goal of helping retailers to succeed through benchmarking, best practices, and decision support.

Michael Graydon, CEO, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada

Michael Graydon is Chief Executive Officer of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) the national association voice of Canada’s food, health and consumer products sector. A seasoned business executive, Michael has more than 20 years of visionary CEO leadership across multiple industries, driving proactive and collaborative stakeholder engagement and consistent corporate results.

Erin Higdon, Vice President Business Strategy, Atlantic Grocery Distributors

Erin Higdon is a Chartered Accountant and has been member of the Atlantic Grocery Distributors and Powell's Supermarkets team since 2014. She currently sits on the executive of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers board and is a passionate member of the Public Policy Committee. Erin is one of the four CFIG representatives on the Grocery Code Working Group. She is also a board member of Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador chapter and has a strong love of people and community and takes great pride in opportunities to serve the same.

Jean-Michel Laurin, President & CEO, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council

Jean-Michel Laurin was appointed President & CEO of the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council (CPEPC) in July 2019.

Across Canada, CPEPC represents over 180 poultry processing and further processing, egg grading and processing and hatchery establishments. Jean-Michel joined the association after having held the position of VP, Policy and Public Affairs at Canada’s leading public affairs consulting firm.

Sooky Lee, Managing Director, Aporto Advisory Group

With over 20 years of global business and human resource leadership experience at fortune 500 companies, Sooky Lee now uses her extensive expertise to provide advisory and consulting services to clients who are looking to grow and expand their business by powering up their team. Aporto Advisory Group (www. aprotoadvisory.com) partners with clients to build capabilities and evolve cultures to meet the demands of a changing marketplace.

Ron Lemaire, President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Ron Lemaire brings extensive experience and perspective from the produce industry and beyond with a keen focus on vertically integrated supply chains and systems philosophy. Ron’s professional background brings a range of diversified experiences both domestically and internationally ranging from association management and governance, strategic and corporate development, government relations and issue management, sports marketing, food marketing, advertising and communications, public private partnerships and capacity building.

Howard Lichtman, Partner & Co-founder, Ethnicity Matters

Ethnicity Matters is a fullservice strategic consultancy and marketing & advertising agency focused on the Asian consumer. Prior to Ethnicity Matters, Howard was President of The Lightning Group, providing Virtual Chief Marketing Officer services. He also served as Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Cineplex North America. He is also responsible for all the marketing, programming, media relations and sponsorship for the Taste of the Danforth–Canada’s largest street Festival.

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

Christy McMullen, Owner, Summerhill Market

A Chartered Accountant by trade, Christy worked internationally for years with KPMG before returning to her roots at the family business that started in 1954. Today, with her brother Brad, Christy are at the helm of the family business that includes four stores, with a 5th on the way, and a commissary. Christy was a former Chair of CFIG, and Summerhill Market has won many Independent Grocer of the Year Specialty Grocer awards. She is the current Chair of the Ontario Food Terminal Board.

Jamie Nelson, Chief Operating Officer, Pattison Food Group

With 42 years of grocery retail experience, Jamie Nelson is a key member of the executive leadership team of the Pattison Food Group, a division of the Jim Pattison Group. As chief operating officer of the Pattison Food Group, Jamie holds overall management accountability and strategic direction for the operations of all Pattison Food Group banners -including Save-On-Foods, the group’s largest company.

Gary Newbury, RetailAID Inc. Gary has established an international reputation for rapid business performance improvement and executing supply chain designs which consistently build marketplace prominence, shareholder value and consumer trust. Gary helps Boards and Business Leaders to become more Supply Chain Agile, Innovative and Digital across the “make-move-sell” flow of Manufacturing, 3rd Party Logistics, Wholesaling, Retailing & The Last Mile.

Dr. Christine Power, DVM, MSc

Christine is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, an experienced livestock and poultry veterinarian, and has overseen the management of national government programs for livestock and poultry surveillance and emergency management. She has a Master of Science in Food Safety Epidemiology, and a Masters Certificate in Public Management. Previously, she worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and as a private veterinary consultant.

Abhijeet Ray, Managing Director, Ethnicity Multicultural Marketing Inc.

Abhijeet Ray is MD at Ethnicity Multicultural Marketing Inc. leading Strategic Media and PR practice. An Oxford Advanced Management scholar, his experience spans multiple multinational agency networks across 9 countries.

Meron Samuel, Small Business Coordinator, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Meron Samuel currently works with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. Meron is involved with the Small Business Team, Workplace Mental Health initiatives, Health and Safety Excellence program, Facebook Project Team, and other projects to provide our customers with tools and resources to support their health and safety program.

Gary Sands, SR VP Public Policy & Advocacy, CFIG Gary Sands is Vice President with CFIG and has been with the association for 21 years. Gary has worked at the political level of all 3 levels of government as a Chief of Staff. He was the Chair of the Small Business Matters Coalition, composed of over 23 national trade associations; and most recently part of the steering committee drafting the Grocery Code of Conduct. Gary was also the recipient of CFIG’s Spirit of the Independent Award.

Amar Singh, Sr. Director, Kantar Amar leads thought leadership on health and wellness, home improvement, and Canadian retail. He creates insights that inform strategic decisions related to key drug, home improvement, discount, convenience, grocery, and digital channels. Amar is a seasoned brand, shopper, and advertising researcher. Before joining Kantar in 2018, he managed consumer insights at a leading CPG brand in Canada, which included brand management, packaging optimization, and product innovation. Amar has an MSc in marketing and consumer studies from the University of Guelph.

Matthias Spitzmuller, Assoc. Professor and Distinguished Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Smith School of Business, Queen's University Matthias Spitzmuller’s research focuses on team motivation and team leadership. Matthias has served as a lecturer on leadership in executive education programs at the Smith School of Business, the National University of Singapore, and for

clients of Harvard Business Publishing, including Cisco, American Express, the United Nations, and Dubai Ports World. Matthias co-founded the People Analytics Laboratory.

Giancarlo Trimarchi, Partner, Vince’s Market

Giancarlo Trimarchi, partner at Vince’s Market and 2021-22 chair of CFIG, is a secondgeneration grocer with five stores north of Toronto. Vince’s Market won the DCI 2022 CIGBA/DCI Social Responsibility Award; 2021 Canadian Grocer Impact Award, in 2020 its Tottenham location was awarded the national gold award in small surface. Giancarlo also was one of the 4 CFIG representatives on the Grocery Code Working Group and the sole CFIG representative on the special subcommittee established to help expedite resolution of some key issues.

Isaac Wanzama, Founder, Chief Strategist, geekspeak Commerce Isaac Wanzama is the Founder and Chief Strategist at geek speak Commerce, an eCommerce services company based in Whitby, Ontario. Founded in 2003, his company helps some of the world’s largest retailers and manufac turers to grow their online sales. With over 20 years of experience in online marketing and eCommerce, Isaac is a trusted partner to his clients, developing innovative sales strategies and building customized eCom merce programs that drive channel growth.

Tricia Williams, Managing Partner, Client Success Leader, geekspeak Commerce

Tricia Williams is the Managing Partner and Client Success Leader at eCommerce services company geekspeak Commerce. Her primary role is ensuring that her team exceeds expectations with every client engagement. Understanding a brand's voice and its objectives is key to delivering online content that converts, and Tricia has worked very closely with some of the world's most recognizable brands including Walmart, Honeywell, Bang & Olufsen, New Balance and Canadian Tire to help propel their eCommerce growth.

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

25 & 26 2022 |

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

MONDAy, OCTOBER 24, 2022

TCC–North Building @ A. Lassonde Stage (P. Anka Lobby, Hall H)

6:00AM

ONTARiO FOOD TERMiNAL TOuR REGISTERED RETAILERS ONLY

SPONSORED

5:30PM – 7:30PM

OPENiNG RECEPTiON

OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES

TCC–North Building @ A. Lassonde Stage (P. Anka Lobby, Hall H)

SPONSORED

TUESDAy, OCTOBER 25, 2022

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS

TCC-North Building @ A. Lassonde Stage (P. Anka Lobby, Hall H)

8:00AM – 9:00AM

REGiSTRATiON/CHECk-IN ANNuAL GENERAL MEETiNG

SPONSORED

9:00AM – 9:30AM

Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers’ Annual General Meeting. Updates from CFIG, Tom Shurrie, President & CEO; Gary Sands, SR. VP

9:30AM – 10:15AM

Grocery Code Panel Discussion with Diane Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada; Michael Graydon, CEO of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada; Ron Lemaire, President of Canadian Produce Marketing Association; Giancarlo Trimarchi, Vince’s Market. Moderator Gary Sands, SR. VP., CFIG.

10:15AM – 10:45AM

KEYNOTE: Canadians have a strong appetite for high-quality and nutritious food. But inflationary pressures are eating away at their purchasing power and food manufacturers and retailers face much higher cost of production, driven by global and domestic factors. The future of food remains positive and rests on innovation and productivity. Hear from Farm Credit Canada's Chief Economist J.P. Gervais about the trends to leverage opportunities.

SPONSORED

10:50AM

GIC OPENiNG CEREMONY

11:00AM – 4:30PM TRADE SHOW EXHIBITION

TCC-North Building (Hall I)

12:00PM – 2:00PM

TOP 10 iN GROCERY & BEST BOOTH JuDGiNG

2022 12:00PM – 12:30PM

INSIGHTS & INNOvATIONS TRADE FLOOR STAGE SESSIONS

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS

Workplace Mental Health. The level of stress in our work has increased. Join WSPS in this conversation on how stress impacts mental health, ie labour shortage, staff agency, harassment and others; how we can prevent mental harm. Presented by Meron Samuel, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

1:00PM – 1:30PM

Is your business ready to meet the needs of the post-pandemic online grocery consumer? Join geekspeak Commerce Isaac Wanzama and Tricia Williams in conversation, with an informative session on eCommerce's must-haves to keep your business growing.

2:00PM – 2:30PM

Going to the Talent Market? Must-Have Items for Your Shopping List. As an employer, it’s increasingly challenging to navigate and compete for talent in today’s marketplace. Make sure you’ve included these must-have items on your list to ensure you are able to attract and win the talent you seek when you go “shopping”. Sooky Lee, Aporto Advisory Group

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

EvENING EvENT

OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND EXHIBITORS

TCC-North Building (Hall H) J.Mitchell Lobby Hall; Ballrooms A, B, C

4:30PM – 5:00PM

MiX AND MiNGLE NETWORkiNG EVENT

Join industry colleagues for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

SPONSORED BY:

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 Tom Shurrie, Tony Chapman

SPONSORED BY:

WEDNESDAy, OCTOBER 26, 2022

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL SESSIONS

TCC-North Building (Hall H) Ballrooms A, B, C

7:00AM

BREAkFAST

7:25AM – 8:00AM

TOP OF THE MORNING BREAkFAST SESSION:

Tony Chapman hosts a top to top with, Christy McMullen, Summerhill Market, Jamie Nelson, Pattison Food Group; Erin Higdon, Atlantic Grocery Distributors. They will discuss the top issues of the day including affordability, locally grown, and sewn, private label and talent.

