It’s such an honour and privilege to have the opportunity each year to welcome the entire retail industry to Retail Council of Canada’s STORE Conference. Featuring two days of incredible speakers discussing an array of thought-provoking content, gala dinners to celebrate the best and brightest within retail, tremendous solutions partner exhibits, and lots of time to network and share ideas with colleagues and industry peers, the conference is always abuzz with energy and excitement.
RCCSTORE24 was no exception, exceeding expectations and proving to be the best edition of the conference yet. And, we’ve been able to capture as many of the most significant highlights and happenings as possible within this special RCCSTORE24 issue of Canadian Retailer magazine.
I hope you and your teams enjoyed this year’s conference, and that you’ll appreciate and share this special issue to relive the excitement and enthusiasm that surrounded it.
I can’t wait to see you at RCCSTORE25!
Sincerely,
Diane J. Brisebois
4 CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
RCCSTORE24: addressing the issues impacting Canadian retail
RCCSTORE24 featured a more impressive array of speakers, topics, solutions partners, and networking opportunities than ever before.
16 GALA AWARDS
Celebrating excellence at RCCSTORE24’s galas
The best and brightest throughout the Canadian retail and grocery sectors were recognized during festivities at two incredible evening events.
24 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
The beauty of independent retailing
Jennifer Grimm, Founder of LUX Beauty, was honoured for her achievements and success as an independent retailer.
28 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
A lifetime of dedication and success honoured President and CEO of Bentley & Co LTD, Walter Lamothe, receives prestigious retailing honour in recognition of a legacy that continues to grow.
32 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Pick of the crop
Dr. George Soleas, President and CEO of LCBO, honoured with Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year award amid continued success and growth.
46 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Recognizing a career dedicated to grocery and retail industry growth and innovation
Dino Bianco, CEO of Kruger Products, presented with award for decades of commitment toward continuous improvement of the industry.
40 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Setting the trail afire
President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., Michael Medline, recognized for his significant trailblazing contributions to the Canadian grocery industry.
RCCSTORE24: addressing the issues impacting Canadian retail
RCCSTORE24 Conference featured a more impressive array of speakers, topics, solutions partners, and networking opportunities than ever before
It’snot often that all of the biggest names and scores of representatives from the incredibly vast tapestry of brands and formats in Canadian retail get together under one roof, for even the shortest period of time. In fact, it happens only once every year at Retail Council of Canada’s STORE Conference. And the 2024 edition certainly didn’t disappoint, showcasing the most compelling content discussed and delivered by visionary speakers and innovative retailers to an outstanding audience filled with the industry’s decision-makers and future leaders.
Day One
Before the conference’s agenda of sessions and content kicked off on Tuesday, May 28, at the Toronto Congress Centre, opening remarks were provided by RCC President and CEO, Diane J. Brisebois, and the association’s Vice President of Member Services and Marketing, Santo Ligotti. The pair welcomed buzzing attendees amid an energy-filled atmosphere, promising two days full of some of the most engaging and
thought-provoking retail content possible. What follows are highlights of the incredible lineup of RCCSTORE24 content, along with an insight or two shared by some of the conference’s dynamic speakers and retailers.
Reimaging an iconic brand
The conference’s main stage sessions began with an intimate and candid conversation between television personality Sangita Patel and Michèle Boudria, President & CEO of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, concerning the future of the hamburger icon. Boudria shared the company’s plans to innovate, leveraging technology in order to satisfy the tastes and needs of the digital consumer, with a focus on fostering community connection and strengthening partnerships with local producers.
“It’s really all about ensuring that the communities in which we operate thrive,” she says. “When we open a new location in a community, we give an opportunity to a local entrepreneur
to become the owner/operator of that location. In turn, they help create jobs and contribute to the local economy. We’re also doing a lot of work with Canadian farmers, making sure that it’s an industry that continues to be successful and supported. These kinds of things reflect who we are. It’s imbedded in everything we do. And we really challenge ourselves to step up every opportunity we have.”
Harnessing the potential of generative artificial intelligence
The power and potential of generative AI is one of the most talked about topics despite where you go or who you talk to in the retail industry today. Google Canada’s Managing Director and Head of Retail, Eric Morris, and Matthew Kropp, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, scratch the surface of the capabilities that this transformative technology presents retailers with respect to delivering the greatest possible business impact going forward,
“The future is for the risk-takers. Trying to play it safe is one of the worst things you can do during transformative times. You’ve got to face headwinds with confidence and make rapid decisions with respect to innovation in order to keep up with the consumer who’s always changing and evolving.”
- Diana Dimitian, Global Commerce Executive
suggesting three areas to focus on when it comes to developing a generative AI strategy for the business.
“Deploy the software,” says Kropp. “Generative AI is going to seep into every piece of software that your company uses. You’ve also got to reshape processes. Think about functions like sales, marketing, HR, legal, finance, and supply chain. Any one of these parts of our companies can be partly automated in order to enhance efficiencies and productivity. And then, you’ve got to invent something new. This is a new technology. We didn’t have access to it two years ago. So, how does this change our products, services, offerings, and ways of working with our customers?”
