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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit femchaospod.substack.comKat and Phoebe discuss the tragic denouement of a recent celebrity death, the spicy for-podcast-only outtakes from Phoebe's recent Globe & Mail column on woman-defining, and whether robots are coming for our jobs.LINKS:https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-what-is-a-woman-an-obsession-with-defining-women-has-become-a/https://x.com/katrosenfiel…

In hour three, Mike & Jason talk with Globe & Mail's Gary Mason (1:55) about his bombshell interview with Jim Rutherford yesterday where he confirms the rift between Pettersson & Miller, plus the boys tell us what they learned (27:00). This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Mike & Jason look back at the previous day in sports, they talk with Globe & Mail's Gary Mason about his bombshell interview with Jim Rutherford yesterday where he confirms the rift between Pettersson & Miller, plus the boys tell us what they learned.  This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Support us on Patreon Call the PON Sauce Line: 604-283-9469 (nice!) Jim Rutherford just poured gasoline on the Miller/Pettersson saga, but seemingly everyone in the organization got burned. Ryan and Geeta are joined by P Mac on the Street this week, filling in for Arash, to break down Jim Rutherford's comments in the Globe & Mail regarding Elias Pettersson, JT Miller, an ongoing issue that they just can't squash, and another week of PR hell. They look back at two impressive complete games by the Vancouver Canucks, and wonder if the season is salvageable. They also look at the huge Mikko Rantanen trade to Carolina, as both the Avalanche and Hurricanes are focusing on the present in their win now window while exchanging top-tier players with uncertain contracts. The gang also play Sauce It? or Toss It? and answer some great listener questions. Support the show on Patreon! Pledge a coupla bucks ($5, $15 or $25) for access to our bonus content including all vlogs and bonus video content, access to the PON Discord and our weekly 5 Minutes For Paying segment. On this week's segment: Ryan and P Mac chat about work, Canucks PR, and catch up!  Looking for our social media? Here's our link tree!

The online Canadian Financial Summit is coming up the week of October 25-27. It's the #1 personal finance event of the year. As a reader of the Unconventional Wisdom blog, here are your FREE passes for a limited time. With these FREE passes, you can watch all the talks for 48 hours. I'll be one of the speakers again this year with three talks (see below), and I'll be joined by over 35 other Canadian personal finance and investing experts such as Rob Carrick from the Globe & Mail and Ellen Roseman former Toronto Star columnist. Where else will you find all these experts in one place? With your FREE pass, each morning, all the talks for the day will be available to you for 2 days. If you want to access them forever, you can purchase an All Access Pass for $99. My three talks are: Friday, October 25: 7 Best Ideas to Optimize the Smith Manoeuvre The Smith Manoeuvre allows you to convert interest on your mortgage to tax-deductible over time and save for your retirement without using your cash flow, but not many people know about it. Ed Rempel is a fee-for-service financial planner and tax accountant with the best ideas on how to optimize the Smith Manoeuvre. Saturday, October 26: How to Easily Outperform Financial Advisors, Robo-Advisors & Index Investors Many Canadians use financial advisors, robo advisors or invest on their own with index funds. However, there might be an easy way to outperform them all. Ed Rempel is a fee-for-service financial planner and tax accountant with how this is possible. Sunday, October 27: Retiring Right Before, or during, a recession – Debunking Sequence of Returns Risk Many older Canadians fear retiring right before a recession. Ed Rempel, a fee-for-service financial planner and tax accountant who will discuss how you can create a reliable and maximum retirement income for yourself for your golden years. Some more info about the talks: Watch my 3 talks any time in a 2-day period for FREE. It's 100% online so you can stream all the talks right from your computer/tablet/phone. You don't need to go anywhere or buy anything. You can forward this to any of your friends to give them a FREE ticket. See you at the Summit!  Here is a LINK to get your passes. Ed

Ready to discover what it really means to have a worthy business?    Today, I'm joined by the brilliant Eleanor Beaton, founder of Safi Media, and we're diving deep into creating a business that supports YOU, instead of draining you.    We'll explore everything from product stability to cash confidence and the kind of sustainable growth that brings you predictable success without the burnout.    This conversation is packed with soul and strategy.    Grab a notebook, beautiful, because you won't want to miss a single insight.    Let's get into it. You ready?   More love, Tracy   Love the show?! Please leave a review. Thank you so much! Your feedback means the world to us.   Let's keep the conversation going!  YouTube: Tracy Litt  Facebook: The Litt Factor Instagram: @thetracylitt   About Eleanor: Eleanor Beaton is the founder of Safi Media, an education & coaching company for women entrepreneurs. Safi Media is committed to advancing global gender equity one woman-owned business at a time. Together with her colleagues, Eleanor is on a mission to double the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenue by 2030 using the Jewel Business Model.   Eleanor hosts the Anchored Intelligence podcast, a top-ranked podcast for female founders with over 1.6 million downloads to date. The former chair of the Visiting Women's Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management, Eleanor has been featured in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and more. Follow Eleanor on LinkedINFollow Eleanor on Instagram

In this episode, recorded live at the RCC Retail Marketing Conference in Toronto, join me for a fast-paced discussion with John Fanous Head of Industry, eCommerce & Omni-Channel Retail, Google. We cover the current marketing strategy, communications, tools and tricks to reach an increasingly saturated, diverse shopper and reluctant media consumer. We'll talk about what's working, what's changed, what's not working and the forecast and thinking for Holiday and into 2025.About JohnJohn is Google and YouTube's Head of Omni-Channel Retail for Canada. He is an accomplished and recognized leader in Canada's omni-channel shopping ecosystem, helping organizations (ranging from startups to Fortune-100 retailers) make the pivot to digital shopper engagement for over fifteen years.John joined Google nine years ago, and has helped lead partnerships with some of the fastest growing omni-channel retailers in North America over that time - with a focus on attribution/measurement via technology and AI adoption, digital education for C-suite partners, and helping retailers build new profit centers through initiatives including Google Retail Media.John is a past recipient of Marketing Mag's Top 30 Under 30 award, and has had his retail insights published in major Canadian platforms including The Globe & Mail, Financial Post and Yahoo! Finance, in addition to national TV interviews with CTV News Channel and Canada AM. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

What if strength isn't about how much we can lift, but how we manage life's struggles? What if we've been told lies our whole life about what it means to truly TAKE UP SPACE? What if failing isn't the end of a goal, but helps you set the goal itself? Today's SEASON 9 FINALE episode is with the incredible Alyssa Ages — journalist, strongman competitor, and author of SECRETS OF GIANTS: A Journey To Uncolver The True Meaning of Strength. IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT: The importance of asking WHY, not HOW How endurance athletes frame FAILURE, and how to use this specific tactic in your own life way beyond achieving strength goals Why it's so hard for women especially to TAKE UP SPACE, the sneaky language to watch out for, and how to reframe your relationship with it The importance of using the word YET "BULK" (this is mind-blowing!) What Alyssa did when she realized the story she'd been telling herself for a DECADE was a lie Strength as we AGE and how to reverse hamful narratives even if we think "it's too late" and so much more! This is an episode you'll want to share with your friends, parents, grandparents, siblings, and more.  Thank you for making Season 9 one of the best yet. See you in September for Season 10! ~ ABOUT ALYSSA: Alyssa Ages is the author of SECRETS OF GIANTS: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength (Avery/Penguin Random House) and a journalist whose work has appeared in ELLE, SELF, GQ, Slate, The Globe & Mail, and others. She is a mom, strongman competitor, endurance athlete (six marathons & an Ironman), rock climber, CrossFitter, and former member of the Jersey City Bridge & Pummel roller derby team. Her first book, Secrets of Giants (Avery/Penguin Random House, 9/23), is part personal narrative, part research mission, part midlife crisis odyssey into the world of strength to answer the question: What if strength isn't about how much we can lift, but how we manage life's struggles.   ~ SHOW NOTES: Buy SECRETS OF GIANTS Alyssa's website Alyssa on IG Alyssa's speaking page ~ TICKETS to WANT YOUR SELF: A Book Launch Cabaret at The Bourbon Room on 7/16 TICKETS to MODERN FRIENDSHIP at Guild Hall in conversation with Anna Goldfarb on 6/30 ~ Join THE WANT COMMUNITY!  Buy WANT YOUR SELF  Follow Katie on Instagram Leave a review of the WANTcast on iTunes (and SUBSCRIBE/FOLLOW if you haven't already!) Subscribe to WANT on Substack, and get our bimonthly email newsletter filled with tips, tools, motivation, and inspiration to shift your self-talk Email Katie at katie@womenagainstnegativetalk.com or DM her on Instagram to let her know what you want to hear about, who you want to hear from, or what you want to learn next season of the WANTcast!  