SPONSORED BY:

8:00AM – 8:45AM

SECTOR INSIGHT: Traversing the disrupted new normal in the Canadian marketplace. Kantar’s Amar Singh looks at macro disrupters, the changing shopper in this not-to-miss deep grocery retail dive of what’s to come.

SPONSORED BY:

8:45AM – 9:30AM

Fireside chat with Dragon's Den star Arlene Dickinson. Tony Chapman speaks with CEO of District Communications, Arlene Dickinson about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and her role as General Partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund focused on helping market, fund and grow entrepreneurs and their companies, in the food and health space.

SPONSORED BY:

9:30AM – 9:40AM

COFFEE BREAk

SPONSORED BY:

9:45AM – 10:15AM & 10:20AM – 10:50AM

CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

–REPEATED

Mckennitt Rooms 1-4

SPONSORED BY:

ROOM 1

ETHNIC CONSUMERS: Tony Chapman will chat with Abhijeet Ray, Ethnicity Multicultural Marketing Inc. and Howard Lichtman, Ethnicity Matters, one of Canada leading strategic and creative firms focused on that ethnic consumer. They will share best practices of retailers who cater exclusively to a consumer segment and then how some of these practices can be applied to your store.

ROOM 2

STAFF RETENTION & RECRUITING: Recruiting & Retention have become organizational enablers during the Great Resignation. This session will discuss best practices and present a data-driven approach to employee recruitment and retention. Matthias Spitzmuller, Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business

ROOM 3

SUPPLY CHAIN: As businesses turn to the supply chain for help, what are some of the key areas that grocers and their partners should be asking questions around?

Gary Newbury, Supply Chain Expert, RetailAID Inc.

ROOM 4

INDEPENDENT GROCER SURVEY RESULTS: Data and insights to benchmark your business. Robert Graybill, FMS

A

25 & 26

OF OPPORTUNITIES

11:00AM – 4:00PM

TRADE SHOW EXHIBITION

TCC-North Building Hall I

INSIGHTS &

STAGE SESSIONS

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES

12:00PM – 12:30PM

Grow your business with Canadian chicken –Myth busting. Join Chicken Farmers of Canada’s Lisa Bishop-Spencer, who will lead a panel discussion with Jean-Michel Laurin, President and CEO, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors of Canada; and Dr. Christine Power, DVM, MSc on the pressures faced by retailers from animal rights activists. Experts representing the Canadian chicken value chain will describe the robust, mandatory systems in place for animal care in the chicken sector.

1:00PM – 1:30PM McCormick’s Chef David Burnett shares the latest trends that influence what we cook and eat from the brand’s Flavour Forecast report.

2:00PM – 2:30PM Grocery insights & trends session

SAvE THE DATES

GROCERY & SPECIALTY FOOD WEST

APRIL 24 & 25, 2023 Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building www.gsfshow.com

|

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

SHOW APP >

EvENING EvENT

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

TCC-North Building Hall H, Mitchell Lobby Hall (Ballrooms A, B, C)

5:30PM – 6:15PM RECEPTiON

BY:

6:30PM – 9:15PM

INDEPENDENT GROCER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Awards will be presented to the best grocers in Canada.

DRAW FOR FINAL FOUR FOR GRAND PRIZE TRIP TO NGA SHOW IN LAS VEGAS!

SPONSORED BY:

GROCERY INNOVATIONS CANADA 2023

OCTOBER 24 & 25, 2023 Toronto Congress Centre, North Building www.GroceryInnovations.com

THANK yOU TO

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 2022 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

EXHIBITOR By COMPANy

A. LASSONDE INC.

170 5e Ave. Rougemont, QC J0L 1M0

T: (604) 340-7906

F: (450) 469-0839

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 and beverages as well as fruit-based snacks. Booth #1003

✪ A SMART LABEL SOLUTIONS INC.

104 - 3738 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC, V5J 5G7

T: (416) 508-4307

E: ipak@ppinc.ca www.amsartlabelsolutions.com

Electronic shelf labels (ESL) - the tool for quickly changing product prices and opportunity to offer more efficiently and be responsive with marketing tactics. Booth #503

ACOSTA

2700 Matheson Blvd. E. Mississauga, ON L4W 4V9

T: (905) 238-8058

F: (905) 238-1998

E: brafuse@acosta.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

ADVANTAGE SOLUTIONS

60 Courtney Park Drive West Unit #3 Mississauga, ON L5W 0B3

T: (905) 475-9623

F: (905) 475-8361

E: leeanne.mischiato@ advantagesolutions.net www.advantagesolutions.net

A leading solutions provider with a hands-on approach to doing business, powered by scale and cutting-edge technology!

Booth #725

AFFINITY GROUP

21 East Wilmot St, Richmond Hill, ON, L4B 1A3

T: (905) 763-2929

E: info@affinitysales.ca www.affinitysales.com/canada Affinity Group is an experienced broker in all aspects of the foodservice and retail industry.

Booth #526

ALFA CAPPUCCINO IMPORTS INC.

231 Millway Ave Unit 7, Concord, ON, L4K3W7

T: (905) 660-2750

E: info@alfafoodservice.com www.alfafoodservice.com

We are Importers & Distributor of premium Italian Dessert, coffee, flour, water & tomatoes. Booth #1132

ALSAFA FOODS CANADA LTD. 302-57 Village Centre Place Mississauga, ON, L4Z 1V9

T: (647) 642-3529

E: connect@alsafafoods.com www.alsafahalal.com

Alsafa Foods is the largest North American Halal Food Brand. For 25yrs, our focus has been to empower Muslims by offering halal, guilt-free convenience foods. Booth #518

ARNEG CANADA

18 rue Richelieu Lacolle, QC J0J 1J0

T: (289) 795-5012

F: (450) 246-4428

E: sfeere@arnegdml.com www.arneg.ca

Manufactures of refrigeration display cases and compressor systems for the supermarket industry proudly manufactured in Canada. Booth # 1519

✪ BASILUR TEA

60 Granton Drive Unit 6

Richmond Hill, ON, L4B 2N6

T: (416) 419-6409

E: sales@silkeny.com www.basilurtea.com

BASILUR TEA - an Authentic Premium Tea Experience Booth #439

BDC

81 Bay St. Suite 3700 Toronto, ON, M5J 0E7

T: (416) 834-7748 info@bdc.ca www.bdc.ca

BDC is the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs. It provides access to financing, as well as advisory services to help Canadian businesses grow and succeed. Booth #1814

BIMBO CANADA

2 International Blvd – Suite 100 Etobicoke, ON, M9W 1A2

T: (289) 981-0203

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 #1309

BLUE WOLF INVESTMENT INC

8-30 Fulton Way

Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1E6

✪

AVANTI PRESS, INC. 155 W. Congress, Suite 200 Detroit, MI, 48226

T: (800) 228-2684

E: stuartbunn@avantipress.com www.avantipress.com

We consistently deliver high quality products with uncommon value. Our vibrant designs and fun verses attract and delight customers from around the globe. Booth #1512

✪ BANK OF MONTREAL

55 Bloor Street W Toronto, ON, M4W 3N5

T: (450) 540-0498

E: jeffrey.woo@bmo.com www.bmo.com/business

Offering a full suite of financial services and advice for businesses, including a dedicated banking and financing program for Canadian independent grocers. Booth # 609

T: (800) 690-0133

E: babak@regaliacrown.com www.bluewolfinv.com

We provide food safety consultancy services, we prepare HACCP, SQF, BRC, ISO plan for food processing and manufacturing facilities Booth #612

✪ BRITTLES `N MORE LTD

180 Frobisher Drive, 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 varieties, Beernuts 15 varieties, plus Sponge Toffee, Chocolate Pizzas Booth #1739

GROCERY INNOVATIONS

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26

BURNBRAE FARMS LTD.

940 Matheson Blvd. E. Mississauga, ON L4W 2R8

T: (905) 624-3600

E: imcruvie@burnbraefarms.com www.burnbraefarms.com

Burnbrae Farms is excited to present our unique, innovative, ready-to-eat egg products. Real Eggs! Real Easy! Booth #918

✪ CALEDON FARMS

2050 Drew Road Mississauga, ON, L5S1S4

T: (416) 302-3787

E: sales@crumps.ca www.caledonfarms.ca

Caledon Farms has built their reputation on making all natural dog treats in our own Canadian facility. Booth #1114

CANADA BEEF

2550 Argentia Rd Unit 210 Mississauga, ON, L5N 5R1

T: (905) 330-4858

E: nchirichella@canadabeef.ca www.canadabeef.ca

Canada Beef is the national check-offfunded organization responsible for global marketing on behalf of Canadian cattle farmers and ranchers. We are committed to developing partnered initiatives with the Canadian retail sector. Booth #837

CANADIAN GROCER

20 Eglinton Ave. W. Toronto, ON, M4R 1K8

T: (647) 830-6561

E: contactus@canadiangrocer.com www.canadiangrocer.com

Canadian Grocer is the #1 magazine, website and e-newsletter for the Canadian grocery industry, with an audience of 201,500+ retailers and decision makers. Booth #1529

CANADIAN FISHING COMPANY

301 E Waterfront Road Vancouver, BC, V6A 2Y7

T: (604) 816-5987

E: dar.brinham@canfisco.com www.canfisco.com

Canadian Fishing Company, on the Pacific coast, operates facilities producing fresh, frozen and smoked salmon and other seafood, to the highest food safety standards.

Booth #521

CASA BONITA FOODS, INC.

