Podcasts about Sobeys

If you've been listening to our Defy Dementia podcast, watching our videos, or exploring our infographics, we'd love to hear what you think. We are asking our audience to complete a short survey to share how you have used the information we provide, as well as provide your feedback and help us improve the show.  Everything you share is completely confidential, and it's entirely voluntary — you can stop at any time. You can find the survey here: https://redcap.link/Defy_Dementia Could a routine vaccine help protect your brain? In this episode, we explore emerging research on the association between shingles vaccination and reduced dementia risk. Ron Swan shares his perspective as a community advocate focused on aging and accessibility, while Dr. Dawn Bowdish (Professor, McMaster University) breaks down what the science says, and what it doesn't, about how vaccines may influence brain health. Together, they unpack what shingles is and what “promising but early” research about shingles vaccination could mean for reducing dementia risk. Tune in at defydementia.org, or wherever you get your podcasts. Guests: Ron Swan is a retired business development professional and entrepreneur with a strong focus on accessibility and aging-in-place. He founded Home Safe Living, a company that provided independent living and accessibility solutions across the Maritime region before selling the business to Lawton's Drugs, a Sobeys company. A passionate advocate for older adults, Ron continues to contribute through leadership roles, including Chair of the Board of CARP Nova Scotia and past Chair of the Seniors' Advisory Council of Nova Scotia. He is frequently called upon to speak on aging, accessibility and community well-being. Dr. Bowdish is a Professor at McMaster University and Executive Director of the Firestone Institute of Respiratory Health. Her research focuses on how aging affects the immune system, particularly how inflammation alters immune cell function and increases susceptibility to infections. Her work also examines how the aging immune system interacts with the microbiome and how these processes influence healthy and unhealthy aging. Dr. Bowdish leads the Preclinical Studies in Aging Laboratory and serves on the Board of Directors of the Lung Health Foundation, where she advocates for improved lung health and research funding for older adults.

This episode is sponsored by Points, a Plusgrade company. Read more about their Exchange solution as a growth channel for loyalty programs here.Scene+ is a Canadian customer loyalty the program that was born from the union of Cineplex's SCENE program and Scotiabank's Scotia Rewards, and it has grown dramatically since. Today, Scene+ has more than 15 million members and is co-owned by Scotiabank, Empire Company Limited (2nd largest food retailer, Sobeys and other brands), and Cineplex (largest movie theatre operator). It spans categories including entertainment, groceries, travel, banking, home improvement — and now, as of early 2026 in partnership with Shell, fuel — making it one of the most comprehensive loyalty ecosystems in Canada.Wise Marketer Group's CMO Aaron Dauphinee sits down with the President of Scene+, Tracey Pearce to have a candid conversation about the growth at Scene+, how and why the loyalty landscape has shifted in Canada, and her focus on maximizing value for her members.Show Notes:1) Tracey Pearce2)Scene+3) Wolf Hall - Book Recommendation

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Trinh Tham, CEO of the Kevito Group, operator of Chatime and Bake Code—two of Canada's fastest-growing quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands. Tham shares a compelling leadership journey spanning grocery retail, luxury fashion, and now high-growth foodservice, offering a masterclass in brand building, cultural authenticity, and scaling modern food concepts. Tham explains how her career—rooted in marketing, e-commerce, and digital merchandising at leading organizations like Sobeys and Harry Rosen—prepared her to lead in an entrepreneurial environment. She discusses the intentional pivot into a purpose-driven role aligned with her cultural heritage, helping bring globally inspired Asian beverage and bakery concepts into the Canadian mainstream. Under her leadership, Chatime has grown to over 100 locations, capitalizing on the explosive popularity of bubble tea—a category she describes as still early in its growth curve in Canada. A central theme is the balance between authenticity and localization. Tham outlines how Kevito adapts global food trends for Canadian consumers while preserving the cultural DNA that gives these brands credibility. She also breaks down the operational realities of scaling a franchise system, including managing costs, driving unit economics, and maintaining consistency—all while innovating with new products and experiences. Her perspective on building versus managing a business—and her emphasis on relationships, creativity, and disciplined execution—offers valuable insights for food entrepreneurs and retail leaders alike. Before the interview, the hosts unpack the week's food and agriculture news. Key topics include shifting consumer attitudes toward sustainability amid economic pressure, rising food inflation (still among the highest in the G7), and new data identifying Canada's most and least expensive cities for grocery shopping. The episode also dives into global trade tensions impacting agri-food, including beef pricing pressures, supply chain dynamics, and potential import strategies to ease consumer costs. Additional discussion touches on farmland policy, grocery labour disruptions, and the ongoing complexity of food affordability. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Sheetz hits a major sustainability milestone, Canadian grocer Sobeys readies electronic shelf label technology, and C-store employees enter the Private Label Hall of Fame.

Selon une enquête de CBC, les épiceries canadiennes de Loblaws et Sobeys surfacturent encore la viande, et ce faisant des milliers de Canadiens se retrouvent à payer plus cher la viande qu’elle ne le coûte réellement. Entrevue avec Sylvain Charlebois, directeur scientifique du laboratoire de sciences analytiques en agroalimentaire de l’Université Dalhousie, suivi de la tribune téléphonique. Regardez aussi cette discussion en vidéo via https://www.qub.ca/videos ou en vous abonnant à QUB télé : https://www.tvaplus.ca/qub ou sur la chaîne YouTube QUB https://www.youtube.com/@qub_radio Pour de l'information concernant l'utilisation de vos données personnelles - https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener/fr

Federal Liberals win all three by-elections to give Prime Minister Mark Carney a majority government. Carney government announces temporary suspension of federal tax on gas and diesel fuel until Labour Day. Ambassadors from Lebanon and Israel expected to hold first direct talks in decades today in Washington. International Monetary Fund lays out 3 global scenarios based on length of the war in Iran... All involve higher energy prices. Alberta's nursing union calls on AB Premier Danielle Smith to speed up plans for weapon detectors in hospitals. Australian actress Ruby Rose accuses Katy Perry of sexual assault, which singer denies. CBC News secret-shoppers uncover Loblaw, Sobeys still overcharging customers for underweight meat.