Ewan Whyte is a writer, translator and author. He has written for the Globe & Mail and The Literary Review of Canada. He is the author of the books, Desire Lines: Essays on Art Poetry & Culture, Shifting Paradigms: Essays on Art and Culture. Entrainment, a book of poetry, and a translation of the rude ancient Roman poet Catullus. His feature essay "The Cult that Raised Me" on the Community of Jesus/Grenville Christian College was a finalist for a National Magazine Award.   for two extra episodes a month and exclusive content please visit patreon.com/thenickbryantpodcast nickbryantnyc.com epstienjustice.com

In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, we kick off our new monthly Rapid Response segment featuring Colleen Martin from Caddle with Canadians' perceptions of ungraded Mexican beef on our grocery shelves. This timely discussion sheds light on consumer awareness, concerns, and the potential impact on purchasing decisions.But first, we examine international beef regulations, highlighting the U.S.'s push for stricter "Made in U.S.A." standards and the Canadian Cattle Association's critique, labelling them overly stringent. The episode also touches on Aldi's significant expansion plans in the U.S., speculating on the implications for the Canadian market.  A particularly eye-opening segment of the podcast covers the exploitation of North Korean labour in the Chinese seafood industry, as the Globe & Mail and the Outlaw Ocean Project reported. This investigation reveals how products processed by forced labour are entering North American markets despite United Nations sanctions and Canadian legislation to prevent such imports.Finally, the podcast addresses public opinion on the causes of high food prices in Canada, citing a Leger poll that points to global factors, grocery retailers, and federal policies as key contributors. The episode concludes with discussing HelloFresh's plummeting shares and the broader impacts on the meal kit industry.https://askcaddle.com/the-food-professor-podcast/https://www.theoutlawocean.com/https://leger360.com/surveys/inflation-at-the-grocery-store/ The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2024 for the fourth year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Ever wondered how necessity becomes the mother of invention? In this episode of 7-8 Figure Special Series  I interviewed Marnie Rabinovitch Consky. She is the Founder, CEO and Chief Anti-Chafing Champion of Thigh Society (www.thighsociety.com), an undergarment brand specializing in moisture-wicking, lightweight and breathable multi-use shorts that are not shapewear. Marnie is one of those unique entrepreneurs who identified a white space opportunity based on her personal pain point of thigh rub, innovated a solution and then brought it to market. Without any related experience in retail, sales, manufacturing or ecommerce, she followed her hunch, quit her full-time pensioned job at 40 and bootstrapped Thigh Society to $1MM in sales, pioneering a new underwear category of anti-chafing slip shorts she calls “chafewear”. Thigh Society shorties have been featured on The Today Show, in SELF Mag, NY Mag and others and is well loved by celeb influencers like Remi Bader and Alicia McCarvell in addition to being ranked as one of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies in the Globe & Mail's Report on Business for 2 years in a row (2021 & 2022). Marnie has been featured in Forbes Magazine, the Toronto Star, Pivot Magazine, as of one Bay Street Bull's Women of the Year and several other notable publications and podcasts.Learn how a side hustle became a business over 7 figures. Check this out!Show Links:Thigh Society Website: https://www.thighsociety.com/Marnie Rabinovitch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marnieconsky/Book a call with Michelle: https://www.AwarenessStrategies.com/m30Join our Facebook group for business owners to get help or help other business owners! The Business Ownership Group - Secrets to Scaling: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessownershipsecretstoscalingLooking to scale your business? Get free gifts here to help you on your way: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/Digital Adoption Roadmap: https://www.awarenessstrategies.com/digital-adoption-roadmap/ 

In the fall of 2020, a Canadian farmer named Helen Naslund was sentenced to 18 years in prison for killing her violently abusive husband. That case and the lengthy sentence she received sparked tremendous outrage around Canada, exposing serious issues with how the justice system in that country treats abused women. Guest true crime journalist Jana Pruden spoke to Naslund through multiple interviews and letters from prison. It was the first time Helen opened up publicly about what happened that fateful night and everything that came after. Pruden shares this story of unspeakable violence and a woman's fight for her freedom in the critically-acclaimed podcast, In Her Defence.   Read her Globe & Mail story here.  Subscribe to the Small Talk substack

In the latest episode, we take a solo dive into a week filled with significant news and developments in the food industry, promising the return of guest interviews in the upcoming episode. The episode, presented by Caddle, encapsulates a variety of topics highlighting the dynamic nature of the food sector.We begin with an insightful discussion on a survey about farmers' trust, revealing a concerning gap in confidence across generations. Sylvain expresses his trepidation upon reviewing the survey results, emphasizing the importance of understanding these generational differences. The conversation then shifts to legislative changes, specifically C-282, which aims to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Act to provide immunity to supply management during trade deals. This legislative development is currently on its second reading in the Senate, indicating significant implications for the food industry.The hosts also discuss U.S. food inflation, which decreased to 2.6% in January, and ponder its implications for Canada.Highlighting business success, Sylvain and Michael discuss Restaurant Brands International's remarkable improvement in Tim Horton's profitability, attributing part of this success to operational efficiencies like reducing drive-through times. Moreover, the episode covers MTY Food Group Inc.'s impressive financial performance despite a slight decline in same-store sales, reflecting consumer discretion in spending.The episode also sheds light on the agricultural sector, particularly Ukraine's resilience in maintaining cargo volumes from its deep-water ports at two-thirds of their pre-invasion levels. This resilience is a testament to the country's agricultural robustness and strategic significance.Lastly, the podcast pays tribute to Bob Moore of Bob's Red Mill, who recently passed away at 94. Moore's legacy of giving the business to his employees through an employee stock ownership plan is celebrated, highlighting his innovative and employee-focused approach to business.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

This episode features Doug Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Government Relations at Belmont Food Group. Key topics include the intricate balance of environmental sustainability and food industry operations, explicitly addressing food waste and regulatory impacts. The conversation explores Belmont Food Group's initiatives for reducing carbon emissions and plastic use, emphasizing the need for industry-wide collaboration and innovation. The episode provides insights into how companies can navigate and contribute positively to environmental sustainability, highlighting the role of government relations and practical strategies for achieving these goals.In the news, Sylvain was in Ottawa testifying to a testy parliamentary Ag committee, sweet news with the Rogers sugar strike ending on the West coast, Athletic Brewing dominating the fast-growing non-alcoholic beer category, and a salute to Celine Dion, Taylor Swift and some big event happening in Las Vegas that a bunch of people will watch on big screen TV and consume a record amount of chicken wings.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Caddle, a leading Canadian consumer panel and research house, has become the exclusive presenting sponsor of the podcast. Caddle offers brands and retailers access to over 10,000 daily active users, facilitating rapid collection and syndication of consumer reviews. https://askcaddle.com/About DougDoug Alexander joined Belmont Food Group as Vice President and General Manager- Leadbetter Foods, in early 2021 took on the role of Vice President Sustainability and Government Relations. Belmont Food Group . Belmont Food Group is a operating group within Premium Brands comprising of 6 independent operating food processing companies, Premium Brands is a leading specialty food manufacturing and differentiated food distribution businesses with operations across North America. Servicing over 22,000 customers, the company and its family of brands and businesses operate in 100 locations.Doug's experience running food processing operations spans over 37 years of Meat Processing and other food processing sectors. Recently served as Chair of the board of directors of the Agricultural Adaptation Council board and as director for 10 years, as well as and on boards of Food and Beverage Ontario board and the Meat and Poultry Ontario Board as well as the Innovation Advisory Council for the Canadian Food Innovation Network.Doug has served in the past as Chair of the Agri-Food Management Institute, Chair of Food Starter and the board of directors for Provision Coalition Doug has diplomas in Food Science as well as Industrial Engineering.Food In Canada article, whos who in Food, https://www.foodincanada.com/features/whos-who-2023-mentor-for-all/Food and Beverage Ontario Board - https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/team/doug-alexander/About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast features special guest Glenford Jameson, an expert in regulatory, commercial, and advertising law within the food sector. Jameson's insights cover SFCA compliance, labeling, product positioning, and interactions with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).The episode starts with an exciting announcement that Caddle, a leading Canadian consumer panel and research house, has become the exclusive presenting sponsor of the podcast. Caddle offers brands and retailers access to over 10,000 daily active users, facilitating rapid collection and syndication of consumer reviews. https://askcaddle.com/The discussion then moves to current news, starting with Canadian Minister Champagne's efforts to attract foreign grocers to Canada, raising questions about whether this is political posturing or a genuine attempt to address food affordability. The hosts also covered the ongoing European farmers' protests, where farmers expressed discontent by blocking roads and dumping manure.Next, we discuss Metro's latest quarterly results. Metro reported strong sales growth, with a notable increase in food and pharmacy same-store sales and the successful launch of a new distribution center. Despite these positive outcomes, net earnings showed a slight decrease.The episode also touches on Bayer AG's (Monsanto) $2 billion fine. It provides an update on the surge in the use of weight-loss drugs, specifically referencing North Carolina's state employees' insurance plan's spending on such medications.Finally, the podcast highlights Loblaw's charitable efforts, announcing a $1 million investment in community grants to support various organizations. These grants aim to empower historically underrepresented groups in Canada, including black women-led businesses, programs addressing gender-based violence, youth employment, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community development.Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive overview of the latest trends, legal insights, and corporate initiatives in the food sector.About GlenfordSpecializing in regulatory, commercial, and advertising law, Glenford Jameson is a trusted legal advisor in the food sector. His expertise spans SFCA compliance, labeling, product positioning, and CFIA interactions. A recognized industry thought leader, he's lectured at notable universities, industry associations, and conferences on Canadian Food Law. Glenford's unique perspective at the crossroads of food, tech, and regulation empowers clients with innovative solutions. He's the founder of G.S. Jameson & Company, and his clients include multinationals, SMEs, NGOs, industry associations, and governments.G. S. Jameson & Company: https://law.gsjameson.comCanadian Association for Food Law and Policy: http://foodlaw.caExcellence in Manufacturing Consortium: https://emccanada.orgGood Food Institute: https://gfi.orgEuropean Food Law Association: https://www.efla-aeda.orgAbout UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-sunstrum/In Season 4, Episode 16 of the Food Professor Podcast, we engage in a fascinating discussion with special guest Alison Sunstrum, a tech entrepreneur and investor. Sunstrom, recognized for her significant role in the Creative Destruction Lab in Calgary, is lauded for her community building and investment acumen, particularly in structuring the CDL. The episode also delves into recent experiences at a tech conference, highlighting innovations in restaurant technology, including a robot that makes French fries and advanced vending machine technologies.LeBlanc shares his observations from the conference, noting the emergence of unique vending technologies and automated cooking solutions. The episode shifts to a discussion about the latest retail trends, with a particular focus on a Petco store in Union Square, Manhattan, which features a chef kitchen for dogs, offering custom food preparations.The hosts then pivot to addressing critical supply chain issues, including the impact of disruptions at the Suez Canal and the broader implications for global logistics and food inflation. They critically examine government interventions in food pricing, particularly in France, and the ineffectiveness of such policies in controlling inflation.Additionally, the podcast covers the acquisition of Carol Restaurants by RBI (Restaurant Brands International) and its implications for the fast-food industry. The conversation also touches upon the anticipated entry of new restaurant chains into Canada, highlighting the country's appeal as a test market due to its diverse population.In a significant segment, Sylvain discusses his meeting with the management of Canada Royal Milk in Kingston, addressing various controversies and clarifying their operations and future plans. This includes their intentions to manufacture baby formula for the Canadian market and potential exports to the U.S.The episode concludes with a discussion on the latest food industry news and a congratulatory note to Canadian chef and entrepreneur Matty Matheson for winning an Emmy for the show "The Bear."About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