700 Progress Ave. Unit 13 Scarborough, ON, M1H2Z7

T: (416) 727-9676

E: sergio@casabonitafoods.com

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

www.casabonitafoods.com

Exclusive Importers of Tajin into Canada; manufacturers of Corn products under Casa Booth #519

CAVENDISH FARMS

100 Midland Dr. Dieppe, NB E1A 6X4

T: (506) 378-2188

F: (506) 378-2188

E: wells.stephanie@cavendishfarms.com www.cavendishfarms.com

At Cavendish Farms we pride ourselves on high quality products, exceeding our customers needs, and strong relationships with growers in our communities. Booth #1033

✪ CHA’S ORGANICS

3700 Rue St. Patrick Montreal, QC, H4E 1A2

T: (226) 979-7554

E: info@chasorganics.com www.chasorganics.com

Featuring premium quality, organic, vegan, gluten free and ethically traded coconut milks, spices, coconut oil, canned tropical fruits and now are new coconut rolls! Booth #906

✪ CHEP CANADA INC. 7400 East Danbro Cres. Mississauga, ON L5N 8C6

T: (905) 790-2437

E: nigel.sankar@chep.com www.chep.com

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth. Booth #636

CHICKEN FARMERS OF CANADA 1610-50 O’Connor Street Ottawa, ON, K1R 7S8

T: (613) 878-6127

E: jgraham@chicken.ca www.chicken.ca

The Raised by a Canadian Farmer brand lets shoppers know that we are committed to animal welfare, food safety, and environmental sustainability. Booth #946

✪ CIDER KEG 1398 Vittoria Rd. Vittoria, ON N0E 1W0

T: (519) 426-0705

E: info@ciderkeg.com www.ciderkeg.com

Non-Alcoholic Fresh and Sparkling Cider grown, pressed and bottled on our 5th generation family farm. Ask about custom cider pressing for fermentation. Booth #1827

CIMA PAK CORPORATION

1275 Eglington Ave E Unit 60

Mississauga, ON, L4W2Z2

T: (905) 612-0053

E: info@cima-pak.com www.cima-pak.com

CiMa-Pak is a full-service provider of turn-key packaging solutions to streamline operations. We offer sustainable solutions for your packaging needs.

Booth #945

CIS GROUP

55 Castonguay Street

SAINT-JEROME, QC, J7Y2H9

T: (450) 432-1550

E: sales@cis-group.com www.cis-group.com

Drive OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY with bestin-class DSD/Route Accounting Solution.

Quick and easy Sales force Automation implementations. Increase your SALES with an efficient B2B web ordering tool. Booth #1008

CLEARSIPS

542 Sandcherry Drive Burlington, ON, L7T 4L6

T: (866) 390-8745

E: marycthompson54@gmail.com www.clearsips.ca

Clearsips is an importer, distributor, and retailer of national and international esteemed non-alcoholic spirits, wine, beer, cider and ready-to-drink beverages. Booth #426

COLOR BRANDS

401 N Sangamon St Chicago, Illinois, 60642

T: (913) 484-5758

E: colorbrands@colorbrands.us www.colorbrands.us

Color Brands distributes leading food, beverage, nutrition, and health & beauty brands to 70 countries worldwide. Booth #413

COLOUR INNOVATIONS/

RAINING BRAND & DESIGN

161 Norfinch Drive

Toronto, ON, M3N1Y2

T: (416) 667-6790

E: dennis.leggett@ colourinnovations.com www.colourinnovations.com

Colour Innovations is an award-winning print packaging company that has been in business domestically and internationally for over 35 years. CI is one of the few BRCGS certified printers in Canada specializing in printing folded carton packaging that can have direct contact with food.

Booth # 1533

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

✪ COMPASS FOOD SALES

260 Industrial Parkway N Aurora, ON, L4G 4C3

T: (905) 713-0167

E: sales@compassfoodsales.com www.compassfoodsales.com

Booth #1030

CONCORD NATIONAL LLP

2215 Meadowpine Blvd Unit 2 Mississauga, ON, L5N 6C3

T: (647) 580-5570

E: tony.dalleva@concordnational.com www.concordnational.com

We are Food Broker across Canada for over 50 years. We are representing 12 Clients at our booth with new innovation. please come visit us.

Booth #612

CONGLOM

2600 Marie-Curie Ave. Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 2C3

T: (514) 333-6666

E: ksande@conglom.com www.conglom.com

We are a manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of consumer and industrial products.

Booth #1413

COSTCO BUSINESS CENTRE

3 North Service Road

St Catharines, ON, L2N 7R1

T: (289) 434-6011

E: w01436mkm@costco.com www.costcobusinesscentre.ca

Costco Business Centres are open to all Costco members, but really designed with our business members in mind. Booth #1135

✪ COUNTY FARE

63 Whites Road, Lot 221 Trenton, ON, K8V 5P5

T: (613) 471-1671

E: info@cfare.ca www.cfare.ca

Our no sugar jams, ketchups and sauces are 100% natural, sugar free (diabetic & keto friendly) preservative free, gluten free. We deliver real flavour naturally! Booth #1726

COVERED BRIDGE

POTATO CHIP COMPANY

35 Alwright Court Waterville, NB, E7P0A5

T: (506) 375-2447

E: info@coveredbridgechips.com www.coveredbridgechips.com/en

We are a vertically integrated 4th Generation Family potato farm and food manufacturing facility. We produce dark russet potato chips, kettle cooked popcorn and more. Booth #1325

CROSSMARK CANADA INC.

5580 Explorer Drive, Suite 200 Mississauga, ON, L4W 4Y1

T: (905) 366-6333

E: rick.winslow@crossmark.com www.crossmark.ca

CROSSMARK is a leading sales agency in the consumer goods and services industry. Our service pillars include include HQ Sales, Retail Solutions and Analytics. Booth #925

COCA COLA LTD.

335 King St. E. Toronto, ON M5A 1L1 T: (416) 424-6000

E: Sellcoke@cokecanada.com www.coca-cola.ca

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries and territories.

Booth #1409

DAIRY FOUNTAIN INC.

1080 Fewster Dr Unit 14 Mississauga, L4W2T2, ON T: (647) 880-0465 E: muslu@dairyfountain.com www.dairyfountain.com

Dairy Fountain passionate about providing one on one service and supplying the very best of dairy products, for the food service and retail industries. Booth #1731

DANA INDUSTRIES

109 Woodbine Downs Boulevard, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M9W 6Y1

T: (416) 804-4041

E: sales@danaindustries.com www.danaindustries.com

Innovative and 1st to market best engineered shelf signage preprinted sign holders metal shelving large format printing shopping carts floor merchandisers data strips product packaging.

Booth #1329

DANAVATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

21 Roybridge gate

Woodbridge, ON, L4H 1E6

T: (905) 605-6702

E: hello@danavation.com www.danavation.com

Provider of micro e-paper displays, our Digital Smart Labels can automate pricing, product information and promotions in real-time.

Booth #1037

DANONE CANADA

100 Rue de Lauzon

Boucherville, QC, J4B1E6

T: (604) 219-5969

E: serviceclientele-canada@danone.com www.danone.ca

Danone is a global leader with a healthfocused portfolio in Food & Beverages including brands like Activia, Oikos, Silk, Evian, So Delicious & International Delight. Booth #1009

✪ DENNIS’ HORSERADISH

10 Arnold Sayeau Drive

Delhi, ON, N4B 2W5

T: (416) 797-9666

E: info@dennishorseradish.com www.dennishorseradish.com

Canada’s Premium Small Batch

Horseradish. All natural, gluten-free, vegan prepared horseradish and horseradishbased condiments. Better root. Coarse ground. Modern branding. Elevate the Everyday with Dennis’.

Booth #1736

DIGI CANADA INC.

87 Moyal Ct. Concord, ON L4K 4R8

T: (416) 648-2243

E: cara.tulloch@ca.digi-group.com www.digisystem.com/ca/en/ Digi Canada Inc. is a proven global leader in the food industry offering a complete line of food equipment for over 25 years. We offer across-the-store solutions for quality weigh-wrap-labelling equipment, POS systems, ESL and consumables. Booth #1107

DIRECT PLUS FOOD GROUP

Bay #1, 2355 52nd Ave SE

Calgary, AB, T2C4X7

T: (403) 215-6076

E: info@directplus.ca www.directplus.ca

Direct Plus Food Group is a sales and distribution company representing many fine and trusted brands.

Booth #1709

✪ DISTRIBUTION CANADA INC. (DCI)

3425 Harvester Rd. Ste. 102c

Burlington, ON L7N 3N1

T: (905) 681-3933

E: admin@distributioncanada.ca www.distributioncanada.ca Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI) was formed as a buying group for & Independent Canadian Grocers in 1981. Booth #1543

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 2022 | TORONTO CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

DOOR COUNTY COFFEE

5773 WI-42

Sturgeon Bay, WI, 54235

T: (414) 460-0855

E: david.urintsev@ doorcountycoffee.com www.doorcountycoffee.com

Door County Coffee is a Specialty Coffee Roaster. We roast the top 2% of Arabica beans in the world and focus on unique coffee flavours.

Booth #1612

DRAKKAR INTERNATIONAL, INC.

910 Jean-Neveu St. Longueuil, QC, J4G 2M1

T: (450) 651-9137

E: rnormand@drakkarinternational.com www.chariotshopping.com

Since 1998, Drakkar International designs, manufactures and markets the largest selection of shopping carts and material handling equipment in Canada. Now, we are proud to present our new line of shopping carts having our Quality Canada Painting Seal.

Booth #1612

✪ DYNA-PRO ENVIRONMENTAL 575 Roseberry St Winnipeg, MB, R3H 0T3

T: (204) 774-5370

E: dynapro@dyna-pro.com www.dyna-pro.com

Self-serve water dispensers, water purification filtration systems, jugs accessories, retail, industrial commercial clients, 30+ years, thousands of systems installed/maintained nationwide. CSA Certified.

Booth #841

EAT JUST, INC.

300 Wind River Way Alameda, CA, 94501

T: (778) 680-5060

E: wecare@ju.st www.ju.st

Really good eggs from plants. JUST Egg is fully plant based, cholesterol-free, packed with protein and lower in saturated fat than conventional eggs.

Booth #530

ECOTANK CANADA

“685 Riddell Road, Unit 104” Orangeville, ON, L9W 4Z5 (289) 654-1634

E: sales@ecotankcanada.com www.ecotankcanada.com

EcoTank is an innovative and sustainable solution for refilling windshield washer fluid. We are eliminating plastic jugs one fill up at a time.

Booth # 634

EMPOWERED BRAND

MARKETING

2-5090 Orbitor Dr

Mississauga, ON, L4W 5B5

T: (905) 457-3500

E: info@empoweredbrandmarketing.ca

EBM is Canada’s leading Retail Activation company for Brands. We manage DEMO campaigns across all major grocery retails nationally.