European trends inspiring innovation
With an eye on inspiring attendees to think big and outside of the box (or border), RCC’s Senior Retail Advisor, Michael E. LeBlanc, sat down with Diana Dimitian, Global Commerce Executive formerly of Levi’s and Wolverine, to take a gander across the pond at some of the prevailing European trends and styles. Dimitian described her years in Europe working for Levi’s, sharing a lesson that she learned that retailers in Canada can apply to their businesses as the industry continues to navigate through disruption and uncertainty.
“I learned to make bolder decisions faster when it comes to addressing change,” she says. “The future is for the risk-takers. Trying to play it safe is one of the worst things you can do during transformative times. You’ve got to face headwinds with confidence and make rapid decisions with respect to innovation in order to keep up with the consumer who’s always changing and evolving.”
The impact of sustainability on business
The importance of environmental sustainability had it’s time in the main stage spotlight, with
Catherine O’Brien, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Nestlé Canada Inc. engaging in dynamic conversations with three retail sustainability executives: Maya Colombani, Chief Sustainability & Human Rights Officer, L’Oréal Canada; Derrick Emsley, CEO & Founder of Tentree; and Kimi Walker, Associate Vice President, Product Stewardship, Canadian Tire Corporation. Each of the three conversations explored the notion of a circular economy, innovative technologies, and more, with the urgency of the issue summed up emphatically by L’Oreal Canada’s Colombani.
“When we talk about environmental issues today, it’s no longer about saving the planet,” she asserts. “It’s about saving us, too. We need to have the ability to say that what we have been doing is not working anymore. As businesses, we possess a lot of power within the communities that we serve. But we also have a duty, a responsibility to contribute more positively to the environment. It means we need to change how we do things, and the way we design and develop our products, considering everything, including ingredients and formula, sourcing and packaging. It’s a way of approaching the business that’s going to require a radical change of mindset for many.”
Adapting to the future
Discussing the ways in which home furniture giant IKEA Canada is continuously evolving and adapting to change to consistently meet the needs of the Canadian consumer, the company’s CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer, Selwyn Crittendon, provided the closing keynote and shared a number of his team’s initiatives and goals when it comes to the impact they have on their customers, communities they serve, and the environment, while offering some advice to those seeking to properly support their own efforts.
“These are a few of the messages that get me out of bed every single day to do what’s right,” he
Concurrent sessions
In addition to the thought-provoking content delivered on the main stage at RCCSTORE24, the conference also offered a number of breakaway concurrent sessions throughout the event for attendees to take in.
From innovative ways to optimize ROI with modern in-store experiences and an exploration of the new age of loyalty programs, to digital merchandising and the industry’s fight against organized retail crime, concurrent sessions provided audiences with a sharper view of retail’s most pressing issues.
Top: Panelists discuss the need for “Forging Stronger Defenses Against Organized Retail Crime”.
Bottom: Experts explore the ways by which to “Optimize ROI with a Modern In-Store Experience”.
says. “Be clear. Be clear about your intentions. Be clear about what you need to do with your business, your purpose, your brand. Be clear about who you’re serving. Be clear. Live your values. Know who you are. Be authentic to yourself. Show up. But live your values. Be consistent. You’ve got to be here today, tomorrow and the day after. Be available for those who need you every single day.”
Day Two
A matter of belonging
Main stage content on the second day of the conference commenced with a genuine and engaging conversation between Steve Worthy, Founder and CEO of Worthy Retail, and Thomas Haupt, Country General Manager for Sephora Canada, about people, culture and belonging at Sephora
“We need to role up our sleeves in order to ensure the most impactful transformation. We need to make sure our insides match our outsides – that we aren’t just saying it – and that as senior leaders, we live alongside our teams and take part in the work being done so it gets done in a meaningful way for all.”
- Thomas Haupt, Sephora Canada
Canada. Haupt explains the way in which the company views diversity, the strategy it employs to ensure its actuality, and the need for senior leaders to be involved in the work and process.
“As leaders, we have an obligation to create environments in which people can succeed and have really rich conversations,” he says. “What I’ve learned as I’ve grown within my role and worked with teams doing incredible work, is that it’s not just about saying that we need to be more diverse as an organization. We need to role up our sleeves in order to ensure the most impactful transformation. We need to make sure our insides match our outsides – that we aren’t just saying it – and that as senior leaders, we live alongside our teams and take part in the work being done so it gets done in a meaningful way for all.”
Turning challenges into opportunities
One of the most influential, albeit at times controversial, speakers currently touring the retail circuit is the Retail Prophet, Doug Stephens. Exploring the unique timestamp the industry is currently working within, one that’s presenting a plethora of challenges to overcome and opportunities to realize at the intersect of innovation and disruption, Stephens shares his pillars of future competitive advantage, proposing that retail leaders view competition and their quest for profit through a slightly different lens moving forward.
“I want you to think about what you want,” he says. “Put your company aside for a moment. We know what they want – they want a good quarter and a good year. But what do you want? What do you want for your family and your children? What do you want for your community? Now imagine that what you want is what everyone in the Canadian industry wants. Imagine that they feel just like you, that they believe that we as an industry can not only do better for society, but we can capitalize on that as well. Now imagine if every retailer in the world felt the same way. If
that’s the case, I promise you that retail will save humanity.”