We're back after the break with a rousing discussion of what lies ahead for 2024, notable achievements, the relative state of food safety, and congratulations to several key food industry players for their accomplishments.Our guest, Aeryon Ashlie, CEO and Founder of Aeryon Wellness Support Supplements tells us about her life of fitness and wellness and the impact of changes in the natural supplement aisle and shares tips on living a healthier and happier life.About AeryonAeryon Ashlie's remarkable journey is a testament to resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to empowering women with holistic health choices. As the CEO and Founder of Aeryon Wellness Support Supplements, Aeryon leverages her vast 20+ years of experience in the Canadian Health Food Industry to support her mission. Her personal struggle with eating disorders for over 25 years serves as a poignant catalyst for her endeavors, fueling her desire to create a company that goes beyond merely providing supplements. Despite launching her brand only in 2019, Aeryon's deeply rooted connections in the industryhave facilitated an astounding growth rate of 500% year on year for her brand. Aeryon Wellness, under her stewardship, has become a sanctuary for women pursuing sustainable health and wellness. Aeryon's innovative approach to wellness and her passion for her mission caught the eye of CBC's Dragons Den in December 2021, leading to her walking away with three offers anda deal with Arlene Dickenson.  Aeryon' s trailblazing efforts were further recognized at CHFA NOW West 2022 when AeryonWellness won the Innovative Product of the year award for the launch of Up and Away, Canada's first 100% Boric Acid Kit plus The Agent of Change award for their contributions to The Downtown Eastside Women's Shelter. In May 2023, she triumphed at The Total Mom Pitch at the Canadian Women's Entrepreneur Gala, securing 50k in prizes. Aeryon's exceptionalcontributions to the field also earned her nominations for CHFA Women of Influence and RBC's Women of influence in September. Residing in Vancouver, BC, Aeryon balances her demanding professional life with her role as a full-time mother to her daughter, Mekaella, who is frequently seen accompanying her at tradeshows and events. Aeryon's passion for educating women serves as the cornerstone of Aeryon Wellness. The brand is more than just a supplier of wellness products; it is a platform for learning and empowerment. Aeryon takes this mission across the country through weekly seminars held in stores and at various events throughout Canada. These gatherings are more than just promotional events - they are educational forums where women can learn about health, wellness, and the importance of self-care in a supportive and encouraging environment. The seminars are yet another testament to Aeryon's commitment to spread awareness about sustainable health and help women take control of their well-being.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

On this special encore episode of the pod, we present an interview worth a second, or perhaps your first, listen. Let's hear as Sylvain introduces the topic and our guests for one of our favourite and most essential discussions from late spring 2023. Isaiah, Stephanie, and Tim share their perspectives on salmon farming in British Columbia. Stephanie explains what aquaculture is and why it should matter to the listeners. Isaiah talks about the role of aquaculture in his community and local economy. Michael raises the controversy surrounding salmon farming, while Stephanie explores the scientific evidence regarding the impact of ending salmon farms on wild salmon. Sylvain addresses the opposition of First Nations in BC to salmon farming and discusses the federal government's commitment to transitioning the salmon sector. The conversation also touches upon new technologies for enhancing the sustainability of salmon farming. Isaiah discusses the willingness to adopt new technologies and the potential consequences of losing aquaculture.Our guests:Isaiah Robinson, Elected Councillor of Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation & General Manager of Kitasoo Development Corporation & Stephanie Columbo, Canada Research Chair in Aquaculture, & Tim Kennedy, President & CEO at Canadian Aquaculture Industry AllianceFor More Informationwww.lovesalmon.cawww.aquaculture.ca"Towards blue revolution" FAO 2022. https://www.fao.org/state-of-fisheries-aquaculture"Towards achieving circularity and sustainability in feeds for farmed blue foods" Colombo et al 2022. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/raq.12766"Exploratory analysis on Canadian consumer perceptions, habits, and opinions on salmon consumption and production in Canada" Osmond, Charlebois, Colombo, 2023. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10499-022-00972-x"Extracted microbial oil from a novel Schizochytrium sp.(T18) as a sustainable high DHA source for Atlantic salmon feed: Impacts on growth and tissue lipids" Wei et al 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0044848620339557About StefanieDr. Stefanie Colombo is an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University and Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Aquaculture Nutrition. Her research focuses on understanding nutrition in farmed fish, to improve aquaculture sustainability and productivity. She has published over 60 scientific papers and 5 book chapters. She has been an invited keynote speaker at several national and international conferences. She has received the Dalhousie's President's Research Excellence Award for an Emerging Investigator and the Faculty of Agriculture's Early Career Research Excellence Award, as well as Innovator of the Year by the Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia. About TimTimothy Kennedy began his work leading the national association for Canada's seafood farming sector in April 2017 as President & CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA). He's passionate about the future and potential of sustainable seafood farming for Canada and the world. Tim has worked for over 20 years in Ottawa with experiences as a political and policy advisor, a senior government relations consultant working with leading clients in the natural resources and sustainability sectors, and as a Vice President for a major North American energy company. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

On this special encore episode of the pod, we present an interview worth a second, or perhaps your first, listen. Our special guest, who lives in San Diego, California, via Vancouver & Toronto, is Sam Zien, aka Sam the Cooking Guy, who shares his remarkable and inspiring journey to over 3.6 Million subscribers on YouTube, three restaurants and six cookbooks and a great line of merchandise now It is a generous interview. Sam has a lot of insight from his rich life as a food entrepreneur and popular food media personality. You can visit Sam athttps://www.youtube.com/@samthecookingguyAbout SamSam the Cooking Guy is an everyday guy – me (I have 15 Emmys… just thought I would drop that one in) – who has found a way to make cooking casually understandable. With no fancy equipment and by speaking English instead of ‘chef-speak,' I'm sort of the everyman of cooking. I have two shows, the TV show SAM THE COOKING GUY airs on YUR VIEW with COX, and my online show, STCGO. Both are shot right in my house – and I cook with my kids, dogs – just like we all do. There's no fois gras… no white truffle oil, no ‘Peruvian mountain-raised squab in sesame-lime-soy marinade stuffed with braised forest turnips and wild enoki mushrooms in a hand pressed plum and raspberry glaze'. I'm just a regular guy, using regular words showing how to cook easy, great food… Food that's ‘big in taste and small in effort'. It's a handful of ingredients and a few steps – that's it. This is a cooking show “for the rest of us,” I like to say.“For too long now TV chefs have tried to ‘impress' with their food & style. But a ton of ingredients and a ton of steps just winds up with people saying they can't cook. And it's not that they can't cook – it's that they don't because they think it's too hard. So isn't it time someone made cooking easy?”— SamAbout UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