Booth #1011

EGGSOLUTIONS

283 Horner Avenue

Toronto, ON, M8Z 4Y4

T: (416) 917-7249

E: info@eggsolutions.com www.eggsolutions.com

EggSolutions uses farm fresh eggs to create convenient, quick, heat, eat omelet bites, egg sandwich patties and omelets. We’re real eggs. Simplified. Booth #935

EH FRESH (OUT OF THE BOX PACKAGING)

581 Trethewey Dr North York, ON, M6M4B8

T: (647) 546-0244

E: info@ootbinc.com www.ootbinc.com

BeRaw - Superfood Bites and Overnight Oats, Milk - Dairy Free Milk, Nana SpiceUnique Spice Blends CoPack/ Repack Experts Booth #440

ENJAY CONVERTERS

495 Ball Street

Cobourg, ON, K9A 3J6

T: (904) 372-7373

E: sales@enjay.com www.enjay.com

For almost 40 years, Enjay has been a leading manufacturer and provider of high-quality packaging for the food and bakery industry. Booth #637

FAMOUS POTATO

ROLLS AND BREAD

1000 Potato Roll Lane Chambersburg, PA, 17202

T: (800) 548-1200

E: tlushbaugh@potatorolls.com www.potatorolls.com

Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe is a family owned and operated bakery, famous world-wide for their potato rolls.

Booth #526

FCC

7025 Langer Drive, Suite 210 Mississauga, ON, L5N 0E8

T: (519) 827-5431

E: csc@fcc-fac.ca www.fcc.ca

Partner with the only lender 100% invested in Canadian food. Booth #1813

FEDERATED INSURANCE

COMPANY OF CANADA 3100 BI. Le Carrefour Suite 660

Laval, QC, H7T2K7

T: (514) 730-6781

mauro.ditullio@federated.ca

E: www.federated.ca

Federated Insurance offers customized insurance solutions designed for the grocery store industry, features industry-leading coverage such as product recall, transit, computerized equipment and infestation.

Booth #606

FMS SOLUTIONS

5511 Tomken Road Suite 204 Mississauga, ON, T0L2B0

T: (403) 485-7197

E: ryan.mitchell@fmssolutions.com www.fmssolutions.com

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 #641

FOOD EXPORT NORTHEAST/ MIDWEST

One Penn Center, 1617 JFK Blvd, Suite #420

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19103

T: (416) 523-1470

E: info@foodexport.org www.foodexport.org

Food Export – Midwest and Food Export –Northeast are non-profit organizations that provide programs and services which assist U.S. food and agricultural companies in grow ing export sales. They also assist importers in locating potential suppliers from the U.S. Booth #438

✪ FROM FARM TO TABLE CANADA INC

1721 Bishop St. N., Unit 1-3 Cambridge, ON, N1T 1N5

T: (519) 621-1163

E: info@fromfarmtotable.ca www.fromfarmtotable.ca

Official popcorn of the HAMILTON TIGERCATS, FORGE FC and TIM HORTONS FIELD. Popcorn, caramel corn and kettle chips. Peanut/Nut free. Gluten Free. Locally grown. Booth #1837

FUN TYME FOODS LTD. 102-455 De Baets Street Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J4M3

T: (204) 918-8999

E: john@funtymefoods.com www.funtymefoods.com Concession supplies, confectionary, and snacks. Booth #1613

GROCERY INNOVATIONS

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 2022 |

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

GALA BAKERY

190 Hempstead Drive Hamilton, Ontario, L8W 2E8

T: (905) 578-6485

E: jjanosevic@galabakery.ca www.thegalabakery.com

Gala bakery loves to create irresistable desserts and savory pastries that taste like homemade.

Booth # 1637

✪ GBS FOODSERVICE EQUIPMENT INC.

2871 Brighton Rd Oakville, Ontario, 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

✪ GEEKSPEAK COMMERCE

129 Brock Street North Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4H3

T: (416) 619-5349

E: services@geekspeakcommerce.com www.geekspeakcommerce.com/ ecommerceforgrocers/ geekspeak Commerce is an eCommerce services provider that helps brands, distributors and grocers drive sales online with enriched product content, data, photography, strategy, and more.

Booth #442

GENERAL MILLS

1875 Buckhorn Gate Suite 201 Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5N9

T: (905) 212-4872

E: tabias.boudreau@genmills.com www.generalmills.ca

General Mills, Making Food the World Loves. Join us to experience exciting new products for your family to enjoy Booth #719

GIOVANNI RANA

1195 Queensway E Unit 25 Mississauga, Ontario, 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 #639

GLOBE POS SYSTEMS

294 Walker Drive

Brampton, Ontario, L6T 4Z2

T: (416) 900-4050

E: paul@globepos.ca www.globepos.ca

Globe POS Systems is a full technology solutions provider. From Point of Sales, Camera, Networking, Scales, Sound, Phone systems, ESL and much more. Booth #1332

GREAT CANADIAN MEAT COMPANY INC

1390 Hopkins Street Whitby, ON, L1N 2C3

T: (905) 666-9395

E: beverley@greatcanadianmeat.com www.greatcanadianmeat.com

“We are Canada’s Premier Meat Snack Company that produces locally crafted, 365 day shelf-stable premium meat snacks using the finest Canadian ingredients.” Booth #1625

✪ GREENLABS CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS

851 Progress Court Oakville, ON, L6L 6K1

T: (289) 813-3232

E: ashley.menchions@superiorsols.com www.earthbrandpods.com

Earth Brand Cleaning Pods are a revolutionary way to reduce your singleuse plastic consumption around the home Booth #931

GROCERY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

PO Box 23103 Longworth PO Bowmanville, 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 #605

✪ HABASHA COFFEE

5589 Cosmic Crescent Mississauga, ON, L4Z 3S1

T: (416) 779-6597

E: info@habasha.coffee www.habasha.coffee

Hand roasted Ethiopian coffee made the traditional way, retaining and enhancing flavours you never knew existed in a cup of coffee.

Booth #425

✪ HAPPY POPS

130 Bermondsey Rd Toronto, Ontario, M4A1X5

T: (416) 854-2949

E: info@Happypops.ca www.happypops.ca

Happy Pops are all natural frozen treats crafted with real fruit and without the use of artificial ingredients. They are vegan and gluten free.

Booth #1629

HEIDELBERG FOODS LTD.

1035 REITZEL PL.

St. Jacobs, Ontario, N0B 2N0

T: (887) 664-3512

dbuist@heidelbergfoods.com E: www.heidelbergfoods.com

Great tasting, naturally wood smoked, shelf stable deli meats and meat snacks. All made from the finest quality ingredients and no fillers. Booth #1841

HELA SPICE CANADA

119 Franklin Street

Uxbridge, Ontario, L9P1N6

T: (905) 301-4850

E: eric.nummelin@helaspice.com www.helaspice.com

A Food Ingredient and Dry Blender to the North American Food Industry. Spices and Ingredients used can be Halal, Kosher, Organic and Natural, Laboratory. Booth 1833

✪ HENRY’S TEMPEH

13-65 Trillium Park Pl

KITCHENER, Ontario, N2E 1X1

T: (226) 748-4517

E: henry@tempeh.ca www.tempeh.ca

Henry’s Tempeh is Canada’s largest tempeh manufacturer. Check out their organic brick tempeh and their delicious, brand new, preseasoned tempeh crumble at GIC 2022! Booth #1628

HENSALL FOODS INC/ THE SCREAMING CHEF 210 Wellington Street west Exeter, ON, N0M 1S2

T: (226) 448-3883

E: anaveed@hensallfoods.com www.thescreamingchef.ca

The Screaming Chef Chilled Ready Meals prepared by using innovative Micvac Technology which allows 60+ days shelf life without any artificial preservatives Booth #1624

✪ HOT MAMAS FOODS INC

5 Ontario St., Unit A Orillia, Ontario, L3V 0T7

T: (866) 361-2468

E: sales@hotmamas.ca www.hotmamas.ca

Gourmet Pepper Jellies, No Seasonings Rubs, Seasonings, Crazy Mooskies Sugar Free BBQ Sauces, Ketchups, Spicy Dessert Toppings Booth #1741

HOWELL DATA SYSTEMS

5632 Highway #7 Suite #9 Woodbridge, ON, L4L 3A2

T: (905) 761-1712

E: sales@howelldatasystems.com

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

www.howelldatasystems.com

Howell Data Systems (1991) has 21 Canadian offices. Solutions include Point of Sale, Self Checkout, Smartphone Loyalty Apps, Meat/Deli/Bakery scale-printers. Booth #1103

HUSSMANN CANADA INC.

5 Cherry Blossom road Building 1, Unit 3

Cambridge, ON, N3H4R7

T: (905) 977-7647

E: rob.arabski@hussmann.com www.hussmann.com

Hussmann enables excellence in retailing with merchandising and food display equipment, refrigeration systems, service, maintenance, energy solutions, food quality expertise and store planning services. Booth #903

INSTACART

50 Beale Street, Suite 600 San Francisco, California, 94105

T: (848) 219-2122

E: graham.edward@instacart.com www.instacart.com/company Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, works with grocers and retailers to transform how people shop. Booth #1237

INSTORE PRODUCTS LTD

1035 Ronsa Court

Mississauga, ON, L4W 2N6

T: (416) 791-0619

E: IPLinfo@instorecorp.com www.instorecorp.com

Innovative Shopping Solutions Carts Re-useable Hand Baskets, Revolutionary Water Systems, Purifier Filter Water. Booth #539

IN-STORE WATER SYSTEMS INC.

1035 Ronsa Court

Mississauga, ON, L4W 2N6

T: (416) 791-0619

E: IPLinfo@instorecorp.com www.instorecorp.com

Full service water systems company. Best range of options for both Vended and Store-Use water. Purchase, Rental and Revenue Sharing available. Booth #541

ISHIDA CANADA INC

2220 Argentia Road

Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 2K7

T: (416) 333-0616

E: sales@ishidacanada.ca www.ishidacanada.ca

Ishida designs and manufactures high quality weighing and packaging equipment. Ishida Canada provides sales and service. We also represent Proluxe and Watanabe products. Booth #938

ITALPASTA LIMITED

116 Nuggett Court

Brampton, Ontario, L6T 5A9

T: (647) 927-9421

E: info@italpasta.com www.italpasta.com

“Our secret to creating high-quality pasta is simple. 100% Canadian wheat, modern Italian technology and made in Canada with the utmost care. FOR PASTA LOVERS.” Booth #1125

JAABCO GLOBAL INC

1441 Broadway New York, NY, 10018

T: (203) 981-4068

E: gary@jaabco.com www.saltean.com

We carry a large slection of pink himalayan salt from salt grinders to 5lb pouches as well as bulk salt. Booth #608

JAKEMAN’S MAPLE PRODUCTS 454414 Trillium Line, RR1 Beachville, ON, N0J1A0

T: (519) 539-1366

E: 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

DOBUSINESS JAMAICA

18 Trafalgar Rd. Kingston 10 Kingston, Saint Andrew, JMAAW04

T: (876) 579-7652

E: Importer@jamprocorp.com www.dobusinessjamaica.com

Showcasing a range of high-quality, authentic Jamaican food and beverage products including pepper/jerk-based sauces, spices, seasonings, marinades, jams, jellies, chutneys, tropical juices and flavoured water.