Leveraging the customer journey to full effect
In a data-intense session that attempted to highlight and tackle some of the more significant issues impacting Canadian retail today and businesses efforts to grow, Jan Kestle, President and Founder of Environics Analytics, illustrates how retailers and their teams can leverage the latest tools and technology to translate daily headlines into actionable plans.
“Data presents retailers and their teams with an incredible amount of potential to help understand key demographic changes, economic headwinds and market forces that can impact the business,” she says. “Combined with artificial intelligence, data can support and inform marketing and the messaging that’s developed for the consumer. It can also help measure things like response. In the end, we as an industry have a responsibility to use the technology and the data we collect to engage and delight customers and deliver the best experience possible.”
The creation of exceptional retail experiences
In the end, retail will always be about creating experiences that delight, excite and meet the needs of the customer. With this notion and objective in mind, Peter Hughes, National Customer Experience Practice Leader with KPMG Canada speaks with both Tommaso Brusò, CEO of Eataly North America, and Sylvain Michel, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Change at Holt Renfrew, about today’s omnichannel retail shopping experience, and ways to push customer service to new heights.
“Our focus is really on continuing to develop our brands and establishing exactly who we are as a company,” said Holt Renfrew’s Michel. “This includes facilitating community connection through big events which can really help us express nationally as well as locally what’s
Retail as a Career
Each year during RCCSTORE Conference festivities, with the help of retail sponsors, RCC shows its support for the promotion of retail as a career, awarding a lucky group of students from across the country with all access passes, including travel and accommodation, to the conference, and $1,000 scholarships to help facilitate their education. Scholarships are presented on stage at the Excellence in Retailing Awards gala.
Retail Education Scholarships are awarded to students working in retail and who are entering or currently enrolled in a retail-related program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.
In addition, three students are selected to be honoured with special scholarship prizes in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and passion for retail. This year’s recipients are:
Canadian Retail Hall of Fame Scholarship: Hafiz Umair Islam ($3,000)
John C. Williams Scholarship: Glancy Macwan ($2,000)
happening with the brand. We’re looking at strengthening our connection with our high value customers and continuing to push the envelope concerning the ways we provide them with special experiences. By doing this, we continue to reenforce the foundations of the company, setting us up for the future.”
Navigating
challenge and change
Closing out the conference’s incredible lineup of content was a hotly anticipated session that featured a conversation between Patricia Baker, Founder & CEO of Waterford PB Consulting, and Canadian Tire Corporation President and CEO, Greg Hicks, about the challenges involved in navigating a rapidly changing world. Hicks discussed the company’s strategy to address current and emerging challenges, while sharing with attendees where he thinks the most meaningful and significant opportunity is for retailers to grow going forward.
“Where I think there’s real opportunity around emotional connection is through the customer experience. By leveraging data and the insights that it makes available, retailers can really enhance their understanding of the customer, as well as the way they serve them.”
- Greg Hicks, Canadian Tire Corporation
“Where I think there’s real opportunity around emotional connection is through the customer experience,” he asserts. “By leveraging data and the insights that it makes available, retailers can really enhance their understanding of the customer, as well as the way they serve them. But you’ve got to structure the data properly and govern it properly, enabling it to be democratized across the organization with a single view of the customer. It’s a lot of work getting there. But creating that 360-degree view of the customer is what today’s breakthrough technology is enabling, providing retailers with a means to modernize their business and the way they do things.”
A
conference to remember
Whether attending dynamic sessions delivered by first class speakers, perusing the exhibitor floor filled with the latest cutting-edge retail solutions, networking with industry colleagues and associates, or soaking up some of the excitement at the star-studded retail awards galas, RCCSTORE24 attendees will have left the event with their fill. And, RCC’s president and CEO Diane J. Brisebois hopes that they left feeling more passionately about the industry than they did when they arrived.
“We’ve all got the opportunity to work within such an incredible and exciting industry,” she says. “And I think it’s difficult to come to an event like RCCSTORE24 and not feel inspired, energized, renewed and full of pride to be a Canadian retailer today. The achievements that this great industry has enjoyed over the past year, forging ahead and innovating during such challenging times, are truly amazing. It really is encouraging to see retailers from coast-to-coast show up to celebrate everything that’s great about this industry, and we hope to see them back again next year for RCCSTORE25!”
For more information about RCCSTORE24, and ways to become involved at RCCSTORE25, visit the conference’s official website.
Congratulations George Soleas
on your Distinguished Retailer of the Year Award.
Truly well-deserved recognition!
Please enjoy responsibly.
Retail Council of Canada and the association’s Board of Directors dedication and support toward the continued growth of the Canadian helped make the 2024 edition of STORE -
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BRONZE
Directors would like to thank all of this year’s STORE sponsors for their Canadian retail industry. Your contribution is very much appreciated and - Canada’s retail conference - the best yet!