Fully & Completely: redux - We Are the SameThe Hip's most divisive record. The one that feels beige on first listen and breaks your heart on the fifth. jD and Greg LeGros go track by track through "We Are the Same" - and they don't hold back.jD and Greg LeGros return for the 17th anniversary episode of the "We Are the Same" deep dive. The album nobody fully agreed on when it dropped in 2009, and the one that keeps climbing anyway. The production is neutered, Bob Rock wanted to sell records out of Starbucks, and yet - 'Depression Suite' is sitting right there in the middle of it, ten minutes long, and it is a monster.They go track by track. 'Morning Moon.' 'Honey Please.' 'The Last Recluse.' 'Coffee Girl' (controversial, stay with them). 'Now the Struggle Has a Name' - which turns out to be about something much bigger than the melody suggests. And 'The Depression Suite,' which gets called hookless by critics in 2009 and is, in fact, enormously hooky.Greg lands on 'The Last Recluse' as his takeaway song. jD goes with 'Depression Suite' but admits he's going to listen to 'The Struggle Has a Name' twice on the drive home with a different set of ears. There's a Sobeys story. There's a Gandharvas rabbit hole. There's a Honey Watson correction that opens the whole album up.This is Fully & Completely: Redux. It's the same DNA as the original run. Not a sequel - a reunion. Start at the start.What We Get Into'Morning Moon' - The most complete recording on the album. Neil Young-adjacent, not in a bad way. Should have been the first single. Greg connects it to listening out a charter bus window watching Ontario roll by, and it clicks. The plume of smoke across the lake from Bath studio. Labour Day. Makes sense.'Honey Please' - The Springsteen opening that the production keeps from becoming what it should be. Mission statement buried in the first verse: I don't want to look for words, I don't want to work that hard. jD reads it as Gord's note to himself - and maybe Bob Rock's - for this entire record.'The Last Recluse' - Tragically Hip at their most Radiohead-adjacent, which is not a sentence you write about many Hip songs. A Springsteen-y tragic love story. The Radiohead gang vocal at the end earns its place. Who is the last recluse? Greg has a read. It lands.'Coffee Girl' - The most contentious track. Greg calls it the basement for this band. jD goes to bat for it from the barista's point of view - working the early shift, knowing her name, getting off the bus stop north just to walk past. He doesn't fully win the argument. But he makes a run at it.'Now the Struggle Has a Name' - This is where the episode opens up. Residential schools. Reconciliation. The first time Gord openly dedicates a full song to something this specific and this political. The applause can begin for the apology. That is a stinging line. And Honey Watson, it turns out, is Connie Watson - he misheard the name on the news, wrote it down, realized the mistake, and kept it anyway. Of course he did.'The Depression Suite' - Nearly ten minutes. Three movements. Called hookless by people who weren't listening. Are you going through something? Because I am too is one of the great hooks in this catalogue - F sharp minor, Greg can't stretch his hand to play it, it still lands. 2009 was early to be this direct about mental health. The Hip were early, as usual.'The Exact Feeling,' 'Queen of the Furrows,' 'Speed River,' 'Frozen in My Tracks,' 'Love Is a First,' 'Country Day'- The back half of the record gets a harder look. Some of it holds up better than they expected. Some of it still suffers from production that cuts the band off at the knees right when they should be rocking. 'Skeleton Park' - the bonus track, Apple Music Extra only, not on every format - is brought up as the song that should have been the closer. Never heard it? Go find it.The VerdictGreg's takeaway song: 'The Last Recluse' jD's takeaway song: 'The Depression Suite' The song to play someone to introduce them to this album: 'Morning Moon' - impossible not to like Does anything crack jD's personal top 25 Hip songs? No. He says so plainly. Is it still a good album? Yeah. It is. Greg likes 65% of it. He says so plainly too.Coming UpNext time out - a Hipstories episode with a very interesting guest. A Gord solo episode follows that. They'll get it to you as they get it to you. Life happens.Resources & References"We Are the Same" - The Tragically Hip, 2009. Produced by Bob Rock. Recorded at Bath Studios (Ontario) and Hana, Hawaii.'Depression Suite' - Track six on "We Are the Same." Nearly ten minutes. Three movements. The centrepiece.'Now the Struggle Has a Name' - References residential schools and Canadian reconciliation. Among Gord Downie's earliest and most direct political statements on record.The Downie Wenjack Fund - Gord's commitment to reconciliation didn't stop with this song. It became the foundation for everything that followed, including "Secret Path." Learn more at downiewenjack.ca"The Ecstasy of Rita Joe" - Play by George Ryga, referenced in the Athabasca section of 'Depression Suite.' If you know the connection, tell them.The Gandharvas - Canadian band, not on Spotify in original form. Go find Kicking in the Water on YouTube. Start with 'The First Day of Spring.' You're welcome.Hipbase - Primary source for setlists, catalogue data, and discography information used throughout. hipbase.comThis Is Our Life - Michael Barclay's biography of The Tragically Hip. The definitive source.Support the CauseThe TTH Podcast Series has raised over $35,000 for causes including the Downie Wenjack Fund, The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research, and CAMH. If this community has given you something, give something back.Learn more and giveStay ConnectedCommunity: community.tthpods.com Subscribe to Yer Letter: subscribe.tthpods.com Instagram: @tthpods YouTube:youtube.com/@tthpods Email: tthpodcastseries@gmail.comTranscript available above. If you have information about the Athabasca / George Ryga connection in 'Depression Suite' - seriously, tell them. The forum is open.#TheTragicallyHip #FullyCompletely #WeAreTheSame #GordDownie #CanadianRock #TragicallyHipPodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Israel strikes targets in Iran and Lebanon, while Iran hits gulf neighbors. Director of US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, resigns over ongoing war in Iran. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says Strait of Hormuz should not be weaponized. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says support for Ukraine must not wane in response to conflict in Iran. Taliban government accuses Pakistan of targetting a civilian hospital in Kabul with airstrike, killing more than 400 people. An atmospheric river is bringing heavy rain to British Columbia, increasing the risk of flooding, avalanches and landslides. Canadian Food Inspection Agency fines another Loblaw store, investigates Sobeys, for promoting imported food as Canadian. Mayor of Waterloo, Ontario demands answers from police after a sniper was deployed to a St. Patrick's Day street party.

In this Omni Talk Retail interview, recorded live from FMI 2026 in San Diego at the Simbe booth, Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga speak with Bruce Burrows, former CIO of Loblaw and Sobeys and current Strategic Advisor at Simbe, about how technology, AI, and shelf intelligence are reshaping grocery retail. Bruce shares his perspective on why retailers should focus on being great retailers, not software developers, and how the buy versus build debate is evolving in an era of AI and private LLMs. The conversation explores where grocery sits on the maturity curve for connected stores, why in store execution is becoming table stakes, and how retailers can use data to drive better decisions across merchandising, supply chain, and store operations. Bruce also outlines a practical crawl, walk, run framework for adopting shelf intelligence, starting with fixing out of stocks and pricing issues, then moving toward smarter merchandising, supply chain integration, and new monetization opportunities. The discussion touches on agentic AI, avoiding solution sprawl, and why mid market grocers are often moving faster than larger enterprises. Key Topics Covered - Buy versus build in retail technology - The role of AI and private LLMs in grocery - Shelf intelligence and the connected store maturity curve - Crawl, walk, run adoption of smart store technology - Improving in stock, pricing accuracy, and execution - Using store data to enhance merchandising and supply chain - Agentic AI, solution sprawl, and platform strategy - Why mid market grocers are leading tech adoption Stay tuned to Omni Talk Retail for continued coverage from FMI 2026, recorded live from the Simbe booth in the FMI Tech section. #FMI2026 #RetailTechnology #GroceryRetail #AIinRetail #ShelfIntelligence #SmartStores #RetailLeadership #OmniTalk