In the final live episode of The Food Professor podcast for 2023, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discussed various Canadian food and beverage industry topics. While the interview with our guest Kristina Farrell, CEO of Food and Beverage Canada, was a significant part of the episode, the hosts delved into various other vital issues.A key topic of discussion was Canadians' New Year's food resolutions. The hosts noted a trend towards healthier eating and more home cooking, possibly influenced by recent economic challenges. They questioned whether this trend might lead to reduced patronage of restaurants, reflecting on potential impacts on the restaurant industry.LeBlanc and Charlebois also discussed labour shortages in the food industry, particularly manufacturing. They touched on how companies, especially smaller ones, are grappling with balancing investment in technology with managing rising costs due to inflation. The conversation highlighted the industry's need for innovation to remain competitive and sustainable.Another significant point of discussion was the evolving landscape of alcohol sales in Ontario, notably the plan to allow beer and wine sales in convenience stores. The hosts speculated on the implications of this change, including potential challenges such as increased insurance costs for retailers and the impact on consumer habits and the recycling system.The dialogue also covered broader industry trends and challenges, including the importance of sustainability and the need for the food sector to adapt to changing consumer preferences and government policies. The hosts expressed concerns about possible isolation due to increased home consumption and the importance of social interaction in dining experiences.In their reflections on the year, LeBlanc and Charlebois discussed the top stories and issues in the food industry, ranging from labour disruptions and supply chain challenges to policy developments affecting the sector. They concluded with positive remarks on the growth and potential of the food industry, looking forward to future developments in 2024.Overall, the episode offered a comprehensive overview of the Canadian food and beverage industry, with insightful discussions on the sector's challenges and opportunities, policy impacts, and consumer trends. FBC's website: FBC – Advocating for food and beverage manufacturing businesses located in urban and rural communities across Canada. (fbc-abc.com)FBC's 2024 pre-budget submission: FBC-ABC.2024.Prebudget.Submission.Final_.pdfFBC's submission to the Pollution Prevention Planning Notice for primary food plastic packaging: FBC-ABC.P2Notice.Submission.30Aug2023.pdf FBC on Twitter and LinkedIn (I would like to think I know all of these off the top of my head, but again – team of 1.2):Twitter: @FoodBevCanadaLinkedIn: LinkedIn Me on Twitter and LinkedIn:Twitter: @krisprouLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-farrell-proulx-b09ba549 About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

In this podcast episode, our special guest, Pierre Petelle, the President and CEO of CropLife Canada, discusses the organization's role and impact in the agricultural industry. CropLife represents companies that produce vital seed technologies and crop protection products in agriculture and public health. Pierre emphasized the evolution of these products, highlighting gene editing as a significant advancement that allows for more precise and affordable crop modifications. He also pointed out the organization's efforts to make science relatable to the public, stressing the importance of these technologies in preventing food waste, improving food affordability, and contributing to carbon sequestration. To help the public understand farming challenges and innovations, CropLife created "Real Farm Lives," a series that showcases Canadian farming families and their commitment to the land. Pierre encouraged an open-minded approach to agricultural technology, advocating for its role as a solution to many pressing environmental and economic issues.In the news, we talk about how Canada's Food Price Report for 2024 "landed," delving into the ethics and economics within the food industry and debating the implications of regulatory measures and the grocery code of conduct.   The conversation then shifts to food safety and recalls, touching on the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes and the complexities of mitigating risks within the food supply chain. They discuss how regulation and consumer behaviour intersect, with Sylvain advocating for better risk communication and Michael highlighting the need for innovative solutions like vertical farming.Additionally, we explore McDonald's new strategy with their new CosMc's concept, aimed at capturing a younger demographic and filling a gap in the mid-afternoon snack segment. Lastly, we touch upon a unique legal case where a woman was given the option to work in fast food as a sentence for assault, reflecting on the creative approach to justice.Overall, the podcast covers the intricate balance between industry practices, consumer expectations, and regulatory frameworks, emphasizing the need for transparency and ethical conduct in addressing the food industry's challenges.Graveyard image Photo by Matthias Müllner on UnsplashAbout PierreInnovation in agriculture is helping Canadian farmers become more productive and sustainable than ever before. As president and CEO of CropLife Canada, my mission is to support our members and advocate for political and regulatory frameworks that continue to enable cutting edge agricultural technologies to come to market in Canada.I am responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of our organization. As an industry we are often faced with misinformation about agricultural technologies like pesticides and plant breeding innovations such as GMOs. I strongly believe in our role, working in partnership with the broader agricultural industry, in telling the positive story of modern agriculture. I am also a firm believer in the power of collaboration when it comes to advancing the common interests of the agriculture industry, which is why we work closely with our partners in the GrowCanada partnership. I'm energised about the future of Canadian agriculture because over the last few decades we've experienced dramatic change, fueled in large part by technological advancements. While farmers are facing some enormous challenges in their efforts to grow food for the world, I'm optimistic that the ingenuity of farmers and the innovation in the plant science industry will make for a bright future for agriculture and food production.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Our special guest on this episode is Alex Green, Chief Experience and Marketing Officer, Longo's, recorded live in person at the Coffee Association of Canada's conference in Toronto.  Alex shares the rich history of Longo's brand and the customer-focused strategies they embrace to win in a hyper-competitive Southern Ontario grocery market.In the news,  get ready for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Canada's just-released Food Price Report 2024, the foremost report on the future of food pricing in Canada.   We also talk about the good and bad news coming out of COP28, Empire/Sobey's CEO Michael Medline's testimony in Ottawa and what that may or may not have accomplished, changes to Kraft's Mac & Cheese, for good or ill, Cheerios packaging fiasco, and the exorcism of ghost kitchens. Click here for Canada's Food Price Report 2024About AlexI believe in remarkable people and their ideas and I'm on a mission to unleash this potential to allow individuals, teams, and organizations to thrive in an ever-changing world. As a seasoned executive, I am at my best when leading teams and brands through transformative change that's grounded in insight. I unlock new value through aligning company, product, service and brand design which is magnified with powerful, fully integrated go-to-market strategies and backed by empowered and motivated teams. I have particularly deep expertise as a Brand and Marketing leader that embraces the exponential value of different versus the incremental value of better. In addition to traditional and digital performance marketing skillsets, I am well-grounded in data & analytics, loyalty program design & CRM, as well as digital product, UX and e-commerce management. These strategic capabilities are paired with a strong optimism bias, resilient mindset and change management and executive coaching certifications. All in support of getting the right ideas to market to navigate disruptive environments and deliver business results.At Longo's, I am loving being at the forefront of a full retail transformation that touches all aspects of our Guest and Team Member experience. It's strategic yet hands-on with a highly entrepreneurial team in a fast-paced and rapidly changing industry. We are testing, learning and improving every day. In support of great ideas everywhere, I recently established RMRKBL, a free presentation training field guide and toolkit designed to help people better express their ideas, so they can get on with changing the world. You can check it out at rmrkbl.ca.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Our special guest is Kelly Higginson, President & CEO of Restaurants Canada, and we dive into the challenges faced by the foodservice industry post-COVID, the role of technology, tipping and the road ahead for a $100Billion industry in Canada where now more than 50 percent of restaurants and foodservice businesses operating at a loss or barely breaking even.In the news, Sylvain presents a new report from the Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Changing Traditions: The Impact of Rising Food Prices on Holiday Meals, and we talk about the cost of a traditional holiday dinner, including egg nog and options for Canadians who are food insecure.  We talk about the state of the The Beer Store in Ontario raising questions about the future of beer regulations and the iconic empties return system. Irony reigns as environmentalists jet to Dubai for COP28. A cantaloupe recall sparks a discussion on its reputation and the shortcomings of Canada's dangerous food alert system. We reflect on the legacy of George Cohon, whose forays into "Burger Diplomacy" in Russia for McDonald's lay in tatters under Putin's rule. Still, his legacy and spirit of generosity shine through Ronald McDonald House. We wrap with the startling twist of strategy with WeightWatchers CEO's surprising shift into buying a company that can prescribe weight loss drugs. About KellyKelly Higginson took on the role of President and CEO of Restaurants Canada after serving the organization as Chief Operating Officer since 2022. Prior to this, she served as the Executive Vice President of Operations at The CFW Group, leading operational strategy for North American hospitality brands like ki modern japanese + bar, The Shore Club and Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House. During her time with The CFW Group, Higginson had first-hand experience navigating copious challenges as she worked to further the development and retention of employees through the global pandemic. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