Celebrating excellence at RCCSTORE24’s gala awards
The best and brightest throughout the Canadian retail and grocery sectors were recognized during festivities at two incredible evening events
Asidefrom the best-in-class content that Retail Council of Canada’s (RCC) annual RCCSTORE Conference has become known for throughout the years, it’s also the host of two awards dinners. Concluding each day of sessions, the events honour excellence within the retail and grocery sectors. Serving as a who’s who of the Canadian industry, each event was attended by the very best that Canadian retail has to offer, with many of whom waiting patiently for the winner’s announcement for one of a number of different awards granted in recognition of industry excellence. Despite the list of winning retailers, however, each dinner was testament to the incredible achievements of the industry as a whole and its collective resilience and innovative spirit.
Excellence in Retailing Awards
The Excellence in Retailing Awards (ERA) is an annual awards program that honours the best and brightest operating within the industry from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Hosted by Canadian television personality and model, Brittnee Blair,
the festivities, held on Tuesday, May 28, were engaging and inspiring. In fact, according to RCC President and CEO, Diane J. Brisebois, the evening was a relatively accurate representation of everything that’s great about retail in Canada.
“Each and every year, I’m blown away by the unbelievable talent and thoughtful leadership the retail industry has to boast,” she says with pride. “These are the innovators and the trailblazers that are helping to guide Canadian retail into the future, developing solutions to challenges, creating a whole new level of brand engagement, and forever exploring and discovering ways by which they can enhance the entire retail experience for their customers and employees. The industry never ceases to amaze me. And, this year’s group of ERA winners are perhaps more impressive than we’ve ever seen in terms of the success that they’ve managed to achieve in the face of such adverse conditions.”
This year’s installment of the ERA awards recognized incredible commitments to superior customer service, progressive business solu-
tions, and operational leadership in 12 different categories, including E-Commerce Experience; Environmental Leadership; Health, Safety & Wellness; In-Store Experience and Design; Loss Prevention; Omni-Channel, Philanthropic Leadership; Pop-Up Experience & Design, Retail Marketing; Supply Chain Innovations, In-Store Merchandising; and Talent Development. It’s a range of awards that pretty much covers the entire gamut of retail excellence. And, as Brisebois suggests, winners within each category are but one example of the many retailers and brands working tirelessly to improve retail from every angle.
“It might sound very cliché, but it seems to become more difficult each year to decide on the winners of each of these categories,” she says. “All finalists for the awards are so very deserving of the praise and recognition of the rest of the industry, as are many retailers and brands that were not nominated. The entire industry, right across the country, really are a group that
are unlike most others you’ll meet working within other industries. And an evening like the ERA gala really serves to illustrate quite well the tremendous impact retail innovation has on so many Canadian consumers every single day, and the ways in which they’re all working so hard to enhance the experience they offer and the value that consumers receive from engaging with them.”
The ERA awards gala was also the stage for the announcement of the 2024 Awards of Distinction, which honour individuals who have made unique, exceptional, and lasting impacts within the retail industry in Canada. To read more about this year’s Awards of Distinction honourees, see pages 24-40.
To view a full list of winners of the 2024 Excellence in Retailing Awards, and for information concerning the 2025 installment of the gala event, visit the official Excellence in Retailing Awards website.
Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards
On Wednesday, May 29, closing out the two-plus day retail conference, all eyes were on Canadian grocery as RCC recognized the brands and individuals making the greatest positive impact on the industry. Also hosted by Brittnee Blair, the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards – the 31st installment of the annual presentation – recognize outstanding new products that can be found in grocery stores all across the country in food, non-food, and private label categories. It was an evening that was just as exciting and exilherating for attendees as the previous night’s ERA awards. It’s something Alison Baxter, RCC’s Senior Director, Nutrition and Social Responsibility, says is truly a reflection of the passion with which those working within the Canadian grocery sector bring to their jobs every day.
“The grocery sector in Canada is a really incredible sector to work with,” she says. “The pace at which grocers need to work and innovate in order to keep up and stay ahead of the latest consumer trends, government regulations, pack-
aging bylaws, and so many other factors at play, is amazing. In fact, it’s pretty incredible they’re able to do such a tremendous job serving the food and dietary needs of Canadians every day while addressing these challenges. There’s no question the last number of years have presented Canadian grocers with a range of obstacles to overcome. An event like the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards is a fantastic way to honour excellence within the industry, and to recognize the innovation that continues to drive the sector forward.”
Awards were presented this year within 32 different categories, recognizing achievements in everything from Savory Snacks and Frozen or Refrigerated Prepared Foods & Entrees to the very best in Confectionary & Shelf Stable Desserts, Pet Needs, and Baby Care, and just about everything in between. Winners within each category exemplify the very best when it comes to new product development and innovation in today’s grocery stores.
Five special Awards were also bestowed at the gala, presenting Sobeys Inc. with the Excellence
in Ethnic Food award for its Chalo! Signature Basmati Rice; Demetres with the All-Canadian award for its Demetres Ice Creams; Big Mountain Foods with the Innovation & Originality award for its Soy Free Tofu; Balzac’s Coffee Roasters with the Innovative Packaging award for its Balzac’s Coffee Roasters Anniversary Blend; and Federated Co-operatives Limited with the Overall Consumer Value award for its Co-op Gold Feta Cheese.
Now celebrating more than three decades of awarding the very best in new product innovation and creativity, the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards have become synonymous with excellence in the minds of Canadian consumers. And, according to Santo Ligotti, RCC’s Vice President of Member Services and Marketing, it’s with just cause.