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack two powerful and timely themes shaping Canada's food system: the shifting geopolitical landscape of agri-food and the growing threat of food fraud. The episode opens with a wide-ranging news segment focused on Canada's evolving trade relationship with China, recent developments at Davos, and new data on food inflation.Sylvain shares insights from Manitoba Ag Days, where optimism is building among farmers following Canada's short-term agricultural trade deal with China, particularly for canola, lobster, and beef exports. The hosts explore the strategic implications of re-opening Chinese markets, noting how geopolitical uncertainty is now a permanent feature of food systems. Sylvain argues that Canada must invest more heavily in domestic manufacturing, modernize supply management, and incentivize green technologies to strengthen long-term food sovereignty. The conversation also turns to food inflation, with Sylvain explaining why Canada's 6.2% food inflation rate cannot be blamed solely on the GST holiday, pointing instead to opportunistic pricing and structural inefficiencies across the supply chain.The second half of the episode features a compelling interview with Deleo de Leonardis, CEO and Co-Founder of Purity IQ, a science-based company specializing in food and supplement authenticity testing. Drawing on her 30-year career in grocery retail, including two decades at Sobeys, Deleo explains how food fraud represents one of the most underestimated risks in modern retail. While many companies rely on basic identity testing, Deleo highlights the critical difference between identity and authenticity: a product may technically meet regulatory standards while still being diluted, substituted, or adulterated.Deleo introduces advanced tools such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and DNA-based testing, which allow for non-targeted analysis at the molecular level. This approach enables Purity IQ to detect unknown adulterants and inconsistencies across batches—something traditional testing methods often miss. She outlines high-risk categories such as olive oil, honey, fish, avocado oil, sesame oil, and dietary supplements, emphasizing that food fraud is an opportunistic crime driven by global supply shocks, climate events, tariffs, and geopolitical instability.Together, the episode paints a sobering picture: as supply chains become more complex and economic pressures rise, food authenticity will become a defining issue for retailers, brands, and regulators alike. The hosts conclude that in an era of shrinking trust and rising prices, transparency and scientific verification may be the only sustainable path forward for the global food industry. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues. Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Building Canada's Next Generation of Retail Leaders with Dr. Janice RudkowskiEver wonder where retail professionals actually learn their craft? Dr. Janice Rudkowski from Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Retail Management joins Phil and Kenny to discuss Canada's only undergraduate degree program dedicated exclusively to retail education. From merchandise planning and supply chain logistics to experiential learning with industry partners, Janice reveals how TMU is preparing students for careers across the entire retail ecosystem—from fashion buying at Sephora and Lululemon to emerging food retail opportunities. The conversation explores the evolution of Canadian grocery retail, the importance of regional players like Sobeys and Metro, and why hands-on industry connections are critical for developing the next generation of retail talent. If you've ever wondered how to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world retail execution, this episode is for you. Find Dr Rudkowski here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicerudkowski/Thank you to Field Agent Canada for their support: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/  

Brought to you by Ganong ChocolatierTo purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter Caramel Clusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic.Episode 78 is a funny, reflective, slightly frazzled and deeply grateful end-of-year ramble, opening with the oddly satisfying (and mildly annoying) fact that Christmas 2025 is almost 25/25/25, if only the calendar would cooperate.From there, James looks back on an extraordinary year on the road: over 100 shows, six provinces, thousands of laughs, countless hugs and a profound sense of gratitude for the audiences, venues, promoters and fellow comedians who made it the best year of his life. There are shout-outs, tour highs, cultural observations, Christmas traditions, favourite films and songs. Beneath the jokes, though, this episode gets honest. James talks candidly about anxiety, overthinking, creative insecurity and how performing is often the only reliable switch that quiets his brain. He reflects on grief, friendships, career knockbacks, confidence after good gigs and disappointment after bad ones, plus the strange balance between caring deeply about the world and protecting the emotional energy your family deserves. There are musings on comedy as purpose, why getting out of the house can save your sanity, why laughter is still the fuel, and why a life built around pubs, theatres and making people laugh in New Brunswick might just be the perfect version of success. Funny, heartfelt and reassuringly human, this is a Christmas Eve episode for anyone trying to stay hopeful, grateful and sane.Mullinger's Weekly Ramble is brought to you by Ganong ChocolatierPlease send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.comFor podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email info@podstarter.caProduced by Podstarter

Brought to you by Pascan Aviation x Saint John Airport + Ganong ChocolatierIt's eight days until Christmas and James is fretting about everything! Lemax Christmas villages, cologne detectives, racism in Canada, hyper-focus, the state of the world... you name it!But there are joys to be found in the form of Rothesay Ballet's The Nutcracker, the Saint John Youth Orchestra's Christmas concert, Jeremy King's autobiography Without Reservation, the rediscovery of Viz magazine, The Polar Express in 3D, Man Vs Baby and the new inspiring Taylor Swift documentary. He also asks the question: is Jay Kelly a masterpiece or self-indulgent garbage? And he answers your questions about English traditions, embracing winter, the best things to do on a river and so much more! He also reveals what's in the latest volume of [EDIT] magazine including the incredible story of Vicki Hogarth who saved a much loved local newspaper from extinction and the earth saving work of Joel MacPherson, as profiled by the great Thandiwe McCarthy.All of this plus a few hundred tangents...To purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter Caramel Clusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic. To book bargain flights this Christmas please visit: https://www.pascan.com/en/Sponsored by Pascan Aviation x Saint John Airport + Ganong ChocolatierPlease send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.comFor podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email info@podstarter.caProduced by Podstarter

Brought to you by Pascan Aviation x Saint John Airport + Ganong ChocolatierEpisode 76 finds James home alone running the show and steering the ship… in an EV car without winter tires. He's rambling about Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Bill Burr, his favourite podcast, grocery prices, getting home for Christmas, Miramichi, whether ADHD has helped or hindered his career, English Vs Canadian Christmas traditions, woodchuck chucking, Cost Co encounters, the history of the English language, Golden Globe nominations, Starbucks toilets, the new issue of Atlantic Book Today featuring Natalie MacMaster, Andre Rieu's Merry Christmas live from Maastricht at Cineplex, and he answers all of yourcrazy questions!To purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter CaramelClusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic.To book bargain flights this Christmas please visit: pascan.com/en/Sponsored by by Pascan Aviation x Saint John Airport + Ganong ChocolatierPlease send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.comFor podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email info@podstarter.caProduced by Podstarter