Booth #825

JAYALANKA SUPPLIERS

No.57/D/1, Rajasinghe Road Kadawatha, Western, 11850

T: (947) 760-2001

E: jayalankasuppliers@gmail.com www.jayalankasuppliers.lk Ceylon Spices, Sesame Based Confectionery Items Sri Lankan Grocery Items Booth #1127

JFAZ CORPORATION

3636 Erindale station road

Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 2T1

T: (647) 999-1013

E: furrukh.shaikh@alokozay.ca www.Alokozay.com

Present in 40+ Countries 35000+ Global Team Distribution network spread across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe, North America Br. Office located in Toronto, Canada. Booth #1137

JRTECH SOLUTIONS

2365 Rue Guénette

Montreal, Quebec, H4R 2E9

T: (438) 459-8482

E: info@jrtechsolutions.com www.jrtechsolutions.com

JRTech Solutions, the #1 Electronic Labels (ESL) supplier in North America, offers unique ESL features to help retailers digitize their operations. Booth #819

✪ JUST INSTRUMENTS INC.

49-173 Advance Blvd. Brampton, Ontario, L6T4Z7

T: (647) 834-7829

E: kd@justinstruments.net www.justinstruments.net

Deals in Calibration of thermostats, thermometers, cooler freezers and weighing scales. We calibrate, sell and repair food grade, waterproof stainless steel scales. “ Booth #441

KARMALI’S

3445 Semenyk Court

Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 4P9

T: (647) 618-8695

E: info@karmalis.com www.karmalis.com

Canada’s Own, local goodness - Soups made with ingredients sourced directly from Canadian farmers. Try our Canada’s Own Meals, Dressings, Sauces, and Marinades. Booth #1638

KAWARTHA DAIRY

89 Prince Street West Bobcaygeon, Ontario, M6R 1K4

T: (647) 980-5240

E: jfarlinger@kawarthadairy.com www.kawarthadairy.com

Kawartha Dairy is a local produce of premium ice cream, milk, cream, egg nog and butter. Booth #1724

GROCERY

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26

KETCHUM MANUFACTURING INC.

1245 California Avenue

Brockville, Ontario, K6V 7N5

T: (613) 803-8595

E: lucasg@ketchum.ca www.ketchum.ca

We produce, package, warehouse and distribute POP merchandising, display, and directional signage for the retail & grocery industry and have been established since 1913. Booth #635

KOST KLIP MANUFACTURING LTD.

119-1611 Broadway St Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C 2M7

T: (604) 472-7903

E: sales@kostklip.com www.kostklip.com

Kostklip’s solutions include data label strips, printed plastic ShelfTalkers, shelf management product organizers, sign holders, product merchandisers and fixture mounts for electronic shelf labels. Booth #1014

KRAFT HEINZ

95 Moatfield Drive Toronto, Ontario, M3B 3L6

T: (416) 894-0066

E: media@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 L.P.

2 Prologis Blvd Suite 500 Mississauga, ON, L5W 0G8

T: (416) 302-9580

E: Steve.Turner@krugerproducts.ca www.krugerproducts.ca

Kruger Products is Canada’s leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial, and commercial use. Booth #1208

KYSOR WARREN EPTA

1 Corporate Ridge Parkway Columbus, Georgia, 31907

T: (215) 870-0041

E: marketing@kysorwarren.com www.kysorwarren.com

Kysor Warren manufactures refrigerated display cases refrigeration systems, part nering with customers to bring complete commercial refrigeration solutions to supermarkets and other retailers. Booth #702

L. H. GRAY AND SON

644 Wright Street

Strathroy, Ontario, N7G 3H8

T: (416) 917-7249

E: info@lhgray.com www.lhgray.com

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

L. H. Gray and Son has been providing eggs to Canadians since 1934. Our brands include Gray Ridge Egg Farms, Sparks Eggs, Golden Valley Eggs. Booth #935

LACTALIS CANADA

405 The West Mall

Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5J1

T: (437) 226-4822

E: contactus@lactalis.ca www.lactalis.ca

With nearly 140 years of brand heritage in the Canadian dairy industry, Lactalis Canada is committed to the health and wellness of Canadians Booth #1119

LAGOON SEAFOOD

1301 32nd Ave Lachine, Quebec, H4R 3A3

T: (514) 383-1383

E: inquiries@lagoonseafood.com www.Lagoonseafood.com Lagoon Seafood offers more than 600 skus, of fresh and frozen seafood products, including ‘’value added products’’ of ready to cook and ready to eat Booth #407

LAKEVIEW FARMS/ SIMPLY FRESH LLC 1600 Gressel Drive Delphos, Ohio, 45833

T: (905) 717-0884

E: erniewilliams@sympatico.ca www.lakeviewfarms.com

Deli & dairy our brands; Lakeview Farms, Senor Rico, Cheesecake Factory, Tribe Hummus, Mexicana Fresh Cut Salsas, Italian Rose Bruschetta. Branded Private Label Booth #1525

✪ LIV’N GREEN CORP.

125 Topflight Dr Mississauga, Ontario, L5S 1Y1

T: (647) 505-4145

E: sales@livngreen.com www.livngreen.com

ADVANCED eco-friendly cleaning products with 27 SKUs for residential, commercial, and industrial use with ENHANCED formulation to guaranty excellent results by green products Booth #420

✪ LOCAL E MART

17075 LESLIE ST, Unit 7 Newmarket, ON, L3X2X9

T: (416) 858-8374

E: info@localemart.ca www.localemart.ca

Wholeseller of retail packaged, topquality import and domestic frozen seafood. Scallop, Black Tiger Shrimp, Calamari, Ling Cod, Chilean Seabass, Haddock, Salmon, Cod, Shrimp Tempura. Booth #428

✪ LOLA’S LATIN FOOD

3490 Laird Road, Unit 9-10

Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 5Y4, T: (416) 573-7994

E: info@lolasfoodinc.com www.lolasfood.ca

Local Manufacturer located in Mississauga ON, specialized in manufact-uring Latin Food Products such as: Gluten Free Empanadas, Churros, Taquitos for Retail Stores in Canada. Booth #1838

MANOUCHER FINE FOODS INC.

703 Clayson Rd

North York, ON, M9M2H4

T: (416) 747-1234

E: frontline@manoucher.com www.manoucher.com

We launched Manoucher Bread 35 years ago with a simple commitment to make each loaf by hand, not machines, using only natural ingredients. Just as bread should be enjoyed. And by inspiring an artisanal bread revolution, we elevated bread around the world, from the finest stores to leading airlines. We’re proud of each and every loaf that brings a smile to a bread lover’s face around the world, and we will continue to rise before the sun to make people happy. Booth #1214

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC.

6987 Financial Drive Mississauga, Ontario, L5N0A1

T: (800) 285-5000

E: eric.bond@mapleleaf.com www.mapleleaffoods.com

Maple Leaf Foods is Canada’s largest prepared meats and poultry producer and a carbon neutral company passionate about food, sustainability, animal care, diversity and community. Booth #1025

MARKETING IMPACT LIMITED 50 Planchet Rd. Concord, ON, L4K 2C7

T: (905) 738-0888

E: sales@displaypeople.com www.displaypeople.com

MARKETING IMPACT designs and manufactures point-of-purchase displays and merchandisers with complimenting lines of shelf-management systems; plastic sign holders and accessories; springloaded pushers; Shelf-Mounting Locking Showcases; and our patented Expanding Dividers. Always Innovating! WE ARE YOUR SOURCE FOR EFFECTIVE DISPLAY AND MERCHANDISING. Booth #1302

MCCAIN FOODS

439 King Street West Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1K4

T: (403) 923-9393

E: consumeraffairs@mccain.ca

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

www.mccain.ca

Fries & much more... McCain also produces a variety of potato products, snacks, appetizers and desserts. A Canadian-owned, family business since 1957.

Booth # 1528

MCCLELLAND PREMIUM IMPORTS BEER AND NON ALCOHOLIC BEER

5750 Timberlea Blvd Unit 8

Mississauga, ON, L4W 5N8

T: (416) 817-7557

E: mgrieve@mcclellandbeers.ca www.mcclellandbeers.ca

MPI imports Europe’s finest, most authentic beers into Canada including Stiegl, Erdinger, Fruli, O’Hara’s and Chimay beers. Booth #1537

✪ MIRVIK UNIFORMS & MERCHANDISE

845-A Rue Deslauriers

Saint-Laurent, Quebec, H4N1X3

T: (514) 886-9152

E: info@mirvik.com www.mirvik.com

Always on brand! Customized modern work uniforms and marketing merchandise. Bring your brand to life with quality customizable products your employees & customers will love.

Booth #1513

MOM’S BEST GOURMET FOODS

6435 Kestrel Road

Mississauga, Ontario, L5T 1Z8

T: (905) 696-8889

E: info@momsbest.ca www.momsbest.ca

Mom’s Best Gourmet Foods is a commercial bakery specializing in Biscotti, Taralli, Flatbread, Cookie Chips and other gourmet baked products. We are SQF certified.

Booth #1010

MONERIS

3300 Bloor Street West Toronto, Ontario, M8X 2X2

T: (855) 502-6227

E: isabel.mifsud@moneris.com www.Moneris.com

Moneris is Canada’s largest provider of innovative solutions for mobile, online and in-store payments, processing more than one in three transactions.