“The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards have for a very long time signified the best of the best within Canadian new product innovation,” he asserts. “And, to see all of the country’s leading grocers and brands together to celebrate all of the work that’s being done throughout the Canadian grocery sector to satisfy the ever-evolving tastes of Canada’s consumer is nothing short of inspiring, and provides assurance that those operating within the industry have our best interests at heart.”
Just like the ERA awards, The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards gala was also the stage for the announcement of its 2024 Awards of Distinction recipients, which are honours that recognize senior executives who have demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the Canadian grocery industry. To read more about this year’s Awards of Distinction honourees, read pages 24-40.
To view a full list of winners of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, and for information concerning the 2025 installment of the gala event, visit the official Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards website
Retail Council of Canada and the association’s Board of Directors would like to thank all of this year’s Grand Prix Awards sponsors for their dedication and support.
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Retail Council of Canada and the association’s Board of Directors would like to thank all of this year’s ERA sponsors for their dedication and support.
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The beauty of independent retailing
Jennifer Grimm, Founder of Edmonton AB-based LUX Beauty, was honoured for her achievements and success as an independent retailer
Retail
Council of Canada (RCC) wholeheartedly recognizes the unbelievable passion and talent of Canada’s retail entrepreneurs, and the value of the contributions that they make toward the country’s economy, the lives of consumers in every province and territory, and the evolution of the retail industry. In fact, every year the association recognizes one individual with its Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award at the annual Excellence in Retailing Awards gala. And, marking yet another milestone in her already storied career, the 2024 honour went to Jennifer Grimm, the Founder and President of cosmetics boutique LUX Beauty.
Looking after the customer
Described by Grimm as a “wonderland of indie brands, expert guidance, and customer delight that lets your inner light shine through”, LUX Beauty was founded in 2000 in Edmonton, Alberta and has become well-known through the years for its offering of a curated collection of high-performing beauty brands in skincare, body
care, haircare, and cosmetics, many of which are organic and cruelty-free. She’s also shown time and again the strength of her innovative entrepreneurial spirit, daring to venture into the world of online retailing when it was untested and unproven terrain, and shortly thereafter becoming one of the world’s earliest adopters of mobile self-check-out technology within her store. However, according to Grimm, it isn’t these strokes of business that sets LUX Beauty apart from most others. Instead, it’s about delivering what the customer is looking for.
“Why do people shop?” she asks. “They’re looking for connection, a solution, or inspiration. And that’s what we’re here to provide. We want to find out from our customers what their unspoken needs are, and then figure out what we can do to really deliver delight to them. Our entire team understands how excellent, personal customer experience elevates a shopping trip to a truly exceptional experience. We’re all really passionate about creating that connection with our clients, allowing them to feel seen, and providing them
with incredible guidance that helps them shine. It’s unbelievably fulfilling work that we all really love to be a part of.”
Having fun
Grimm also serves as a mentor to many of her staff, sharing her wealth of business experience, guiding them and helping them shape and build their own businesses. As a result of the consistent offering and experience that Grimm has developed for LUX Beauty, she’s also earned the trust of those within the local community, becoming part of the fabric of the city of Edmonton.
She’s an incredibly hard worker, too, and doesn’t seem to ever miss a beat. And all the while, she’s also managed to lead the business to salesper-square-foot that are roughly four-times the industry average. So, one might ask themselves: what’s the secret ingredient that Grimm possesses that differentiates her and LUX Beauty Bou-
“Having fun is what has, for two decades, attracted to my team the most talented, inspiring ladies who are all extremely passionate about creating delight and doing so excellently. Having fun is what compels our clients – the most interesting, admirable array of people – to leave their houses and come to LUX and weave us into their lives.”
tique from most others operating around her. The answer is simple, yet profound.
“I really have a lot of fun doing what I do every day,” she beams. “Having fun is what has, for two decades, attracted to my team the most talented, inspiring ladies who are all extremely passionate about creating delight and doing so excellently. Having fun is what compels our clients – the most interesting, admirable array of people – to leave their houses and come to LUX and weave us into their lives. There’s always a new idea, experiment or creative challenge. And I get to dive in with some of my favourite people. I love my team. I love my community. I love this living laboratory that is retail.”
Worthy recipient
The recognition that Grimm’s received from the association has been applauded by many within the industry. It’s very much a deserved accolade on the heels of 20-plus years of delighting customers of her store and enhancing the lives of those within the community that LUX Beauty Boutique serves. And, there are few who have been as enthusiastic about the honour of winning the Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award than RCC President and CEO Diane J. Brisebois.
“We are honoured to recognize Jennifer Grimm as the Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year. Her innovative approach to retail, coupled with her dedication to community engagement, truly embodies the spirit of this award. She’s proven to be an incredible ambassador for her store, the city of Edmonton, and Canadian retail, setting standards that others around her can look up to and strive to achieve.”
Visit the official RCCSTORE24 Conference website to view a full list of past winners of the Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award, or for more information about Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Awards of Distinction Program.