This episode is available in audio format on our Let's Talk Loyalty podcast and in video format on www.Loyalty.TV.In this episode wea are delighted to interview Shaun Hatrick, the Director of Partnerships and Business development for Nectar.Shaun is an expert in the loyalty and marketing space with almost two decades of experience shaping partnership and customer engagement strategies. Over his career, he's led the development and launch of innovative loyalty and marketing propositions for some of the world's most recognised brands — including American Express, British Airways, Sobeys, Esso, and more.As Director of Nectar Partnerships and Business Development, he brings together data, creativity, and commercial insight to build meaningful, high-value relationships across the Nectar coalition. His focus is on driving growth through collaboration — connecting brands with millions of customers in ways that deliver real, measurable impact.Today we will be learning about his favourite books, highlights and key learnings from the programmes he has worked on and all what loyalty looks like now and in the future for Nectar.Hosted by Charlie HillsShow Notes :1) Shaun Hatrick2) Nectar3) Podcast Recommendation: Good Hang with Amy Poehler4) Podcast Recommendation: Las Culturistas

Brought to you by Ganong ChocolatierEpisode 75 finds James back home in New Brunswick from British Columbia, greeted by a dramatic snowfall. He visits Atlantic Indian Bistro for butter chicken curry made by the Butter Chicken Guy and watches Danny Dyer and Kiefer Sutherland's Christmas movie Tinsel Town. From security lines that feel like battlefield hospitals to planes that now function as airborne petri dishes, James takes aim at vaping, travel paranoia, passport photos, and the strange new soundtrack of air travel. The episode also weaves in life on tour in Oliver, Lake Country, Summerland and Kamloops, BC with some fantastically, uniquely Canadian encounters involving doctors and “disappointed” audiences. He spends Sunday putting up decorations and watching Only Fools and Horses, Bottom, and Garfield's Christmas movie with his brother in Vernon, BC, after handing out Ganong treats at Bulk Barn in Vernon all morning. Honest reflections follow on the concept of selling out, changing values, misunderstandings and why Alan Davies' book White Male Stand Up is one of the best books about comedy and trauma ever written. All of this plus Martin Scorsese's life, films, faith, illness, family, and endurance, with side trips through After Hours, Goodfellas, The Irishman, De Niro, Leo, and the power of music in cinema.To purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter Caramel Clusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic. Sponsored by Ganong Chocolatier (https://ganongchocolatier.shop/) Please send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.com For podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email info@podstarter.caProduced by Podstarter

Brought to you by Ganong ChocolatierJames has just landed in Kelowna for his run of five shows in the Okanagan, BC this week and he is reporting live from the Fairfield Inn after a full day of travelling on three planes!He is in a great mood as he prepares for tonight's show in the official wine capital of Canada – Oliver, BC. And there is a lot to be happy about: Fredericton's first ever comedy festival, a record amount of money raised for the Saint John Hospital from the Rothesay Yule, Wicked For Good, Ed Sheeran's One Shot, new specials from Gerry Dee Kevin Hart and Sebastian Maniscalco, the We Buy Records podcast, Charlotte Flewelling's inspiring message, Down Cemetery Road, A House of Dynamite, Champagne Problems, Call Her Daddy, The Beast In Me, Gummo, The Morning Show season finale, whistlestop trips to PEI and Fredericton and Charlotte County and, as ever, a few thousand ADHD tangents. He also asks the questions: do facts matter when we are sharing fake AI-generated stories online about people that don't exist (such as 73-year old Raymond)?Another warm, uplifting, joy-filled episode created to lift spirits, spark smiles, and remind us that - even in chaotic times - there is still so much good in the world. One joyful moment at a time.To purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter Caramel Clusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic. Sponsored by Ganong Chocolatier (https://ganongchocolatier.shop/) Please send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.com For podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email Jonathan Burns at jon@podstarter.io (mailto:info@podstarter.io)Produced by Podstarter

In this can't-miss episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois return with Part Two of their exclusive, final official interview with Michael Medline, former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys. Medline offers unusually candid reflections on leadership, culture, vendor relationships, and the evolution of one of Canada's largest food retailers.The conversation opens with a deep dive into vendor relations and the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct. Medline explains his early shock at the combative nature of vendor–retailer dynamics and details his personal commitment to transforming the ecosystem into one built on fairness, respect, and partnership. He reflects on how mentorship from industry leaders like Michael Graydon and collaboration with executives such as Mark Taylor helped advance the Code from concept to reality — ultimately becoming one of the proudest achievements of his tenure.Medline also shares rare behind-the-scenes reflections on working with the Sobey family, leading through disruption, and preparing the company for the next era of food retail. From AI-driven transformation to the duty of stewarding an organization with 129,000 teammates, he speaks openly about responsibility, succession, and what comes next in his career. His insights offer a masterclass in modern leadership during one of the most transformative decades in grocery retail.The episode also features a rich and timely news segment. Michael and Sylvain break down Health Canada's pause on cloned beef and swine approvals, a fast-moving story with major implications for transparency, labeling, science communication, and cross-border food integration. They examine why Canada's decision diverges from the U.S., where cloned-animal offspring have been permitted for nearly two decades — often without consumer awareness.The hosts then analyze the newest edition of the Canadian Food Sentiment Index, highlighting renewed concerns about food inflation, declining trust in grocers, shifting loyalty behaviours, and the end of Canada's “couponing era.” They explore evolving consumer habits, smarter comparison shopping, and the influence of younger digital-first generations.Other key topics include:• The Lancet's callout of ultra-processed foods — and why Sylvain believes the academic narrative is oversimplified.• The rapid rise of GLP-1 drugs and their early impact on grocery and foodservice behaviour.• Nutrien's reported decision to build a major potash terminal in Washington State rather than Canada.• The tangled story behind beef prices and the federal policies that may be limiting supply.• A big win for Canadian agriculture as GoodLeaf Farms raises $52 million to expand capacity and boost controlled-environment production. Go Here for the The Canadian Food Sentiment Index, Volume 2, no. 1  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. 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.