In this episode, we're joined by Vanessa Toperczer, Senior Vice President of IMI International, recorded at the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference in Toronto. We discuss the importance of brand and brand leadership, plus research insights to fuel profit and growth.Michael talks about his time on the Canadian Grocer Magazine Connex stage, interviewing grocery leaders in Canada. Shout-out to Jamie Nelson, COO of Pattison Food Group, and Susan Niczowski of Summer Fresh Salads as this year's Golden Pencil award winners.We delve into the latest industry news, covering everything from the plastics debate coming out of the Federal Court judgement ruling against the Federal Government and Sobeys' price freeze to the impact of the C-234 protest in the Senate. We talk about the shocking revelations about forced labour in China's seafood supply chain and the immediate ripple effect on Canadian companies like High Liner. About VanessaAs an insight-driven leader, Vanessa is laser-focused on motivating marketers and the C-suite to make strong, fact-based decisions that accelerate their business and maximize ROI.Fueled by intention and curiosity, she has cultivated a 360-degree skill set in the marketing world encompassing Agency, Brand, Not-for-Profit, Social Enterprise and Consumer Insights. Her considerable expertise reaches across brand transformation and optimization, growth strategy development, communications strategy and articulation, product and innovation development, partnership and sponsorship strategy, and team leadership and empowerment.Vanessa is inspired to help others discover a universe of possibilities beyond their own vantage point and empower them to focus on what is truly essential. This passion energizes her work with clients, as a sought-after speaker at events and conferences, and on board and committee roles she holds across multiple organizations. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Our guest on this episode, recorded live at the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference in Toronto, is Rick Brown, President of Foodservice at Circana, Canada.We start with news of worsening food insecurity in Canada, as reported by Statistics Canada in their recent report. Next, we take a virtual tour inside Metro's new high-tech billion-dollar distribution centre in Quebec before Sylvain's in-person visit later this year. We also discuss Metro's recent financial results where, despite labour issues, they report an increase in food same-store sales. Loblaw then takes the spotlight, focusing on its growth in same-store grocery sales and a remarkable 13% surge in e-commerce sales. We then celebrate Loblaw's new small supplier program and its potential positive impact on the industry, and then discuss their position on the Code of Conduct.   We also explore possible changes to Ontario beer retailing.About RickRick leads Circana's Canadian Foodservice, Fashion and Prestige Beauty commercial businesses. With a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Toronto and rigorous training in attitude measurement, statistics and research design, Rick offers Circana's clients customized solutions to help drive business strategies, identify new opportunities, and help better understand consumer behavior. Prior to joining Circana (formerly The NPD Group), Rick worked at the business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan and at the University of Florida on their Attitudes and Persuasion research team. Rick has over 20 years of market research experience, is a published author and a dynamic public speaker who works closely with the major Canadian Foodservice, Fashion and Beauty operators, manufacturers, retailers.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

This episode, released one day later than usual, was recorded live at the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference in Toronto. Our special guest, Lisa Richardson, EVP & COO at Canterbury Coffee, joins us to shed light on their deep expertise in coffee sourcing, roasting, food service and more, which sets them apart in a crowded market. Lisa discusses how Canterbury Coffee adapts to a changing landscape, addresses customer shifts, and focuses on adding value and differentiation in a crowded marketplace, and what makes the "routinely exceptional."In the news, we touch on consumer perceptions of restaurants in the latest research from the Dalhousie Agri-Food Analytics Lab on the Canadian perception of restaurants, the latest on Bill C-234 and the carbon tax carve-out for Canadian farmers, recent investigative reports on China's vast ocean fishing fleets and the abuse of workers on them, and we talk about the great diversity of flavours and locations across the nation featured in Air Canada's en Route magazine feature on the top 10 new restaurants in Canada.  About LisaA passionate, resourceful and innovative Sales Leader with a strong business acumen and progressive sales management, marketing and operations management experience. An authentic, agile and collaborative coach and mentor with a proven track record of translating business goals into workable action plans and building/motivating high performing sales organizations that deliver profitable growth. With over 30 years in the Foodservice industry, offers extensive knowledge of the dynamic industry and both the Operator and Distributor network. Respected as a trusted and effective advocate, advisor & achiever of sustainable results.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Our guest is Gordon Bacon, the CEO Emeritus at Pulse Canada. With over 20 years of leadership in the agricultural sector, advocating for farmers and producers, Gordon has a wealth of wisdom and insights to share. We'll dive into his journey, advocacy for the agricultural sector, and the importance of pulse crops in the industry.  Stay tuned for valuable advice for aspiring leaders in agriculture and personal lessons learned from Gordon's time as CEO of Pulse Canada, shaping his approach to leadership and advocacy in the agricultural world. Take advantage of this enlightening conversation with a true industry expert.In the news: the carbon tax and the BOC's recent statements, CDC's decision on milk prices, and the age-old question, is food recession-proof? Plus, farewell to The founder of Smokes Poutine, Ryan Smokily, who left us this week.Reminder to join us at the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference in Toronto on November 9th for a day of networking, trends, insights, and data. About GordonGordon Bacon was the founding CEO of Pulse Canada and served in this position from 1997 to 2021.  He was also CEO of the Canadian Special Crops Association, the Canadian trade association for companies involved in trading peas, lentils, beans and chickpeas.  He now works as a consultant on projects related to food and environmental sustainability.Gordon was an executive member of the Global Pulse Confederation and played a key role in having the United Nations declare 2016 as "International Year of Pulses".  Prior to his market development work in the wheat and pulse sectors, Gordon served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture in Ottawa and has been a farm owner and operator in Saskatchewan.In 2012 Gordon was presented with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.  In 2021 The Canadian Western Agribition recognized him as one of the top 50 most influential people in Canadian agriculture.  In November of 2021 Gordon was inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to the latest episode of The Food Professor podcast! In this episode, we've got an exceptional treat for you. Recorded live at SIAL 2023, our guest is none other than the game-changing innovator B.K. Sethi, whose impact on Canadian food stores is nothing short of revolutionary.Before we dive into this exclusive conversation, a quick reminder: mark your calendars for the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference on November 9th in Toronto. It's a day filled with networking, trends, insights, and data, and you can grab your tickets via the link in our show notes. Michael has some exciting news: he'll be moderating a panel of grocery industry leaders, including the CEOs and Presidents of Walmart Canada, Longo's, and Save-On-Foods, at the Canadian Grocer's GroceryConnex event on November 20th. Take advantage of these fantastic events!Now, onto the latest food industry news:We've got insights from a new report on seafood consumption conducted by researchers Dr. Stefanie Colombo and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois in partnership with Angus Reid. Discover the fascinating purchasing habits of Canadians when it comes to fish and seafood. From British Columbia topping the charts to surprising preferences and consumption patterns, it's a deep dive into Canadian seafood choices.Grocers are back in the spotlight as an agricultural committee summons them to the principal's office. We'll explore the implications of Ottawa's scrutiny and how it's affecting the grocery industry.The St. Lawrence Seaway strike raises questions about its importance and the demands of the 300 people involved. Is it worth it, and what could it mean for the food supply chain?We'll also discuss the latest findings from Restaurants Canada, shedding light on the ongoing impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry.Sadly, there's some pickle news, with Canadian company Whyte's Foods filing for bankruptcy. Remember those Strub's garlic kosher pickles? We certainly do.As Halloween approaches, be prepared for "trickflation." Find out why some candies are shrinking in size just in time for the spooky season.And, we pay tribute to George Sukornyk, the co-founder of Harvey's hamburger chain, whose legacy lives on in the Canadian fast-food scene.You won't want to miss this episode with all this on the menu. Stay tuned for a captivating discussion with B.K. Sethi is the man who transformed Canadian food stores and stayed informed about the latest developments in the world of food. About B.K.With over 46 years of practical experience in selling and marketing, coupled with my education in Marketing, I have enjoyed my career. I have been working with multinational CPG companies as well my Ethnic Food Importers, distributors and marketers becoming Canada's largest Authentic Ethnic Multicultural Food distributor (1982-2012). Currently working as a Marketing Consultant specializing in the growing Ethnic Market and providing strategic direction, planning, execution, promotional guidance, distribution selection and training.https://www.amazon.ca/Meet-BK-Ethnic-Food-Aisle/dp/1738978206/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1BEVULUQ3HH9A&keywords=Meet+BK+in+the+Ethnic+Food+Aisle%3A+A+Memoir+of+the+Man+Who+Changed+Canadian+Food+Stores+Forever&qid=1698265823&sprefix=meet+bk+in+the+ethnic+food+aisle+a+memoir+of+the+man+who+changed+canadian+food+stores+forever+%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting a true Canadian icon, Ricardo – a renowned chef, author, television personality, and entrepreneur. Notably, he's a recipient of the Order of Canada and the Ordre national du Québec for his contributions to the nation. Even after selling his business to Sobeys in 2021, Ricardo continues to be a media and food powerhouse, producing content at a prodigious level. In the news, we discuss the mighty Mississippi Waterway, the impacts on this climate change transportation corridor, and its North American food cost implications. We explore pressing topics like the Dairy Farmers' recent decisions to hold back on recommending a rate increase for 2024 and the fifth anniversary of cannabis legalization from both positive and negative angles. We unpack what a SNAP program is and how it could help feed Canadians that need help. Lastly, Michael visits Harlem and Red Rooster restaurant. Be sure to check out the Coffee Association of Canada's annual conference, and stop by and say hi to Sylvain and Michael in their pop-up podcast studio! About RicardoChef, author, television personality, entrepreneur: Ricardo is all that. Recognized throughout Canada, he represents a brand that embodies a contemporary vision of family life. His mission? To inspire, educate and bring people together to cook and eat together.His company offers a multiplatform culinary experience to Canadians. Among its main achievements:a magazine read by over 650,000 people every issuericardocuisine.com, the reference among Canadian cooking websites, with 7,000 recipes and 4.4 million monthly visitorsOver 1.2 million fans on social mediaa television show on ICI Radio-Canada Télé for the past 21 years and a number of other productions presented here and abroad13 books in French and 6 books in English, all bestsellersthree boutiques and three restaurants in Saint-Lambert, Quebec City and Lavalan online boutique offering the entire range of RICARDO productsa RICARDO ready-to-eat counter at the Galeries de la Capitale in Quebec Citya collection of cooking accessories available in 600 outlets across Canadaa range of over 100 RICARDO food products available exclusively at IGA, including some now sold in Sobeys stores in OntarioTrained at the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ), Ricardo continued his studies with a degree in broadcasting from Ottawa's Algonquin College before embarking on his well-known career as a communicator.Over the last several years, Ricardo was appointed to the Order of Canada and the Ordre national du Québec, thanks to his efforts to make the culinary arts accessible to all and for his involvement in various social causes. In 2017, he received an honorary degree from the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec for his career achievements. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in nutrition by Université Laval along with his wife Brigitte for their contributions to culinary issues and nutrition in Quebec.A man of compassion, Ricardo has been the spokesperson for over 15 years for La Tablée des Chefs, an organization whose mission is to feed people in need and to develop culinary education for youth. His commitment and devotion to young people has been rewarded with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.Lastly, along with architect Pierre Thibault and triathlete Pierre Lavoie, Ricardo is one of the founding members of Lab-École, a non-profit organization that aims to bring together multidisciplinary expertise to design the environment of tomorrow's schools.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