A lifetime of dedication and success honoured
President and CEO of Bentley & Co LTD, Walter Lamothe, receives prestigious retailing honour in recognition of a legacy that continues to grow
It’sa rare feat these days to spend more than a couple decades within one industry or profession. And, as a result, it goes without saying that achieving more than forty years of success and positive results within that work is even less common. However, in the case of Walter Lamothe, President and CEO of Bentley & Co LTD - Canada’s leading retailer of luggage, handbags, leisure, and travel products – it’s a legacy of success and results that he continues to accrue. It’s in honour of his current and past accomplishments that Retail Council of Canada (RCC) recently presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Excellence in Retailing Awards gala.
A lifetime in retail
Lamothe, an industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience operating within retail, has helped a number of different retailers and brands enhance their offerings and overall businesses.
Through his years of work, he’s served as a stock boy at Jack Fraser, Manager of a Tip Top Tailors store in Hull, Quebec; Director of Stores at Shirmax where his hard work and leadership was later recognized, earning him the position of Executive Vice President of Operations; President and CEO of MEXX Canada; as well as various leadership roles at Reitmans Canada, including his appointment as President and CEO.
He was appointed President and CEO of Bentley & Co LTD in 2018, and has been instrumental in successfully restructuring the company, and navigating it through an incredibly difficult pandemic period and economic uncertainty while maintaining his innovative spirit and the growth of the Bentley & Co LTD brand.
Finding his passion
Lamothe’s successes to this point in his career are extraordinary, and have helped garner him
the respect and admiration of those around him. Many consider him to be the type of leader perfectly fit for an industry as fast-paced and challenging as retail. And, he says, it’s all down to a passion for retail that he discovered very early on in his life after growing up in small town rural Alberta.
“I worked as a welder on pipelines when I was 17 years old,” he explains. “It was the highest paying job that you could get at that age. But I hated every minute of it. So, I quit and decided to find my passion. But I had no idea what my passion was. How are you supposed to follow your passion if you don’t even know what it is? So, I took a stockboy job at 3 dollars an hour for 12 hours a week at the local grocery store. It didn’t pay the bills very well. But what it did do was teach me a thing or two about myself and the way in which I should approach the work I was about to do. And let me tell you, throughout my career, the retail industry has provided me
“ I remember about 10 or 15 years ago, I figured that the biggest challenge I might face is if I ran out of things to learn. Well, forget that noise. Now I want to make sure that I’ve learned enough to be able to continue teaching for the next 15 to 20 years.”
with the most educational environment I ever could have hoped for.”
Continuous learning
Today, after years of learning, and a plethora of awards, recognitions, successes and achievements as a leader within the Canadian retail industry, Lamothe says that he isn’t even close to being done the job that he’s been doing these many years. In fact, he says that it’s his intention to continue growing within the academic institute of retail for many more years to come.
“Retail is the most challenging businesses to be involved in,” he says. “You only get moments in time. You win one moment, and you celebrate that victory, because who the hell knows what’s going to happen next week. Today, we’re talking about AI and cybersecurity. I remember about 10 or 15 years ago, I figured that the biggest challenge I might face is if I ran out of things to learn. Well, forget that noise. Now I want to make sure that I’ve learned enough to be able to continue teaching for the next 15 to 20 years.”
Dedication to retail
The passion and commitment with which Lamothe approaches each role that he’s served in are characteristics that those closest to him are well aware of, including RCC President and CEO Diane J. Brisebois.
“Walter’s illustrious and long career serves as a testament to his steadfast dedication to the Canadian retail industry. His ability to navigate through challenges with resilience and creativity, coupled with his passion for innovation, are undeniable proof of his unwavering commitment to excellence,”
Visit the official RCCTORE24 Conference website to view a full list of past winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and for more information about Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Awards of Distinction Program.
Pick of the crop
Dr. George Soleas, President and CEO of LCBO, named Canadian Retailer of the Year amid continued success and growth
TheCanadian retail industry is one of the most competitive in the world, challenging those operating within it to continuously innovate and reimagine the service and experience they offer in order to remain relevant in the mind of the consumer. In doing so, they must always ask themselves whether or not they can do things better or more efficiently to enhance the business and brand. It’s something the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has become renowned for under the leadership of President and CEO Dr. George Soleas. Retail Council of Canada (RCC) recognized Soleas with the Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award at the 2024 Excellence in Retailing Awards gala
Transformative abilities
A career adorned with accomplishments and achievements, Dr. Soleas began his journey in the wine industry, spending more than a decade working within Ontario wineries where he honed and perfected his ability to differentiate
excellence from the rest, helping to reshape and reform the province’s grape region. He joined LCBO in 1997, transferring the skills that he’d sharpened within the wine industry into his role as Director of Quality Assurance. His skills as a leader and brilliant mind for the business were immediately apparent to the company, earning Soleas steady and consistent promotions into more senior positions before being appointed the company’s President and CEO in 2016.
Evidenced by nearly ten years leading one of the world’s largest retailers and wholesalers of beverage alcohol, Soleas has proven his adeptness at not only identifying areas of the business that require attention and transformation, but his prowess in possessing the insight and wherewithal to find the correct solution to make the necessary enhancements. Some of the more significant adjustments and enhancements that LCBO has made over the years under Soleas’ leadership include the development of its digital and online offering, expansion of its delivery
options, and a refined in-store shopping experience. And, Soleas says that they are all initiatives driven by the company’s desire to create personalized experiences for its customers.