Brought to you by Ganong ChocolatierIn this special Joy Episode, generously sponsored by the wonderful team at Ganong Chocolatier, James celebrates the best days of listeners' lives. After putting out the call for uplifting stories, he was flooded with hundreds of inspiring, heart-warming, and downright magical “best day ever” moments, and in this episode he shares many of the most extraordinary. From simple kindnesses to life-changing milestones, these listener stories are a reminder that even in a time of chaos and unease, joy is still out there… and often closer than we think.To purchase Ganong's new Sea Salted Caramels and Peanut Butter Caramel Clusters that James can't stop raving about, please visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland, Canadian Tire, Atlantic Superstore, Dominion or Walmart Atlantic. James also opens up about the unexpected two-week break from the podcast - yet again the busiest stretch of his career! He takes listeners behind the scenes of an exhilarating run of shows and keynotes for NBCC and RBC, the massive Rothesay Yule fundraiser that brought more than 1300 people together, a whirlwind of filming projects, and the release of Nancy Regan's new TV show, including what it felt like to have two episodes dedicated to his own story.He also reflects on precious family time, Christmas movies, hockey nights, and the inspiring students and teachers he met across the province last week. A warm, uplifting, heartfelt episode designed to lift spirits, bring smiles, and remind us of the goodness in the world - one joyful moment at a time.Sponsored by Ganong ChocolatierPlease send any questions to comedy@jamesmullinger.comFor podcast sponsorship opportunities, please email Jonathan Burns at jon@podstarter.ioProduced by Podstarter

In this first instalment of a two-part exclusive, The Food Professor Podcast sits down in person with Michael Medline, (now) former President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys, in what serendipitously became his last official interview before news broke of his transition to lead The Woodbridge Company. Michael offers a rare, deeply personal look at his eight-plus-year tenure transforming one of Canada's largest retailers. He recounts stepping into the role in 2017, reshaping strategy, modernizing systems, and fostering a culture built on values, innovation, and operational excellence.Michael reflects on navigating the massive disruptions of recent years—from COVID-19 to global trade volatility and technological upheaval—while maintaining a clear North Star for the organisation. He shares insights on revitalizing store formats, strengthening private-label programs, and embracing data transformation and automation to sharpen competitiveness. The conversation also explores the bold acquisitions of Farm Boy and Longo's, discussing trust, partnership, culture, and why collaborative integration—not assimilation—is essential to preserving what makes independent banners special.He also speaks candidly about leadership: prioritizing people, resisting micromanagement, nurturing talent, and ensuring a national grocer performs as one unified organisation rather than fragmented regional fiefdoms. Medline's reflections on turning around the Safeway acquisition, advancing omnichannel capabilities through Voilà, and pushing Empire's innovation agenda offer invaluable lessons for retail leaders navigating rapid change.The episode also features a wide-ranging news conversation with Sylvain and Michael. They break down meat-industry dynamics on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border, including beef supply challenges, oligopoly concerns, and the impact of interprovincial trade barriers on Canadian prices. The hosts also explore the “protein orphan” trend driving increased chicken consumption—and the resulting supply management shortfalls—plus the social-media-fuelled surge in cottage cheese demand.Additional segments highlight CFIA's quietly formed task force responding to U.S. regulatory instability, early snowfall's potential impact on holiday shopping, and the growing disconnect between global climate COP events and the real-world policy outcomes they aim to influence.  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. 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.

A mother reports her 12-year-old daughter missing from a Sobeys parking lot as a winter storm rolls in. The community rallies, searches are launched, and tearful press conferences follow. But when Karissa Boudreau's body is found thirteen days later in a snowbank, the truth that emerges is far more chilling than the Nova Scotia winter—and it involves the one person who should have protected her most. Allison tells us the rest of this tragic story. Buffalo Chicken recipe we mentioned in the beginning: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/68461/buffalo-chicken-dip/ All our links (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Merch, etc): https://linktr.ee/crimeandcoffee Facebook Group to discuss episodes: www.facebook.com/groups/crimeandcoffeecouplepodcast/ Our website: https://crimeandcoffeecouple.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We got the third hour started with Mr Mikes Kind of Easy Trivia. It was then time for Three Questions Too Many presented by Park Mazda. It's Friday, which means it's the fan favourite Sobeys & Safeway Liquor Beer of The Week! This weeks beer of the week was provided by Tool Shed founder Graham Sherman! He joined us virtually to showcase this weeks beer of the week, which is the Late To The Party Hazy IPA! You can purchase a 4-pack for $14.99 saving $4 when you buy one. The boys finished off the show with The Wrap from William Huff!

We got the third hour started with Mr Mikes Kind of Easy Trivia. It was then time for Three Questions Too Many presented by Park Mazda. It's Friday, which means it's the fan favourite Sobeys & Safeway Liquor Beer of The Week! This weeks beer of the week was provided by Micheal Evans, Northern Alberta Sales Rep for Eighty-Eight Brewing Company! He joined us in studio to showcase this weeks beer of the week, which is the Solid Gold Amber Lager! You can purchase a 6-pack for $10.99 saving $2 when you buy one. The boys finished off the show with The Wrap from William Huff!

We got the third hour started with Mr Mikes Kind of Easy Trivia. It was then time for Three Questions Too Many presented by Park Mazda. It's Friday, which means it's the fan favourite Sobeys & Safeway Liquor Beer of The Week! This weeks beer of the week was provided by Jim Webster, VP of Tool Shed Brewing! He joined us virtually to showcase this weeks beer of the week, which is the Alberta Small Brewers Association, Unity Brew! You can purchase a 4-pack for $13.99 saving $4 when you buy one. The boys finished off the show with The Wrap from William Huff!

We got the third hour started with Mr Mikes Kind of Easy Trivia. It was then time for Three Questions Too Many presented by Park Mazda. It's Friday, which means it's the fan favourite Sobeys & Safeway Liquor Beer of The Week! This weeks beer of the week is actually the drink of the week provided by Demi Broderick, owner of TQLA VIDA! She joined us in studio to showcase this weeks drink of the week, which is the Vida Variety Pack! You can purchase a 6-pack for $17.99 saving $4 when you buy one. The boys finished off the show with The Wrap from William Huff!

In the final hour, We start off playing Kinda Easy Trivia for Mr. Mikes before getting into 3 Questions Too Many for Park Mazda where we discuss the spit in the Eagles and Cowboys game! After the update, We hear Mark Killam's interview from yesterday then we head into Sobeys and Safeway Beer Of The Week! And to end the show we got The Wrap for William Huff!

In this flavourful episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Shruti Priya Agarwal and Akshay Kalekar, the co-founders of Whipdd, a rising Canadian food startup transforming the humble butter into a flavour-packed experience. Born from a spark in a home kitchen in India, their story is one of culinary creativity, entrepreneurial hustle, and cross-continental ambition.Shruti, a trained chef with over a decade of experience in the pastry world, first started crafting flavoured garlic butter for friends and family. The rave reviews led to the idea for a scalable product. Upon moving to Canada during the pandemic, she reconnected with Akshay, a fellow business school alum and serial entrepreneur with a background in hospitality and fresh food delivery. Together, they brought Whipdd to life.What started as a kitchen experiment has become a full-fledged brand now carried nationally in Whole Foods Market locations across Canada, thanks to distribution support from Tree of Life and national brokerage by Sinn Solutions. Their product line features five standout flavours: Herb & Garlic, Smoked Chilli, Strawberry, Honey Cinnamon, and Real Strawberry — all crafted with high-quality Canadian dairy and clean, simple ingredients.Michael samples each on mic (yes, it's mouthwatering!) while Shruti and Akshay discuss the importance of natural ingredients, consumer feedback, and flavour innovation. They reveal how they're rapidly scaling up, with upcoming product extensions including a 250g herb & garlic butter brick and single-serve portion cups for airlines and hotels.Their vision goes beyond groceries. The duo is actively exploring foodservice partnerships, airline catering, and big-box retail listings with the likes of Costco, Farm Boy, and Sobeys. And with global interest bubbling up, the Whipdd team is positioning itself for an international takeoff. 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. 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.