The Business of Meetings – Episode 188 – How to Measure Behavioral Changes and Learning and Development with Chris Taylor Today, we have the great pleasure of speaking with Chris Taylor, the Founder and CEO of Actionable.co, a company at the forefront of revolutionizing how organizations measure the impact of their investments in learning and development.  There are many parallels and commonalities between the meetings and events industry and the work Chris is doing. He joins us today to discuss some valuable insights revealed in a survey, share stories, and impart the wisdom he has amassed throughout his journey. Bio: Actionable.co CEO Chris Taylor works at the leading edge of learning sustainment and impact measurement for progressive organizations. Described once by a client as "a curious blend of Boomer and Gen-Y”, Chris is often called upon to act as a bridge and translator between generations at work, our new state of constant change, and the impact technology has on team dynamics. He brings a self-deprecating sense of humor and groundedness to his keynotes and workshops, ensuring attendees leave inspired and well-equipped to drive real change back in the workplace. Through Actionable.co, Chris brings empirical evidence and stories to illustrate how we measure ROI on corporate learning initiatives and the systems to ensure every program creates a lasting impact. He has personally consulted with over 400 organizations across six countries in almost any sector you can name. In addition to being a regular speaker for both public and private events, Chris has penned over 150 articles for dozens of publications, been quoted in The National Post, Toronto Star, and Globe & Mail, and hosted 90+ thought leader interviews for the iTunes #2 ranked business podcast, The 21st Century Workplace. Chris's story Chris embarked on his first business venture at the age of twelve. Later, with dreams of becoming a film producer, he pursued a path in film school, only to realize its challenges. He then shifted his focus to sales and marketing, discovering a profound passion for sales leadership and the art of selling. In his early 20s, he successfully ran his own business, but success got the better of him, and his arrogance led to its downfall, motivating him to embark on a soul-searching journey to understand where he went wrong. That journey disillusioned him with how information got consumed conventionally and drove him to explore the transformative power of how a different learning application could lead to changes in behavior, eventually leading him to create a training company. His company eventually evolved into a licensing business and became a software company. Actionable.co satisfied his desire to quantify and improve how learning gets applied.  Chris currently resides in Toronto with his wife and two children and frequently divides his time between Canada and Australia. Key Insights from the Survey on Achieving Impact through Training From a recent survey focused on achieving impact through training programs, several pivotal insights emerged, emphasizing the critical interplay between content, context, and personal relevance in driving successful behavioral changes.  Content-Context Balance to Elevate Training Effectiveness One of the central findings of the survey underscored the significance of the content-context ratio within organizational training programs. Traditionally, many training sessions focus on cramming as much information as possible into a limited timeframe. However, that approach often needs to pay more attention to the essential element of context. The survey revealed that the emphasis has to shift in order for training to lead to changes in behavior.  More Effective Training Sessions Training sessions should not merely deliver information but also provide an environment where participants can reflect and answer the fundamental question, "So what?”. For optimal results, training initiatives should allocate a minimum of three to one, ideally, five to one, in terms of time spent on context building versus content delivery. By affording participants ample time and space for self-reflection, the training becomes more effective in promoting meaningful change. The Power of Personal Relevance Executives may articulate why a change is vital at a high organizational level. Yet, genuine motivation for change only arises when individuals discern how that change would affect them personally. So, a connection between training content and unique aspirations, challenges, and objectives of every individual is required to foster deeper motivation and commitment to change. Training programs should create an environment that encourages participants to reflect on and internalize the content. Leveraging Meetings and Events for Organizational Impact For professionals in the meetings and events industry, the survey findings emphasized the potential for meetings and events to become instrumental in driving organizational impact. Events can serve as valuable touchpoints for organizations, effectively communicating their goals and objectives. Including meaningful content-context discussions and ensuring that the content resonates personally with the attendees allows meetings and events to become catalysts for changing how people behave within organizations. Demonstrating the Long-Term Impact of Meetings and Events Incorporating training and learning components into events presents an opportunity for organizations to showcase their long-term impact. By tracking the behavior changes of event attendees over time, organizations can establish a direct link between the event and outcomes such as improved employee retention, increased sales, or enhanced leadership skills.  The Power of Defining Event Objectives Defining a clear objective for an event and measuring its progress allows organizations to ensure that their event will drive meaningful change and align with strategic priorities. Integrating Training Components into Events for More Impact By integrating training and learning components into events and measuring their long-term impact, organizations can demonstrate the value of those initiatives and justify investing in them. Smaller Cohorts and Accountability in Learning Smaller cohorts of around five to eight participants are ideal for fostering engagement and driving change. Accountability partners also play a significant role in maintaining commitment to learning and change. Emphasizing one behavior change at a time and implementing accountability measures allows organizations to increase the likelihood of participants successfully applying their new knowledge and skills. Overcoming Business Challenges with Humility  An important lesson Chris learned was the value of seeking honest and sometimes critical feedback from trusted advisors. Surrounding yourself with people who challenge your ideas and provide candid assessments can lead to more informed decisions and ultimately contribute to resilience and business growth.   Connect with Eric LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Website   Connect with Chris Taylor LinkedIn Actionable.co website Actionable.co resources  