“As the President and CEO of LCBO, I’m still committed to being customer-centric,” he asserts. “As retailers, we have a common denominator – we all depend on the customer. And, what I’ve learned throughout my career is that the customer is always right. Even when they’re wrong, they’re right. If you think of this as a constant, then it’s much easier to embrace change. Change is inevitable. And in this industry, we must meet change head on if we are to succeed and grow.”
People power
Dr. Soleas continued by emphasizing the importance of the people around him – the employees of LCBO – who have been integral to the transformations that have taken place and the supreme focus on the customer. In fact, he suggests
“Competition, like any other change or challenge, presents an opportunity for the LCBO to show just how capable we are. It doesn’t force us to be our best. It allows us to be our best. And we will do it right with our communities in mind and our customers as our main focus.”
that the company’s latest initiative dubbed ‘Spirit of Sustainability’ - LCBO’s first comprehensive social impact platform – would not even be possible without them.
“Many associate sustainability with the environment,” he says. “For LCBO, it goes even further. Our platform focusses on three key pillars –good people, good planet and good partnerships. It’s our commitment as an organization to minimizing our environmental impact. But it also includes how we create a sense of belonging for our employees rooted in diversity, equity and inclusion; how we lead positive change in the beverage alcohol industry; and how we contribute to the wellbeing of the communities in which we work and live. Good people, good planet, good partnerships. We hold ourselves accountable to all of them.”
Bring it on
In closing, Dr. Soleas addressed the impending competition that many are predicting, and LCBO’s plans to address it, exhibiting yet again the courageous and inspiring words of a man whose actions throughout his tenure with the company have helped define him as a leader within the retail industry.
“It’s my privilege to continue to lead LCBO as we move forward into the next chapter of our history. Some worry that competition will somehow weaken our influence. I say: let it come. Competition, like any other change or challenge, presents an opportunity for the LCBO to show just how capable we are. It doesn’t force us to be our best. It allows us to be our best. And we will do it right with our communities in mind and our customers as our main focus.”
Visit the official RCCSTORE24 Conference website to view a full list of past winners of the Independent Retail Ambassador of the Year Award, or for more information about Retail Council of Canada’s Excellence in Retailing Awards of Distinction Program.
Congratulations, Dr. George Soleas!
On behalf of all of us at Aeroplan, congratulations to Dr. George Soleas, recipient of the Distinguished Canadian Retailer of the Year Award. We’re immensely proud to work with Dr. Soleas’s team and help deliver his vision.
Dino
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Bianco, CEO of Kruger Products,
presented with award for decades of commitment toward continuous improvement of the industry
Achievingsuccess within the Canadian retail industry requires dedication, commitment, desire, passion, a good amount of business acumen, and a whole lot of hard work, among a few other things. Sustaining that success means doubling down on all of the aforementioned qualities, and not relenting, ever. It’s a set of traits and characteristics that at least partially fits the profiles of some leaders within the industry. However, when considering Dino Bianco, Chief Executive Officer, Kruger Products Inc., they are qualities that help describe him very well. And, they are also qualities that recently earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him by Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards gala.
An illustrious career
Bianco served for nearly two decades within a number of different positions at Kraft Canada as a marketer and executive leader, all the while honing his understanding of the business and
capacity as a leader. He’d go on to become Kraft Canada’s VP of marketing, and President, before earning a promotion to EVP of the Kraft Food Group, leading its beverages division as President.
In 2018, Bianco joined Kruger Products as the CEO where he now oversees the continued development of iconic brands that include Cashmere®, Purex®, SpongeTowels®, Scotties®, White Swan® and Bonterra® as well as the White Cloud® brand in the US. Throughout his career, Bianco has also been recognized with a host of accolades and awards for his incredible work and dedication to the industry. However, from the retail veteran’s perspective, the most rewarding aspect of his career to date has been the people that he’s made connections with.
“It’s been an amazing journey for me within this amazing grocery industry,” he said proudly. “Every time I attend one of these events, I look out at all of the incredible people who I’ve had the opportunity to work with, work for, those who have worked for me, and others I’ve interact-
ed with over the years, and I realize how much they’ve helped me become a better person and a better leader. And, they’ve also helped me drive great business results. Quite frankly, they’ve all made me look good.”
Gratitude and recognition
He went on to pay his gratitude to Kraft and Kruger Products for providing him with the opportunities that he seized so firmly and effectively. And, he spoke fondly, too, about the many partnerships that he’s formed throughout his illustrious career with players operating within the Canadian retail industry, highlighting the ways in which these relationships have helped him grow as a professional.
“I also want to recognize the amazing retailers that I’ve had the opportunity to work with over
“The grocery retail industry is an incredible one, providing good paying jobs and careers, driving efficiency, creating supply chain resiliency, making impact for a better planet, progressing social change, and giving back to communities, causes, and individuals in need. There is not a better industry or career than serving Canadians through the grocery industry.”
the years,” he said. “You’ve taught me so much about an industry world bigger than my own. You’ve sharpened my perspective and shown me how to drive mutual benefit. Not all of the meetings that I’ve been involved in with retailers have been love-ins, but at their core we’d always find compromise in a respectful way, and move forward for the good of our companies, and for the good of the industry and its people.”