Booth #606

MORRIS NATIONAL INC

2235 Lapierre Lasalle, Quebec, H8N 1B7

T: (514) 512-1478

E: tsauvageau@morrisnational.com www.morrisnational.com

Morris National manufactures, imports, is exclusive distributor and licensee of leading confectionary brands that consumers

love and recognize! (Jell-O, Kraft, Nerds, Sweetarts, Fruit Snacks Booth #933

✪ MOTOROLA VALUE

ADDED DISTRIBUTOR

633 Granite Court

Pickering, ON, L1W 3K1

T: (416) 389-5636

E: tpurugganan@lenbrook.com www.lenbrookcanadasolutions.com

Lenbrook is the Canadian Value Added Distributor for Motorola Two-Way Radios and Body-Worn Cameras. Visit us to learn about the Curve Wi-Fi enhanced business radio! Booth #936

MUSKOKA BREWERY

1964 Muskoka Beach Rd Bracebridge, ON, P1L 1V4

T: (800) 881-4229

E: scott.davies@muskokabrewery.com www.muskokabrewery.com Muskoka Brewery offers a premium portfo lio of beverages including beers, spirits, and new alcohol-free Wandr, each as unique and refreshing as the region they’re from. Booth #1630

NDC EXPORTS (PVT) LTD.

Nadalagamuwa, Wadumunnegedara, 60204

T: (077) 771-3677

E: madhawa@cocomate.com www.cocomate.com

NDC Exports(Pvt)Ltd is a leading Sri Lankan manufacture and exporter of Coconut based food products, Ceylon spices and dried fruits products. Booth #1127

NESTLE CANADA INC.

25 SHEPPARD AVE WEST NORTH YORK, ONTARIO,M2N 6S8

T: (437) 253-9804

E: consumer.care@ca.nestle.com www.nestle.ca

Nestle Canada Inc. has a variety of food, beverage, and nutrition products to help you and your family live happier and healthier lives.

Booth #811

✪ NORTHERN DANCER SALES & MARKETING INC

1146 Glenridge Drive Oakville, Ontario, L6M2K7

T: (416) 705-0807

E: gingriselli@northerndancersales.com www.northerndancersales.com

Northern Dancer Sales sources ideas and best practices Globally, brings home those ideas to pioneer innovation locally, fulfilling consumer trends Nationally. Come meet our partners.

Booth #506, 506A

NOVATION FOODS INC

92 Caplan Ave

Barrie, Ontario, L4N 9J2

T: (905) 758-1021

E: jhunt@novationfoods.com www.novationfoods.com

Novation Foods specializes in great tasting Keto and gluten free products marketed under The Lonely Carb and PaneRiso brands across all retail channels. Booth #1825

✪ N’TAKE CUSTOM BAGS & PRODUCTS BY SYRACUSE

ENVIRO GROUP

2345 Stanfield Road, Suite 100 Mississauga, ON, L4Y 3Y3

E: s.mitchell@ntake.com www.ntake.com

Bags,Sustainable Bags; Packaging, Private Label Booth #1205

OIC FOODS

190 Statesman Drive

Mississauga,ON, L5S 1X7

T: (905) 502-7277

E: info@oicfoods.com www.oicfoods.com

PRODUCT: What we manufacture. The brands we carry. PROCESS: Source the right material and products. PEOPLE: The consumer. Brand partners. Retail partners. Our team. Booth #1824

OLD DUTCH FOODS LTD.

100 Bentall Street Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 2Y5

T: (905) 458-5986

E: consumercare@olddutchfoods.com www.olddutchfoods.ca

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

✪ ON GREEN GO SOLUTIONS

5800 Ambler Drive, #210 Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4J4

T: (855) 777-0999

E: sales@ongreengo.com www.ongreengo.com

Sustainable compostable take out packaging Supermarket Trays, Meals To-Go Trays. Clamshells, Deli containers, Coffee Cups, Soup Bowls, Meat & Produce Trays, Custom Print/Design. Booth #535

GROCERY INNOVATIONS

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26 2022 |

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

ONTARIO PORK

655 Southgate Dr

Guelph, ON, N1G 3W6

T: (416) 985-4122

E: ivan.teves@ontariopork.on.ca www.ontariopork.on.ca/retail

Ontario Pork offers free marketing and POS resources to retail and food service partners that share our commitment to locally raised Ontario pork. Booth #934

✪ OUT OF THE BOX PACKAGING

581 Trethewey Dr North York, Ontario, M6M4B8

T: (647) 546-0244

E: info@ootbinc.com www.ootbinc.com

BeRaw - Superfood Bites and Overnight Oats Milk - Dairy Free Milk Nana SpiceUnique Spice Blends CoPack/ Repack Experts. Booth #429

✪ PAN-OSTON LTD.

660 Neal Drive

Peterborough, Ontario, K9J 6X7

T: (800) 563-9182

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

✪ PEAK PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS INC

6956 Columbus Road Mississauga, Ontario, L5T 2G1

T: (647) 904-3813

E: info@pppinc.ca www.pppinc.ca

Leading distributor of grocery, natural wellness, and sports nutrition products. Offering healthier snack, beverage and con fectionery alternatives, natural supplements, personal care products, and more!”

Booth #703

PECO PALLET, INC.

2425 Matheson Boulevard East, 8th Floor

Mississauga, ON L4W 5K4 (416) 436-2456 lvegso@pecopallet.com www.pecopallet.com

PECO Pallet delivers high quality block pallets, responsive customer service, and a more sustainable supply chain throughout Canada and North America. Learn more at www.pecopallet.com. Booth #602

PEPSICO CANADA

2095 Matheson Boulevard East Mississauga, Ontario, 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 #909

✪ PIE WOOD FIRED PIZZA JOINT

18 Collier St

Barrie, Ontario, L4M 1G6

T: (705) 718-1415

E: frozenpie@piewoodpizza.com www.piewoodpizza.com

Frozen Wood Oven Pizzas for all retail. We carry 5 different skus and deliver anywhere within a 200km radius of Barrie. Booth #1732

PIM BRANDS CANADA

1595 Sixteenth Ave Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3N9

T: 647) 278-8747

E: ltomilin@pimbrands.com www.pimbrands.com

PIM Brands makes markets some of the finest and most popular Welch’s Fruit Snacks in North America. Booth #706

PLANTEIN CANADA 108-19100 Airport Way

Pitt Meadows, BC, V3Y0E2

T: (604) 570-0902

E: hello@plantein.ca www.plantein.ca

Plantein foods are about choice and providing an alternative source of nutritious and wholesome plant-based protein packed with all sorts of good stuff. Booth #445

POP DADDY SNACKS

11234 Lemen Road, Whitmore, Lake MI, 48189

T: (734) 550-9900

E: mark.sarafa@popdaddysnacks.com www.popdaddysnacks.com

These are BOLD SNACKS MADE with BIG HEART for our Pop Corn and Pretzels. Especially the EXCLUSVE CANADIAN MAPLE & BROWN BUTTER” Booth #734

PRELAM

300 Baig Blvd, suite C6 Moncton, NB, E1E1C8

T: (506) 857-0499

E: lucjalbert@prelam.com www.ezpur.com

Concept - EZ Pur Eco Laundry Detergent Refill Packs contain no water and can be mixed at home using your existing

laundry detergent jug. Technology - Our low suds formula works in all machine types, including HE models and rinses clear, removing residue from clothing. Formulation – Formulated with your health and home in mind, our detergent is 2X concentrated and made with plant & mineral based ingredients. Facts - Reducing environmental impact and CO2 emissions. Efficacy - EZ Pur Laundry Detergent is a high-performance detergent proven to remove tough stains as well as other leading brand detergents. Booth #1714

PROCTER & GAMBLE

4711 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON, M2N 6K8

T: (416) 730-4714

E: nazarec.tl@pg.com www.PG.CA

For over 100 years, P&G Canada has been providing trusted brands of superior quality and value that improve the lives of Canadians. Booth #625

QUAKER BAKERY BRANDS INC.

1207 N Mason Street Appleton, Wisconsin, 54914

T: (604) 454-4753

E: JDHofmeister@quakerbakery.com www.quakerbakery.com

Quaker Bakery offers a shelf stable pizza crust in 5 varieties. Ultra thin white in 12 & 7 size. Sprouted grain 12 Protein Classic. Booth #1502

REDFROG ENTERPRISES LT 11955 95a Ave Delta, BC, V4C 3W1

T: (778) 395-2992

E: redfrog_enterprises@yahoo.ca www.redfrogenterprises.com

Exhibiting Korean Groceries such as Haitai & Crown confectionery or Ginseng Chicken Soup. Booth #1133

✪ RIVERCITY INNOVATIONS 201-116 Research Drive Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3R3

T: (639) 398-2401

E: support@rivercityinnovations.ca www.rivercityinnovations.ca Powerful, automated temperature monitoring solutions for Cold Chain Inventory and Last Mile Delivery. Booth #1230

RIZ BRANDS INC

10 Milner Business Court Toronto, Ontario, M1B 3C6

T: (416) 616-0348

E: terry.ackerman@rizglobalfoods.com www.rizglobalfoods.com

Riz Brands Inc is your gateway to premium halal foods netting premium margins. CFIA inspected, gluten and allergen free, clean label and better for you. Booth #1740

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

ROTOBALE COMPACTION SOLUTIONS INC.

7232 Arthur Rd #5

Kenilworth, Ontario, N0G2E0

T: (416) 791-8354

E: info@rotobalecompaction.com www.rotobalecompaction.ca

Canadian manufacturer of waste and recycling compactors and vertical balers. Booth # 1034

✪ RTS RETAIL

1027 Industrial Place

St. Clements, ON, N0B 2M0

T: (800) 663-2803

E: dnorley@rtscompaniesinc.com www.rtsretail.com

RTS Retail has a full line of kiddie carts, cart corrals, merchandising products and fixtures as well as sanitation essentials. Custom design programs also available. Booth #1504

RUDOLPH FOODS COMPANY INC.