In this deliciously inspiring episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down live in person in Toronto at the SIAL Food Innovation show with Tamara Al Dip and Yazeed Yasin, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind NanaShake, a frozen treat brand making waves with their vegan-friendly, upcycled banana-based pops.Fresh off their win at the SIAL Canada pitch competition, Tamara and Yazeed share their entrepreneurial journey, rooted in a desire to find a healthy, asthma-friendly dessert for their son. What started as a scoop shop in Toronto has since evolved into a thriving CPG brand available in over 1,200 stores across Canada, including Metro and Sobeys. Their product? A naturally sweet "smoothie on a stick" that's dairy-free, low in added sugars, and made with their cashew milk. As they proudly proclaim, NanaShake is "shaking up the ice cream category"—literally.Throughout the episode, listeners will hear the heartwarming origin story of the brand, the family's immigration to Canada, and how their kids have played an active role in the business, including their daughter landing a major retail listing at just 12 years old. The couple's passion, purpose, and persistence shine through, particularly in their discussion of using upcycled bananas to align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for responsible consumption and production. 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. 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.

Food Fraud and Authenticity Testing with Deleo De Leonardis, CEO of Purity IQIn this eye-opening conversation, Kenny and Phil sit down with Deleo De Leonardis, CEO and co-founder of Purity IQ, to discuss a critical issue that affects every consumer: food fraud and adulteration.Deleo shares her unexpected journey from 20 years in retail (including VP of Private Label at Sobeys) to becoming an entrepreneur in the science-based world of authenticity testing. Despite not being a scientist herself, she and her co-founders identified a massive gap in the industry - while labs routinely test for identity (is echinacea actually present?), they often miss adulteration, dilution, and substitution.Key Topics Covered:Why standard identity testing isn't enough to catch food fraudThe difference between targeted vs. untargeted testing methodsReal examples of adulteration in honey, olive oil, spices, and supplementsHow economic pressures and supply chain disruptions create opportunities for fraudstersThe shocking reality that less than 1% of imported products are actually inspectedWhy "Product of Italy" doesn't guarantee authentic olive oilThe innovative QR-enabled certification system that educates consumers in real-timeSobering Statistics:Some botanical supplements contain over 80% maltodextrin filler instead of active ingredientsFood fraud has existed since ancient Rome and flourishes during economic uncertaintyMost labs focus on facility audits (GMP) rather than actual product testingThis conversation will change how you think about the products on grocery store shelves and highlights why consumers, brands, and retailers need to ask better questions about authenticity testing. As Deleo puts it: "You may think you're doing all the right things - you're missing a really big component." Find Purity IQ here: https://purity-iq.com/Find Deleo here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delsue28/Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/  

Join us inside the IFPA Retail Conference in Frisco, Texas, for three fast-paced conversations with the people shaping the future of fresh produce: Yan Branco, VP of Produce Merchandising at Sobeys Shares how cross-border collaboration—and removing competitive barriers—fuels innovation and keeps produce front and center as “food as medicine” and the “cleanest-burning fuel.” Joe Merenda, President / COO at Misionero Unpacks how regional supply chains are evolving, the power of intimate, decision-maker-driven events, and why right-sized agility lets them launch custom salad kits that drive consumption. Joe Watson, VP of Retail, Foodservice, and Wholesale at IFPA Reflects on the purpose behind this tight-knit gathering, how interactive breakout sessions amplified ideas between supply-side and retail leaders, and what's next for the conference in Phoenix. Special thanks to our sponsors—Misionero, Born Farms, IFCO, SunFed and the International Fresh Produce Association—for making this episode possible.  

In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc brings listeners straight to the SIAL Food Innovation Show floor for a flavorful conversation with Chef Jonathan Maters, co-founder of Smokin Jon's BBQ & Company. Born in Newfoundland and based in New Brunswick, Jonathan shares how a pandemic-era pivot turned his passion for barbecue into a growing food enterprise capturing the attention of retailers and food lovers alike.Jonathan walks us through his culinary roots, detailing how he started with a single signature sauce—Smoky Maple—bottled and sold from his backyard deck. With demand quickly outpacing his capacity, he moved into Class 5 kitchens and later secured a co-packing partner to scale his product line. Now, with a robust lineup of unique, clean-label barbecue sauces, hot sauces, and spice rubs, Smokin' Jon's is turning heads across Canada.From the Cuban-inspired Cubana BBQ sauce (orange juice, cumin, and oregano!) to the fiery Carolina Reaper sauce and low-sodium, filler-free spice blends, Jonathan emphasizes innovation, authenticity, and health-conscious ingredients. He shares how packaging design and colour-coded branding help his products stand out on crowded shelves.Jonathan also opens up about the hard realities of food entrepreneurship—from navigating CFIA and FDA regulations to the steep costs of national shelf space, and his evolving relationship with major retailers like Sobeys and Loblaws. He reflects on the role of local government support, challenges in accessing infrastructure, and the importance of marketing hustle, including a growing Instagram following built on grassroots cooking content.Listeners will appreciate Jonathan's frank insights on building a business from scratch, his strategic use of flavour storytelling, and his advice to fellow food entrepreneurs: “You'll hear ten no's for every yes—but that one yes is everything.”This episode is packed with practical inspiration, tasty ideas, and a genuine look behind the scenes of a fast-growing Canadian food brand. Whether you're a barbecue enthusiast, aspiring food entrepreneur, or retail insider, this conversation will leave you fired up and hungry for more.https://smokinjonsbbq.ca/ 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. 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.

This week, we're chatting with Tara Tomulka, certified nutritionist and founder of Rawcology — a Canadian, family-owned snack food brand known for creating the best granola on the market (we said what we said). Tara's story is anything but conventional. With a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill and a Master's in Communication Management from USC, she pivoted from corporate life into the wellness world after training at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition.Now, Rawcology products are sold in over 1,500 locations — including Loblaws, Sobeys, and Farm Boy — offering allergy-friendly, organic, low-sugar snacks that actually taste good.We talk about what it's really like to build a female-owned business from scratch, how food can be a gateway to healing, and Tara's advice for women creators and health-conscious entrepreneurs trying to make an impact.Be sure to use the code 'GGW20' for 20% off your online order!Follow Tara and Rawcology on Instagram @rawcology and visit rawcology.com to explore their full lineup of snacks.Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @girlsgonewellnesspodcast for updates and more wellness tips. Please subscribe to our podcast and leave a review—we truly appreciate your support. Let's embark on this journey to wellness together!DISCLAIMER: Nothing mentioned in this episode is medical advice and should not be taken as so. If you have any health concerns, please discuss these with your doctor or a licensed healthcare professional.