Our exceptional guest on this episode is Kirstin Beardsley, CEO at Food Banks Canada, who discusses food insecurity in Canada and the great work done by food banks across Canada to help bridge the gap for an increasingly large and changing nature of the population.Sylvain and I discuss the horror and murder in Israel and the impacts on food or commodity prices. We talk about Sylvain's upcoming testimony in Ottawa (well, in Halifax, really), for the 18th time in his career with the Department of Finance, pre-budget consultations, the Federal government's Thanksgiving press conference and their own response, or lack thereof, to food affordability in Canada. We also highlight the significance of addressing sales taxes on various food products and tackling the issue of "shrink-inflation." The episode also delves into the triggering of the "exceptional circumstance mechanism" by the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers as they try to prevent an increase in dairy prices and the relative cost delta between Canada and the U.S. in the industrial cost of dairy. Lastly, we talk about the short and long-run issues of significant weight loss in society thanks to semaglutide injections, also known as Wegovy or Ozempic and Sylvain's  8th book, out this week, "La part du gâteau" i.e. Our piece of the pie: today's food geopolitics."About KristinKirstin Beardsley stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer of Food Banks Canada on February 1, 2022. Prior to leading the network of over 4,700 food banks and community agencies, Kirstin was Food Banks Canada's bilingual Chief Network Services Officer and was responsible for leading transformational change in the food banking system in Canada. With a strong and deep understanding of food insecurity in Canada, and of the work of the food banking network, Kirstin has provided leadership to the organization's strategic plans and task forces over the past 8 years. In her role as Chief Network Services Officer, Kirstin led robust new system wide approaches to learning, government relations, advocacy, research, national funds distribution and a range of programs supporting the ten provincial organizations to improve the effectiveness of local food banks.Kirstin is from Ottawa, Ontario but now calls Toronto home. During her time away from work, Kirstin enjoys spending time with her family. Kirstin is passionate about working towards the Food Banks Canada vision of a Canada where no one goes hungry and is just as passionate about the incredible people in food banking who are making a difference every day in the lives of so many.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

In this episode, we are joined by the esteemed journalist Marie-Eve Fournier, known for her work with prominent Canadian publications like Lesaffaires, Rue Frontenac, Le Journal de Montréal, and Radio-Canada before joining La Presse in 2013. Marie-Eve has received several awards, including the prestigious Judith-Jasmin and Kenneth R. Wilson prizes.The conversation starts with a congratulatory note to premier-elect Wab Kinew, who made history by becoming Manitoba's first First Nations premier. The discussion touches on the challenges and opportunities in Manitoba's political landscape and seeks advice for the incoming Premier.We delve into the hot topic of the carbon tax, highlighting a viral post by @PierrePoilievre, discussing whether retweets imply agreement and the workings of the independent crown corporation, BOC.Shifting gears, we explore the latest research from the Lab, revealing that a significant percentage of Canadians have altered their grocery shopping habits and become more price-conscious.The conversation moves to international relations as we discuss India's reduced imports of Canadian lentils and the potential fallout on Canada's agricultural sector.Switching to economic matters, we touch on California's new $20/hour minimum wage, contrasting it with the national average for fast-food workers and highlighting its significance for the livelihoods of many Californians and the implications of adopting technology in the fast-food sector across North America.The episode wraps up with an intriguing question: Are humans inherently inclined towards vegetarianism? A new study on vegetarian genetics sparks curiosity and sets the stage for future discussions.About Marie-Eve With degrees in business management (HEC Montréal), journalism (Université Laval), public relations (Université de Montréal) as well as Arts and media technologies (Cégep de Jonquière), Marie-Eve Fournier writes for the French daily newspaper La Presse, in Québec, since 2013. She also completed the Canadian Securities Course. Today, as a columnist, she focusses on personal finance and consumer trends but never miss a good food story as she is passionate about the topic. Previously, she specialized in retail and the food industry topics for more than 15 years. Marie-Eve also worked for Les Affaires, Rue Frontenac, Le Journal de Montréal and Radio-Canada. Her honors include a Judith-Jasmin Award and a Kenneth R. Wilson Award. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to the Food Professor Podcast, Season 4, Episode 2! Our exceptional guest is Gregg Curwin, the President & CEO at Novagevity and their Sperri brand. He's an Ag Tech entrepreneur with a 20-year history of breakthrough thinking, and he's currently focused on the intersection of health, technology, and agriculture. We dive right into the discussion:1. Food Affordability Meetings with Minister Champagne: Michael brings up the recent meetings, likening them to the second Ghost Busters film—similar script, less excitement, and some notable absences. We discuss notable manufacturer absences and insights into what we can expect in the coming weeks. Will there be any discounts on turkey and pumpkins for Halloween? Shrinkflation labels on shelves?2. Bank of Canada's Carbon Tax Inflation Model: Michael inquires about the Bank of Canada sending Sylvain some work on how they arrived at 0.15% inflation for the carbon tax. The Professor gives it a D+3. Stats Canada's Population Report: The discussion then shifts to Stats Canada's latest report on the population, with a surprising focus on temporary foreign workers. Sylvain shares the statistics, highlighting the significant increase in workers with permits. The conversation delves into the implications of this trend on the Canadian population and economy.4. Food Insecurity in Canada: Michael brings up a concerning report from Food Banks Canada, revealing that nearly 7 million Canadians are struggling to put food on the table. 5. KD's Refresh and "Cancel Coverage": Shifting gears, the hosts discuss Kraft Dinner's (KD) refresh in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) world. They also introduced a unique initiative, "Cancel Coverage," to cover restaurant reservation cancellation fees so you can stay home and eat KD!About GreggGregg Curwin has an extensive background in commercializing high-value Ag Tech and health careapplications. Many of his companies have been operating for nearly 20 years and have become the go-to source for customers in their respective markets. Gregg is often called upon to speak on business design, the future of farming, food security and sustainable business practices. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

For our season debut episode, we decided to catch up on the top issues brewing over the summer, with kids back in school and plenty of topics to discuss.  Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne meetings with the big five in Ottawa certainly caught our attention. Sylvain was there and shed some light on how the meeting came about and the objectives and deliverables coming out of those meetings.Food inflation has been a hot topic, easing at 6.8%. How is Sylvain thinking about food inflation for the rest of the year and prospects for 2024?The Bank of Canada claims that 0.15% of inflation is due to the carbon tax.Let's zoom out and discuss the state of the food and packaged goods industry in Canada. We've seen a frozen pizza brand exit earlier this year; another brand is also pulling out. What's driving these departures?On a different note, how important is India to the Ag sector in Canada?Turning our attention to international matters, there's an update on the war in Ukraine, with Zelensky visiting New York and Ottawa.We're also saddened to hear about Oylmel shutting down more processing plants, leaving 400 people looking for work. We talk about the industry's future, especially with 40,000 open positions in manufacturing in Canada. It's time to invest in technology rather than relying solely on foreign temp workers.Moving on to the restaurant industry, Restaurants Canada is raising alarms about government funding extensions falling short, especially with the stats showing that people are eating out less. It's a double-edged sword.And finally, we'll wrap up by discussing the fantastic world of Portuguese sardines. There's exciting news about a second store location opening in Times Square.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions and updates on the Food Professor Podcast. Thanks for joining us today!Coffee Association of Canada conferenceAbout UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Get ready for another blockbuster season of Canada's top food industry and Canadian-produced management podcast, The Food Professor! I'm Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and author of eight books.And I'm Michael LeBlanc, senior retail advisor, keynote speaker, producer, and host of a series of retail industry trade podcasts, including this one.Each week, we'll serve up and curate the top topics in the food, restaurant and grocery industry and go behind the headline, around the social media nonsense and counter the spin to talk about the real story important to the food industry and Canadians.There has never been a more critical time to understand the food and restaurant industry dynamics. You might hear or see me on media for sound bites on the vital stories - in The Food Professor podcast, with the help of guests you want to hear from, we'll dig deeper to understand the depth of perspectives you need to hear.So us join weekly on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to your podcasts today. New episodes every Thursday, and we can't wait to have you join us.'We're looking forward to another great season - don't miss a single episode!  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to a special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast recorded live in our on-site podcasting studio at the SIAL Food Innovation show in Toronto.  Over three great days in May, Sylvain and I met dozens of food innovators and thought leaders; these are their stories.  We're sure you will enjoy hearing these incredible interviews as much as we enjoy hosting the conversations. Stay tuned for season four of The Food Professor podcast, Canada's top food industry and Canadian-produced independent management podcasts, when we return live on the mic Thursday, September 21stOn this episode meet Isabelle Marquis, Senior food strategist & Sustainable Development expert and Linda Fox, Regional Innovation Director (Ontario), Canadian Food Innovation NetworkIf you like what you heard, please follow us on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform so that you can catch up with all our great interviews, including celebrity chef, restauranteur and entrepreneur Chuck Hughes from Montreal.Have a safe summer, everyone. About Isabelle A nutrition, food marketing and communications professional with over 20 years of experience, Isabelle Marquis has a unique multidisciplinary know-how acquired both in consulting agencies and in food processing companies. Recognized for her great rigor, her contagious passion and her strategic creativity, Isabelle is also an outstanding communicator who knows how to inspire as well as mobilize.As Director of Marketing, Mass Distribution and HRI at Groupe Première Moisson Inc. she was responsible for numerous innovation projects and product launches, in addition to actively contributing to business development in the Canadian and American markets. Today, Ms. Marquis is a freelance consultant who assists companies of all sizes in the Quebec and Canadian food sector with their communication, marketing and innovation strategies. Innovation Ambassador for SIAL Canada since 2018, she also collaborates with specialized magazines and on the show L'épicerie on Ici Radio-Canada Télé. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to a special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast recorded live in our on-site podcasting studio at the SIAL Food Innovation show in Toronto.  Over three great days in May, Sylvain and I met dozens of food innovators and thought leaders; these are their stories.  We're sure you will enjoy hearing these incredible interviews as much as we enjoy hosting the conversations. Stay tuned for season four of The Food Professor podcast, Canada's top food industry and Canadian-produced independent management podcasts, when we return live on the mic Thursday, September 21stOn this episode meet Birendra "Jopy" Perera, Marketing Director at Mlesna Ceylon Ltd & Gail Gastelu, Owner, Publisher at The Tea House TimesIf you like what you heard, please follow us on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform so that you can catch up with all our great interviews, including celebrity chef, restauranteur and entrepreneur Chuck Hughes from Montreal.Have a safe summer, everyone.About Birendra As a director of Mlesna Group, Birendra leads the marketing and export of tea; actively participates in the procurement of tea at public auctions; procures unique flavours and ingredients; and expertly carries out daily tea tasting and blending activities ensuring all Mlesna products match their tagline, “Naturally the best!” since 1983; a family tradition of producing specialized tea products for connoisseurs the world over.Sharing his expertise of tea and international marketing within niche markets, Birendra has worked with major universities; is a regular presenter at the Mel's Tea Academy of Sri Lanka; and works closely with the Colombo Tea Traders Association and the Sri Lanka Tea Board on promotion, authenticity and the global marketing of Pure Ceylon Tea from Sri Lanka.About GailAlways looking for that next great opportunity to advance everyone in the tea industry and also working with members of my family on businesses they own. We are entrepreneurs at heart and want to help you succeed! If I can dream it up, it will happen. ~ If you dream it up, ask me to help. Yes, my "experience" list is accurate with dates. It looks like a lot at once, but I am holding down several roles and positions in the tea industry through several companies I personally own and manage; at the same time advising or leading in other businesses with similar marketing and promotional goals which are also owned by family members. True, I am a workaholic! It's all good! https://www.linkedin.com/in/ggastelu/ About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to a special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast recorded live in our on-site podcasting studio at the SIAL Food Innovation show in Toronto.  Over three great days in May, Sylvain and I met dozens of food innovators and thought leaders; these are their stories.  We're sure you will enjoy hearing these incredible interviews as much as we enjoy hosting the conversations. Stay tuned for season four of The Food Professor podcast, Canada's top food industry and Canadian-produced independent management podcasts, when we return live on the mic Thursday, September 21stOn this episode meet Silvio Serrano, House of ExteIf you like what you heard, please follow us on Apple, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform so that you can catch up with all our great interviews, including celebrity chef, restauranteur and entrepreneur Chuck Hughes from Montreal.Have a safe summer, everyone. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America