1100 Parker Square, Ste. 250, Flower Mound, TX, 75028

T: (484) 986-5196

E: mforbes@rudolphfoods.com www.southernrecipesmallbatch.ca

Southern Recipe Small Batch Pork Rinds. Be Big. Be Bold. Be Adventurous. Low Carb. KetoFriendly, Gluten Free. Collagen Protein. GREAT FLAVOURS. Booth #734

SAMYANG FOODS

104, Opaesan-ro 3-gil, Seongbuk-gu Seoul, Seoul, 2737

T: (822) 940-3455

E: jyong@samyangfoods.com www/samyangfoods.com

Samyang Foods introduces a variety of products, including the Samyang-ramen Brand, the world-popular spicy noodles Buldak brand, and the new dried noodles brand Tangle. Booth #1338

SAPUTO DAIRY PRODUCTS CANADA GP

101 Royal Group Crescent Vaughan, ON, L4H 1X9

T: (604) 444-7344

E: public.saputo@saputo.com www.saputo.ca

Manufacture/distributor of a vast range of fluid/cultured dairy products and specialty cheeses. Some of our brands include Neilson, Milk2Go, Armstrong and New plant based Vitalite! Booth #1419

✪ SELLERS PUBLISHING

161 John Roberts Road South Portland, Maine, 4106

T: (905) 770-0052

E: ashapiro@rsvp.com

www.rsvp.com

Sellers publishes RSVP®, Wicked Funny® and High Note® greeting cards, 200+ calendars, gift & trade books, and High Note® Premium Planners & Stationery.” Booth #614

SERVICECHANNEL

800-515 Legget DR. Ottawa, ON, K2K 3G5

T: (514) 569-7732

E: info@servicechannel.com www.servicechannel.com

ServiceChannel is the #1 SaaS platform for facilities management by multilocation brands. Our marketplace provides unprecedented transparency, efficiency, automation and insight to all participants. Booth #410

✪ SHELF EDGE SOLUTIONS

2425 Matheson Blvd. East, 8th Floor Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 5K4

T: (416) 419-3296

E: remery@shelfedgesolutions.com www.shelfedgesolutions.com

Shelf Edge Solutions, a full-service provider of electronic shelf labels and related store technology solutions. Discover your return on investment with electronic shelf labels today. Booth #834

SHINY STAR CANADA LTD

McPherson Street, MARKHAM, ON, L3R 3L3

T: (647) 608-4966

E: jayhe@shinystarcanada.com www.shinystarcanada.com

Asian Food Importer, Wholesaler and Distributor; Specific in Filipino Food. Brand Kopiko, Mogu Mogu, San Miguel, S&W KARA Booth #402

SIR SOLUTIONS

3565 rue Jarry Est Montreal, QC, H1Z 4K6

T: (514) 839-2502

E: mcournoyer@sirsolutions.com www.sirsolutions.com

SIR Solutions is a Canadian leader in point-of-sale software and integrated innovations (self-checkouts, E-commerce, electronic labels) for more than 25 years. Booth #1524

SOBEYS WHOLESALE

1020 64 Avenue NE Calgary, AB, T2E 7V8

T: (438) 459-1058

E: alexa.law@sobeys.com www.sobeyswholesale.com

Sobeys Wholesale is a progressive Canadian food distribution group committed to offering our customers quality products and services in a mutually beneficial partnership. Booth #1209

SOTOS LLP

180 Dundas St West, Suite 1200 Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1Z8

T: (416) 977-0007

E: info@sotos.ca www.sotosllp.com

Canada’s leading franchising, licensing and distribution law firm Booth #603

IICING FLAVOUR SHOTS

BY SPIIK INC.

420 Main St E #495 Milton , ON, L9T 5G3

T: (647) 270-7285

E: info@iicing.ca www.iicing.ca

iiCiNG is a liquid flavour enhancer you squirt into your alcohol, or non alcoholic beverage to give it a boost of flavour. Zero cals/sugar. Booth #424

✪ SPRUCEWOOD

HANDMADE COOKIE CO. 628 Ontario Street COBOURG, Ontario, K9A 3C4

T: (905) 372-0707

E: info@sprucewoodbrands.com www.sprucewoodbakery.com

Artisan shortbread cookies and savoury biscuits. Nut free Bakery, diabetic-friendly flavours Longest natural shelf life Come and sample; see new products at our booth. Booth #1636

ST-ALBERT CHEESE CO-OP INC.

150 St-Paul, CP/PO Box. 30 St-Albert, Ontario, K0A3C0

T: (613) 297-7171

E: info@fromagestalbert.com www.fromagestalbert.com Fresh and aged cheddar. Booth #1640

STM DISPLAY SALES INC.

2230 meadowpine boulevard Mississauga, ON, L5N 6H6

T: (905) 814-5252

E: info@stmdisplays.com www.stmdisplays.com

STM Display Sales is your source for Store Fixture/POP Display needs from steel shelving, slat wall, gondola systems, snap frames, hooks, to custom acrylics. Booth #1024

GROCERY

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES CANADIAN GROCERY’S LARGEST MEETINGS, EXHIBITION + CONFERENCE EVENT

OCTOBER 25 & 26

SUNSHINE FARMS

30043 Jane rd

Thamesville, Ontario, N0P2K0

T: (519) 692-4416

E: info@picklesplease.ca www.picklesplease.ca

We offer Conventional and certified organic pickled products. Everything is grown and processed in Canada Branded and private label available. Booth #1744

TASSOS FOODS INC

3621 Lakeshore Blvd west Unit 312 Etobicoke, Ontario, M8W 4W1

T: (416) 949-1766

E: sgeorgopoulos@rogers.com www.tassosfoods.com

we have Sauces, BBQ,Thai, Vegetarian and Gluten free Vegan, Vegan non GMO-mayo like no eggs Tartar - NO EGGS Cajun spice. Booth #1627

✪ TASTE OF NATURE FOODS INC

230 Ferrier Street

Markham, Ontario, L3R 2Z5

T: (905) 415-8218

E: craig.stuart@tasteofnature.com www.tasteofnature.com

Our organic bars are non-GMO project verified, certified gluten-free, and made in Canada only with real ingredients. Booth #1743

THE COCA COLA COMPANY

355 king street east Toronto, Ontario, M5A1L1

T: (514) 618-6835

E: consumer.relations@coca-cola.com www.coca-cola.ca

We bring people the brands and beverages that make everyday moments more enjoyable.

Booth #1409

THE GREAT SPIRITS BAKING COMPANY LLC

103 W. Lockwood Ave. Suite 202

St. Louis , MO, 63119

T: (314) 714-6056

E: mike@greatspirits bakingcompany.com www.greatspiritsbakingcompany.com

DELECTABLE BAKED GOODS GREAT EXPERIENCES SPIRITED CELEBRATIONS

SUPERIOR QUALITY serving up good times with The Great Spirits Baking Company helps you make every occasion —big or small.

Booth #734

THE J.M. SMUCKER CO.

80 Whitehall Dr

Markham, ON, L3R 0P3

T: (905) 940-7210

E: kyle.cygelfarb@jmsmucker.com www.smuckers.ca

CONGRESS CENTRE, NORTH BUILDING

The J.M. Smucker Co. is proud to introduce new Folgers Coffee, Robin Hood 00 Style Pizza Flour, Milk bone Stacked, and more! Booth #1019

THE LAMB COMPANY

10 Shorncliffe Rd, Etobicoke Toronto, ON, M9B 3S3

T: (416) 526-1996

E: eventca@thelambcompany.com www.thelambcompany.com

For over 50 years, The Lamb Company has been the leading North American supplier of grass fed lamb, grass fed beef, and venison. Booth #728

✪ THE LOW CARB CO 281 Heath St E Toronto, Ontario, M4T 1T3

T: (647) 981-9793

E: jack@thelowcarbco.ca www.thelowcarbco.ca Smart. Healthy. Delicious. Booth #435

THINKCOLD SOLUTIONS

140-7885 North Fraser Way Burnaby, BC, V5J 5M7

T: (866) 813-7757

E: info@thinkcold.ca www.thinkgs.ca/thinkcold ThinkCold Solutions offers a fresh take on an industry frozen in time. Powered by VebaBox, we offer an innovative approach to Cold Chains of tomorrow. Booth #803

TIMES INTERNATIONAL SERVICES (PVT) LTD

162, 2/2, Mahavidyalaya Mawatha, Colombo 13, Western, 1300

T: (077) 108-3241

E: victor@timesint.com www.timesint.com

We are one of major spices export company in Sri Lanka and our main products are Cinnamon, Pepper, Cloves, Nutmeg, Mace and coconut products, etc. Booth #1127

TRAJECTORY BEVERAGE PARTNERS

435 North Service Rd W Oakville, Ontario, L6M4X8

T: (905) 351-8613

E: pseeger@trajectorybev.com www.trajectorybeverages.com

A Canadian company proudly owning and representing a variety of award-winning wines, beers and spirits such as Josh Cellars and 20 Bees Wines.

Booth #835

✪ TREE OF LIFE CANADA

6185 McLaughlin Road Mississauga, Ontario, L5R3W7

T: (416) 317-6078

E: customercare.mississauga@treeoflife.com www/treeoflife.ca

We are curators of unique brands, bringing elevated food and beverage experiences to Canadians.

Booth #1108,1108A

TRG CANADA

815 Middlefield Rd. Scarborough, ON, M1V 2P9

T: (440) 471-8098

E: marketing@trgsolutions.com www.trgsolutions.ca

TRG solves complex operational challenges by pairing your organization with bold endpoint solutions designed to streamline your operational efficiency.

Booth #1715

TRIO BAKERY INC

3750A Laird Road #2-5 Mississauga, Ontario, L5L 0A

T: (647) 224-4227

E: mdkesler@triobakery.ca www.triobakery.ca

We are combining great quality of local produces, old world recipe and fully automated production for delicious taste in every serving of our borek. Booth #1633

✪ TROUW NUTRITION CANADA INC

600 James St S

St Marys, Ontario, N4X 1C7

T: (905) 741-7896

E: mike.williams@trouwnutrition.com www.trouwnutrition.ca/en-ca/ companionpets/

Trouw Nutrition Canada Inc is premium pet food manufacturer in St Marys Ontario Canada. We produce and sell Nutri Choice Dry Dog and Cat Food. Booth #414

TRUE NORTH NUTRITION

88 East Beaver Creek, Unit 1, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 4A8

T: (403) 909-2652

E: customerservice@ truenorthnutrition.com www.truenorthnutrition.com

For 25+ years, True North Nutrition has provided Canadian Retailers with Industry Leading Performance Nutrition: Featuring Built Bar, Mars Protein, Axe & Sledge, ammoth Protein Bar. Booth #430

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

✪ TRUFFLE SYSTEMS

10650 113 street NW

Edmonton, AB, T5H 3H6

T: (780) 298-6411

E: sean@trufflesystems.io www.trufflesystems.io

Truffle GoBox; the next step in the evolution of & Click and Collect & Creates a seamless, safe, and effective system for grocery pickup. Booth #512

TUTTO GOURMET FOODS INC

175 SUN PAC BLVD UNIT 4

BRAMPTON, Ontario, L6S 5Z6

T: (905) 846-8886

E: Maurizio@tuttogourmet.com www.tuttogourmet.com

Importers and distributors of top Italian food brands as well as local cheese manufacturers. Booth #1509

TWI FOODS INC.