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill continue to dissect what Brad Treliving had to say in his end of season media availability. Additionally, the boys debate whether the Leafs should go after Jonathan Toews. Meantime, they give their thoughts on Pierre LeBrun's report that suggested that there's "no chance" of Morgan Rielly waiving his no-movement clause - if broached - this summer. Also, Oshawa Generals captain & Toronto's 2024 first round pick Ben Danford drops by the show.

Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta recap & dissect Brad Treliving's end of season media availability. Also, John Shannon, co-host of the 100% Hockey podcast, stops by the show.

Nick Alberga & guest co-host Adam Copeland debate what they want to hear from Brad Treliving in his end-of-season podium on Thursday morning. Additionally, with Morgan Rielly (No. 15) & David Kampf (No. 17) landing on Daily Faceoff's newly released trade targets list, the boys discuss what the best course of action would be with both players. Also, monster wrestling/Leafs fan Bruce Boudreau drops by the show.

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill dissect Keith Pelley's press conference & Craig Berube's interview on the Nasty Knuckles podcast. Also, the boys the debate what's ahead for the likes of Matthew Knies, Mitch Marner, & John Tavares. Additionally, TSN Leafs Reporter Mark Masters drops by the show.

Nick Alberga & Carter Hutton give their thoughts on MLSE's decision to move on from Brendan Shanahan. Additionally, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger drops by to dish on the big news & what could be next for the Maple Leafs.

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill debate the outcome of the rumoured MLSE board of directors meeting to discuss Brendan Shanahan's future with the organization. Additionally, Luke Fox, who covers the Leafs for Sportsnet.ca, drops by to dish on the very latest.

n Season 5 of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois take listeners inside the bustling SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, bringing fresh insights on global food trends and the shifting dynamics of agri-food trade. The episode kicks off with their live reflections on the show floor, surrounded by global exhibitors from Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, and Italy. They note a growing demand for diverse flavors and ethnic cuisines, as well as a strategic pivot by companies to balance foodservice and retail sales post-pandemic.Sylvain highlights how COVID reshaped supply chains, pushing businesses to avoid overreliance on single sectors and prompting innovations that blur lines between restaurant and retail offerings. They discuss ongoing tariff challenges, food inflation stabilizing, and the complex impact of retaliatory tariffs on Canadian importers and exporters.Shifting gears, the duo analyze Canada's post-election political landscape, unpacking what Mark Carney's new government could mean for agri-food policy, carbon taxation, and Canada's trade relationships with the U.S. and Mexico. They speculate about potential reforms to supply management and agri-stability programs, while exploring Western Canadian frustrations over political representation and federal agricultural policy.The second half features an exclusive interview with Martin Lavoie, President & CEO of Groupe Export Agroalimentaire Québec-Canada, Canada's largest agri-food export association. Martin shares how his organization supports over 450 Quebec food exporters through trade shows, market intelligence, and export services. He explains how diversification strategies are evolving amid global tariff volatility, why intra-Canada trade holds untapped potential, and how government procurement could boost domestic food producers.Martin also addresses the challenges of breaking into international markets like Europe, where food economies remain hyper-local, while noting rising demand in Asia and Mexico. He underscores the importance of reducing interprovincial trade barriers to unlock growth and reveals the criteria behind Group Export's annual Export Gala awards.Wrapping up, Michael and Sylvain reflect on Michael Medline's upcoming retirement from Sobeys, discussing his leadership legacy and impact on the grocer's national growth and industry advocacy. They also celebrate T&T's continued U.S. expansion and the launch of Loblaws' Maxi stores outside Quebec.Tune in for expert insights on the evolving agri-food export landscape, retail's competitive shifts, and the policies shaping Canada's food industry future. 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. 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.

In the third hour, Duffman crushed ‘Kind of Easy Trivia' presented by Mr. Mikes, next the NHL playoffs and dad's were big topics in ‘Three Questions Too Many' presented by Park Mazda. To start the back half of our final hour the boys covered the ‘Orange & Blue breakfast' presented by GCL Diesel and ‘The Injury Report' presented by Podium Physiotherapy. Quickly we transitioned into the ‘Beer of the Week' presented by Sobeys and Safeway Liquor were Half Hitch Brewing Company was the focus. Closing out the show we got the 'Snow Report' presented by Marmot Basin and ‘The Show Wrap' presented by William Huff. 

Sobeys, one of the three biggest grocery store chains in Canada, has vowed to “rectify any issues" after allegations that the manager of its longtime kosher food store in Thornhill, Ont., crossed the line as part of an ongoing feud with the CEO of a rival supermarket. In the first week of April, just ahead of a hectic Passover shopping weekend for Canadian Jews, the CEO of the Olive Branch—a five-month-old kosher market in the Promenade mall, just a four-minute drive down the same street from the Sobeys in question—alleged that the nearby Sobeys manager had threatened kosher caterers looking to do Passover business with both companies. According to a widely distributed letter, Olive Branch's Justin Lesnick alleged that vendors he hired to sell prepared Passover take out food such as meatballs and kugels at his store were told they would lose their much larger contracts with Sobeys if they did so. The confrontation bled out into social media, where Lesnick's complaints about corporate bullying took the story viral. Now many customers are vowing to boycott Sobeys over what happened. But is this a true David-versus-Goliath fight? Or is it the latest in a long-simmering war between the two businessmen—neither of whom is Jewish? And what should customers know? On today's episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner digs into the story. She spoke to Lesnick and Sobeys and some concerned customers to understand how the face-off is dividing the community before Passover. Related links Learn more about when the U.S. based Savours company entered the Toronto kosher food scene by buying Hartmans, in 2017, in The CJN. When Montreal's MK Kosher and Toronto's COR Kashrut organization were feuding over hechsher for Sobeys' Thornhill location, in 2013, in The CJN. Why Passover food will be exempt from Trump's extra tariffs this year, on The CJN Daily. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer),Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

Every spring, the MBA program at the William & Mary School of Business presents the Principled Achievement Award to a leader who best embraces and demonstrates the tenets of principled achievement. Previous winners include the head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Sean McDermott; and AnnaMaria DeSalva, global chairman of Burson, the global communication company. The Principled Achievement Award winner is the leader who values people, diversity of thought, empathy, humility, integrity and success. This year's winner is Michael Medline, CEO of Empire Company and Sobeys Inc – Canada's second largest retailer, whose key businesses include Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, and others. Medline joins us to discuss principled achievement, leadership, and how doing things the right way is the only way.  Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.