An industry like no other
The pride that Bianco possesses when it comes to the industry and the achievements that he’s been a part of through the years is clear. The “journey” as he describes it has been an incredibly meaningful and fulfilling one for him. It’s something that he recognizes, and a realization that he says won’t soon be lost on him as he continues to achieve success and growth within the industry, leading Kruger Products into a new age of grocery retail.
“My 34-year career has been filled with successes, failures, uncertainty, stress, joy, learning, teaching, and a whole lot of fun. And sometimes all in one day. It’s a journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything. I have one of the best jobs in the world, having the opportunity to serve a basic human need and form relationships with our customers from coast-to-coast. From food to toilet paper, we do it all. Through pandemics, inflation and global impacts, we have not just persevered, but excelled. The grocery retail industry is an incredible one, providing good paying jobs and careers, driving efficiency, creating supply chain resiliency, making impact for a better planet, progressing social change, and giving back to communities, causes, and individuals in need. There is not a better industry or career than serving Canadians through the grocery industry.”
Visit the official RCCSTORE24 Conference website to view a full list of past winners of the Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achivement Award, or for more information about Retail Council of Canada’s Awards of Distinction Pro-
Setting the trail afire
President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., Michael Medline, recognized for his significant contribution to the Canadian grocery industry
Some say that the grocery nut is a difficult one to crack, that it’s a sector that presents frequent hurdles and obstacles to success in front of those who operate within it. It’s an environment that’s so fast-paced there is often too little time to celebrate achievements and too little room for error. In short, the grocery sector in Canada is not one for the faint of heart. However, for leaders like retail ground-breaker Michael Medline, grocery simply represents a different set of challenges to overcome and opportunities to uncover. And given the results that he’s achieved at Empire and Sobeys in a little more than seven years at the helm, he’s been doing more than a few things right. For this reason, Medline was honoured by Retail Council of Canada (RCC) with the Trailblazer Award at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards gala.
Transformational leader
The Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Award is one that recognizes individuals or families
who have demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to the Canadian retail and grocery industries, spearheaded historic, transformational change in their sectors, and exhibited both passion and courage in their leadership. Medline not only exhibits each of these traits, they have been present throughout the entirety of his career.
Before assuming his current position, Medline held a number of leadership positions at Canadian Tire Corporation, including that of President and CEO, during which time he was instrumental in helping to transform the automotive, sporting goods and housewares giant, enhancing the experience that it provides for its customers across the country. He was appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. in January 2017, and has since added to his strong track record of transformation, success and achievement within the industry. In addition, Medline also serves on the Board of Directors for Scotiabank, the Board of Trustees for SickKids, the Board of Governors
for Huron University College at Western University, the Board of Directors for The BlackNorth Initiative, and the Sobey Foundation.
Passion and dedication
Despite the incredible list of achievements Medline has amassed to this point in his career, it’s the passion and dedication to the retail and grocery industries that have made the biggest impression on those who have had the privilege of crossing paths with him. It’s passion and dedication that were evident in his response to receiving the prestigious award from RCC.
“What a great industry we’re a part of,” he asserted. “I challenge anyone to find an industry as dynamic, innovative, complex, multi-dimensional, or one so critical to the health and wellbeing of Canadians than grocery retail. An industry that gives back to the customers and communities it
“...we as individuals, and through the organizations we work for, must all rise up, speak the truth, and celebrate the contributions and successes of our great industry. The risk of not doing so erodes our collective ability to contribute to the vibrancy of the communities we serve and customers who rely on us.”
serves across this vast country, every single day of the year, never taking a day off, including, I might add, during the worst pandemic that our planet has experienced in more than a century. An industry that employs millions of Canadians directly and indirectly, that spends billions of dollars a year to build new stores and distribution centres to serve this country’s growing population, and in technology to create a customer experience that’s the envy of retailers around the world.”
Stand up and defend
Medline, who’s never been afraid to confront challenges head on, addressed the intense scrutiny and criticism that Canadian grocers have been coming under of late, issuing a challenge to his peers in the audience.
“Everyone within the industry has played an important role in shaping it. And everyone within the industry must stand up and defend it from those who have agendas or who seek division or simply blame us for the challenges our country and the world have faced over the past couple of years. I made the decision a number of years ago that I would say what I think and passionately defend this great industry. I’m not going to stop telling the truth and pointing out the facts. So, during a time when the loudest voices seem to take up all of the oxygen, and the facts and truth seem a mere afterthought, we as individuals, and through the organizations we work for, must all rise up, speak the truth, and celebrate the contributions and successes of our great industry. The risk of not doing so erodes our collective ability to contribute to the vibrancy of the communities we serve and customers who rely on us. We can all be incredibly proud of this industry. And I implore you to stick up for it.”
Visit the official RCCSTORE24 Conference website to view a full list of past winners of the Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Award, or for more information about Retail Council of Canada’s Awards of Distinction Program.
Congratulations Michael Medline
on receiving the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Trailblazer Award