Welcome to The Voice of Retail. I'm your host Michael LeBlanc. This podcast is brought to you in conjunction with Retail Council of Canada.Meet Albert Chow, the Co-Founder and CEO of Silk & Snow, a digitally native retailer of thoughtfully made sleep essentials, ranked as one of Canada's top-growing companies by the Globe & Mail and Canadian Business and joining Endy and Casper as a recent addition to Sleep Country's fantastic roster of properties—a great story of inspiration and perspiration, a true Canadian eCommerce and soon-to-be physical retail success story.    About AlbertAlbert is the Co-Founder and CEO of Silk & Snow, a digitally native retailer of thoughtfully made sleep essentials, which has been ranked as one of Canada's top-growing companies by the Globe & Mail and Canadian Business for four consecutive years.  Albert led Silk & Snow to an eventual acquisition by Sleep Country, and is now part of Sleep Country's senior leadership team. Prior to starting Silk & Snow, Albert led technology-driven change at some of Canada's largest retailers, including Loblaws, Canadian Tire and TELUS. About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.   Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row. Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Canada's top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail. He produces and co-hosts Remarkable Retail with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world. Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers. Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America. 

I'm thrilled to introduce the incomparable Eleanor Beaton, one of my mentors, and a dear friend.   We dove right in, sharing revelations of raising teenagers and discuss the beauty of staying present as both our personal lives and businesses undergo change.   We laugh as we confirm the constant thrill of how self-doubt evolves and gets sneakier and sneakier as you continue to evolve, expand and grow your legacy.   And then there was the time that fear caused Eleanor to lose her voice at one of the biggest moments of her entrepreneurial journey and what she did with that.   Eleanor's words resonate deeply: the importance of being the "same woman" in every facet of life and the profound realization that we might be building businesses we don't truly desire.   So grab your coffee or tea and let's dive in.   More Love,   Tracy The Consciousness Revolution Gala is happening Friday, September 29!    Join us for an unprecedented evening of growth, connection, and ascension with a revolutionary keynote by MARIANNE WILLIAMSON, and the debut of The Litt Factor's Brand New Contribution to the calling forth of a kinder world, a higher collective consciousness, and the next stages of human and spiritual evolution. (In-Person & Virtual Tickets Available)    The Consciousness Revolution Gala Grab your free copy of Expander   Love the show?! Please leave a review. Thank you so much! Your feedback means the world to us.   Let's keep the conversation going!  Website: TheLittFactor.com YouTube: Tracy Litt  Facebook: The Litt Factor Instagram: @thelittfactor   About Eleanor: Eleanor Beaton is the founder of Safi Media, an education & coaching company for women entrepreneurs. Safi Media is committed to advancing global gender equity one woman-owned business at a time. Together with her colleagues, Eleanor is on a mission to double the number of women entrepreneurs who scale past $1M in revenue by 2030 using the Jewel Business Model.   Eleanor hosts the Anchored Intelligence podcast, a top-ranked podcast for female founders with over 1.6 million downloads to date. The former chair of the Visiting Women's Executive Exchange Program at the Yale School of Management, Eleanor has been featured in publications including The Globe & Mail, The Atlantic, CBC, Chatelaine and more. Connect with Eleanor: LinkedIn: Eleanor Beaton IG: @eleanorbeaton

Shawn Kanungo, a globally recognized innovation strategist and disruption expert, bestselling author, and a wildly popular keynote speaker who was named in Forbes as the “Best Virtual Keynote Speaker I've Ever Seen” joins me on this episode. Shawn previously spent 12 years at Deloitte working closely with leaders to better plan for the opportunities associated with disruptive innovation. Shawn is a partner with Queen & Rook, where he advises leading organizations and executives on disruptive trends. His work and interviews have been featured in various media outlets including Forbes, The Globe & Mail, The Guardian, CBC, and CTV. Topics we cover include the pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of Shawn's life, embracing the darkness, unlearning limiting mindsets, a brief discussion of The Bold Ones, the #1 question Shawn is asked, and more. Get connected with Shawn: Website: https://shawnkanungo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnkanungo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnkanungo/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnkanungo/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnKanungo Purchase a copy of The Bold Ones: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Ones-Innovate-Disrupt-Indispensable/dp/1264669151  Leave a 5-star review with a comment on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-minds-coffee-chat/id1539014324  Subscribe to my Business Builder Newsletter: https://bit.ly/32y0YxJ  Want to learn how you can work with me to gain more clarity, build a rock-solid foundation for your business, and achieve the results and success you deserve? Visit http://jayscherrbusinessconsulting.com/ and schedule a 1:1 discovery coaching call. Enjoy, thanks for listening, and please share with a friend! To your success, Jay

Thanh Pham has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, The Guardian, The Globe & Mail, and many other publications as a thought leader on productivity. Currently, he is the managing director of Asian Efficiency and co-host of the leading productivity podcast The Productivity Show (over 13 million downloads). Since 2011, Thanh has written over 500 newsletters and blog posts on productivity/efficiency. Thanh is a serial entrepreneur having started multiple businesses including a web dev agency, event production and executive training company. His company Asian Efficiency has a philosophy that you should be able to do everything you want in the limited time that you have without having to sacrifice your health, family, and things that matter to you. Thanh and his business take a different approach than most “productivity gurus” and other methodologies. In this interview Thanh reveals; • How Thanh progressed from graduating college to launching an entrepreneurial start up. (1:44). • The biggest misconception about productivity. (4:38) • The two top reasons why multi-tasking is a waste of time. (6:57) • How do you know you've had a productive day? (9:54) • The power of journaling and reflection. (11:54) • How to achieve clarity, certainty, consistency and celebration. (14:21) • How to maximize your time and energy. (15:58) • The secret way to implement small changes to increase productivity. (19:03) • The importance of setting a daily target for sleep. (21:49) And so much more! You can find out about the Productivity Podcast here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-productivity-show/id955075042 And head to https://www.asianefficiency.com/start-here/