40 Shaft Road

Etobicoke, Ontario, M9W4M2

T: (647) 865-5925

E: info@crispyjustbaked.com www.crispyjustbaked.ca

A leading manufacturer of Ethnic and Mainstream top quality baked products such as Naan, Roti, Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and other specialty items. Booth #1626

UNITED FLORAL DISTRIBUTORS

1050 Canboro Rd

Fenwick, Ontario, L0S1C0

T: (905) 892-4766

E: contact@ufdcanada.com www.ufdcanada.com

We offer a variety of goods including cut flowers, greens, plants, Christmas greens, bouquets and home and garden decor. We strive to anticipate and satisfy! Booth #406

UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH

50 Stone Rd E

Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1

T: (226) 218-7137

E: recruit@uoguelph.ca www.uoguelph.ca/coop

Canada’s Food University is your contact for hiring students & alumni from +90 majors. Drop by & discover how easy it is to hire! Booth #1327

VAN HOLTEN’S INC.

703 West Madison Street Waterloo, WI, 53594

T: (608) 334-1880

E: ericg@vanholtenpickles.com www.vanholtenpickles.com

We are the family-owned maker & manufacturer of the original Pickle-InA-Pouch Fat Free, Low Calorie, Low Carb, No Trans Fats, Kosher Certified, Cholesterol Free, Vegan, Booth #734

✪ VANILLABLOSSOM FLAVORS

#21 6809 Kirkpatrick Cres.

Saanichton, BC, V8M1Z8

T: (236) 992-9118

E: info@vanillablossom.com www.vanillablossom.com

Vanillablossom Flavors is a Canadian small business on Vancouver Island, offering premium vanilla, flavour products and spices. Booth #416

✪ VILLA RAVIOLI

11 765 4 R.D.P

Montreal, QC, H1E 3C2

T: (514) 648-4552

E: claude.gagne@villaravioli.com www.villaravioli.com

We offered wide selection of stuffed pasta with cheese, meat, vegetables, meat less, tofu, etc., Tortellini, Ravioli, Manicotti, Cannelloni and many other. Booth #422

VON SLICK’S FINISHING TOUCH MADE WITH REAL BUTTER 84086 RD 3N

Sprague, Manitoba, R0A 1Z0

T: (204) 381-6818

E: info@vonslicks.ca www.vonslicks.ca

Von Slick’s offers six different finishing butter flavours. We sell the tubes frozen and packaged in an ecofriendly paper push tube. Booth #408

WANZL NORTH AMERICA

700 Technibilt Drive Newton, North Carolina, 28658

T: (847) 275-4231

E: CustomerService.US.NEW@wanzl.com www.wanzl.com/na

Wanzl is the leading global supplier of B2B solutions for Retailers and offers a portfolio of diverse products, solutions, and innovations. Booth #619

✪ WHOLESOME CRAVINGS 103 Manville Rd Scarborough, Ontario, M1L4H9

T: (416) 725-9474

E: info@wholesomecravings.ca www.wholesomecravings.ca

Our premium grab-and-go salads, sandwiches, and wraps are perfect for people on the go who want to eat well without sacrificing flavour or time.

Booth #1631

WORGA NATURALS

PRIVATE LIMITED

152G, Meepavita

Udamapitigama, Dompe Western Province 11680

T: (071) 399-2673

E: nishantha@worganaturals.com www.worganaturals.com

Innovative partner for preserved tropical fruits/vegan food from Sri Lanka, with certified organic and ethical standards to bringing you the best from the nature. Booth #1127

WORKPLACE SAFETY & PREVENTION SERVICES

5100 Creekbank Road, Suite 300 Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 0A1

T: (289) 544-8048

E: customercare@wsps.ca www.wsps.ca

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services™ is a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting Ontario’s workers and businesses across the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors. Booth #1603

✪ ZOE IMPORTS INC.

806 Rue de la Falaise

Pincourt, QC, J7W 0H5

T: (514) 823-4030

E: zoeoliveoil@gmail.com www.zoeoliveoil.com

Producer of Gourmet olive oil From Greece and Importer of Gourmet Foods from Europe. Zoë products are Perfect for the retail food Industry. Booth #427

A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES

EXHiBiTOR By CATEGORy

ADvERTISING/MEDIA/ MARKETING PROGRAMS

Colour Innovations/ Raining Brand & Design

Canadian Grocer

Empowered Brand Marketing geekspeak Commerce

Chicken Farmers of Canada

EcoTank Canada

Ontario Pork

Ketchum Manufacturing Inc. Instacart

Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI)

Grocery Business Magazine

Western Grocer magazine

Canada Beef

AUTOMATION SySTEMS

JRTech Solutions

Truffle Systems

Just Instruments Inc.

Danavation Technologies Corp.

BAGS

Mirvik Uniforms & Merchandise

N’Take Custom Bags & Products by Syracuse Enviro Group

BAKED GOODS: FRESH/ FROZEN/REFRIGERATED

The Great Spirits Baking Company LLC

Famous Potato Rolls and Bread

Quaker Bakery Brands Inc.

Manoucher Fine Foods Inc.

Affinity Group

Casa Bonita Foods, Inc.

TWI Foods Inc.

Gala Bakery

Pie - Wood Fired Pizza Joint

BIMBO CANADA

Mom’s Best Gourmet Foods

Novation Foods Inc.

Sprucewood Handmade Cookie Co.

BARCODING EQUIPMENT/SySTEMS

TRG Canada

BEAUTy & PERSONAL CARE

CROSSMARK Canada Inc.

Concord National LLP

Procter & Gamble

BEER/WINE/CIDER

Trajectory Beverage Partners

McClelland Premium ImportsBeer and Non-Alcoholic Beer

Cider Keg

FCC

BEvERAGES

iiCiNG Flavour Shots by Spiik Inc.

Color Brands

Muskoka Brewery

Door County Coffee Advantage Solutions

JFAZ Corporation

Dairy Fountain Inc.

Clearsips

DoBusiness JAMAICA

Danone Canada

A Lassonde Inc.

THE COCA COLA COMPANY PepsiCo Canada

CARDS

Sellers Publishing Avanti Press, Inc.

CEREAL

General Mills

CHECKOUT EQUIPMENT

Pan-Oston Ltd.

COFFEE & TEA

BASILUR TEA

Door County Coffee Kraft Heinz

Alfa Cappuccino Imports Inc.

The J.M. Smucker Co.

Habasha Coffee

The J.M. Smucker Co.

CONDIMENTS & RELISHES

Northern Dancer Sales & Marketing Inc.

Samyang Foods

Hot Mamas Foods Inc.

Tassos Foods Inc.

CONFECTIONERy

Color Brands

OIC FOODS

Redfrog Enterprises Ltd.

PIM Brands Canada

JAYALANKA SUPPLIERS

Morris National Inc.

Brittles `n More Ltd

CONSULTING SERvICES

Sotos LLP CIS Group Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

DAIRy & EGGS

EggSolutions

L. H. Gray and Son

Saputo Dairy Products Canada GP Lactalis Canada

Burnbrae Farms Ltd.

DISTRIBUTOR/WHOLESALE

Motorola Value Added Distributor

Sobeys Wholesale

Redfrog Enterprises Ltd.

Local e-Mart

JAABCO GLOBAL INC

Peak Performance Products Inc.

United Floral Distributors

Conglom ThinkCold Solutions

Dyna-Pro Environmental

FINANCIAL SERvICES

BDC

Federated Insurance Company of Canada Bank of Montreal

FMS SOLUTIONS

TUESDAy, OCT. 25, 2022

Conference 9:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:30PM

WEDNESDAy, OCT. 26, 2022

Conference 7:00AM – 11:00AM Trade Show 11:00AM – 4:00PM

#GICSHOW22 | DOWNLOAD SHOW APP >

FOODS: DRy

Italpasta Limited

Acosta

Samyang Foods Co., Ltd.

FOODS: ETHNIC

Shiny Star Canada Ltd.

Karmali’s

Cavendish Farms

FOODS: FROZEN

Kawartha Dairy

Happy POps

McCain Foods

Alsafa Foods Canada Ltd.

Lola’s Latin Food

Villa Ravioli

Trio Bakery Inc

Tree of Life Canada

Von Slick’s Finishing TouchMade with Real Butter

FOODS: HEALTH

Wholesome Cravings

FOODS: KOSHER

Jakeman's Maple Products

FOODS: NATURAL/ ORGANIC

Henry’s Tempeh

Taste of Nature Foods Inc. Sunshine Farms

Cha’s Organics

FOODS: PREPARED

Dennis’ Horseradish

FOODS: SNACK

Fun Tyme Foods Ltd.

From Farm

FOODSERvICE

Costco Business Centre

GBS Foodservice Equipment Inc.

Out of the Box Packaging

Henry’s Tempeh

FOODS: SPECIALTy

County Fare

Eat Just, Inc.

Zoe Imports Inc.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Prelam

Liv’n Green Corp.

Greenlabs Chemical Solutions

IMPORT/EXPORT

NDC Exports (Pvt) Ltd.

Times International Services (Pvt) Ltd.

LABELLING & PRICING EQUIPMENT

A Smart Label Solutions Inc.

DIGI Canada Inc.

Shelf Edge Solutions

MATERIAL HANDLING & BACKROOM EQUIPMENT

Wanzl North America

MEAT: BEEF

Riz Brands Inc.

The Lamb Company Arneg Canada

MEAT PROCESSING

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. PACKAGING

CiMa-Pak Corporation

Ishida Canada Inc.

Enjay Converters

On Green Go Solutions

PAPER PRODUCTS

Kruger Products L.P.

PET FOOD & SUPPLIES

Trouw Nutrition Canada Inc.

POS SySTEMS & EQUIPMENT

PRIvATE LABEL

Hussmann Canada Inc.

Moneris

SIR Solutions

PRIvATE LABEL

Plantein Canada

Caledon Farms

REFRIGERATION

Kysor Warren Epta

SEAFOOD

Lagoon Seafood

CANADIAN FISHING COMPANY

SECURITy SySTEMS

Marketing Impact Limited

Howell Data Systems

SINANGE

JRTech Solutions

SPICES

Vanillablossom Flavors

Hela Spice Canada

STORE FURNISHINGS & DESIGN

DRAKKAR INTERNATIONAL, Inc.

SUSTAINABLE BAGS PACKAGING

PECO Pallet, Inc.

TECH/IT ServiceChannel Rivercity Innovations Globe POS Systems

TRADE ASSOCIATION

Food Export Northeast/Midwest

TRAINING EDUCATION

University of Guelph

TRANSPORTATION CHEP

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Rotobale Compaction Solutions Inc.

WATER

In-Store Water Systems Inc.

Instore Products LTD.