The final hour of the show kicked off with “Kris with a K” smashing' Kind Of Easy Trivia' presented by Mr. Mikes. 'Three Questions Too Many' presented by Park Mazda followed and we learned some things. Some Jays talk took us into the sports update and out of it, the fellas touched ‘MMMM That's Good' presented by the Italian Centre. As it's Friday, ‘Beer of the Week' presented by Sobeys Liquor brought in another local brew. The ‘Snow Report' presented by Marmot Basin closed out the show before ‘The Wrap' presented by William Huff. 

Send us a textMargaret Coons, the innovative mind behind Nuts For Cheese, takes us through her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, from selling her artisanal vegan cheeses at a local farmer's market to conquering the grocery aisles across Canada and the U.S. Margaret shares her grassroots approach to retail, revealing the trials of negotiating listing fees and shelf space, and the valuable role supportive partners like Farm Boy have played in her success. You'll gain insights into the grocery industry's complexities and learn how persistence and strategic partnerships can pave the way for business growth.Margaret Coons is the Founder & CEO of Nuts For Cheese, the market leader in artisan, organic, plant-based dairy manufacturing. Vegan from an early age, Margaret developed a passion for plant-based cuisine becoming a vegan chef and experimenting with nuts and seeds to create deliciously creamy plant-based cheeses. Since launching at a farmer's market in 2015, Nuts For Cheese has enjoyed explosive growth across Canada and the United States with its award-winning artisanal and versatile dairy-free products available at national retailers, including Loblaws, Sobeys, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and more. Today, Nuts For Cheese is the #2 plant-based cheese brand in the Natural channel in the U.S. and is the #1 brand driving growth. Margaret sits on the board of CGLCC (Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce) and LEDC (London Economic Development Corporation). She was awarded the Top 25 Women of Influence Award in 2023 and was an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Finalist.Julie and Margaret discuss...00:00:04 Women Entrepreneurs Growing Successful Businesses00:08:58 Building Team Cohesion in Growing Business00:16:42 From Chef to Leader00:25:00 Entrepreneurial Growth and ProfessionalizationCheck out Nuts For Cheese on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.You can connect with Julie on LinkedIn or Instagram. Find Julie's writing at her blog or by ordering Big Gorgeous Goals. What did you think of this conversation? We'd love if you'd rate or review our show!

In this insightful episode of The Fresh CrEd, hosts Ed Bertaud and Craig Slate sit down with Yan Branco, Lead of Produce Sourcing Innovation and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Development at Sobeys. Yan shares his journey from his family farm in Canada to his role at one of North America's leading grocery retailers, bringing a fresh perspective on the future of produce.   Yan breaks down the importance of a “marathon mindset” when it comes to tech adoption in the produce industry, especially with advancements like AI and vertical farming. From overcoming early hurdles to understanding the true pace of innovation, Yan shares how retail leaders are cautiously embracing change while navigating the unique challenges of produce sourcing and consumer education.   Listeners can expect a mix of humor, hard-earned industry wisdom, and honest reflections on what it takes to balance tradition with transformation in the fast-evolving world of agriculture. With topics ranging from the competitive pressures of the food market to strategies for increasing produce consumption, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in food, farming, and the future of produce.   Key Highlights:   •Yan's career journey in the produce industry •Why patience is essential in tech and innovation for agriculture •Vertical farming, AI, and the potential for industry-wide transformation •The role of consumer education in driving produce consumption •Building a collaborative approach to achieve industry change   Tune in for Yan Branco's fresh perspective on what lies ahead for produce, and don't miss upcoming episodes as we explore more voices from the Global Produce & Floral Show!   Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:   •Title Sponsor: Lakeway Produce •Series Sponsors: HM Produce, Kern Ridge Growers, Equifruit, JR Imports, SunFed, and IFCO   Be sure to subscribe to The Fresh CrEd for more industry insights, stories, and future-focused conversations from leaders who are shaping the produce world!

In this episode of the RETHINK Retail podcast, recorded live at Groceryshop 2024, we're joined by Pratyush Kumar, Director of Digital Product Management at Sobeys, and Matt Miles, Director of Americas Retail at Diebold Nixdorf. Together, we explore how these industry leaders are using cutting-edge technology to transform the grocery shopping experience. Listen as Pratyush dives into Sobeys' groundbreaking approach to personalization at scale—from their ScenePlus loyalty program to the power of AI in crafting seamless, real-time customer experiences. Matt shares Diebold Nixdorf's innovative self-service solutions, designed to remove friction at checkout and deliver a faster, more efficient shopping experience. Discover how AI, open retail systems, and real-time data are shaping the future of retail, especially in high-demand seasons like the holidays. Whether you're a retail professional or simply curious about the future of grocery shopping, this episode is packed with insights on how technology is driving the next wave of retail transformation. Tune in now to hear more about how Sobeys and Diebold Nixdorf are leading the way in retail innovation.

Welcome to Prison Breaking's "Fan Fiction Fridays"!   Fan Fiction is some crazy, fun stuff and we dig into it! Todays episode is titled "Safe" by Sobeys.  A fun one-shot, this pits Kellerman vs Sarah (perfect for us!).    Enjoy this sample, full VIDEO episodes are available to our Patreon subscribers in English and subtitled in Spanish, Portuguese, French & German with more languages coming...   If you love all the behind-the-scenes Prison Break convo that Sarah & Paul are bringing weekly, then please give us a review and a follow! If you really love what we're throwing, subscribe to the "Watch Party" on Patreon and re-watch every episode of Prison Break with Sarah & Paul's unfiltered commentary - https://patreon.com/user?u=116411884 Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prisonbreakpodcast/ Merch!!! - https://pbmerch.printify.me/products Email us at prisonbreaking@caliber-studio.com And leave us a message with all your burning questions at (401) 3-PBREAK Logo design by John Nunziatto @ Little Big Brands.  If you want one yourself, reach out at https://www.littlebigbrands.com/ and tell him we sent you.   PRISON BREAKING WITH SARAH & PAUL is a Caliber Studio production. 

Welcome to Prison Breaking's "Fan Fiction Fridays"!   Fan Fiction is some crazy, fun stuff and we dig into it! Todays episode is titled "Safe" by Sobeys.  A fun one-shot, this pits Kellerman vs Sarah (perfect for us!).    Enjoy this sample, full VIDEO episodes are available to our Patreon subscribers in English and subtitled in Spanish, Portuguese, French & German with more languages coming...   If you love all the behind-the-scenes Prison Break convo that Sarah & Paul are bringing weekly, then please give us a review and a follow! If you really love what we're throwing, subscribe to the "Watch Party" on Patreon and re-watch every episode of Prison Break with Sarah & Paul's unfiltered commentary - https://patreon.com/user?u=116411884 Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prisonbreakpodcast/ Merch!!! - https://pbmerch.printify.me/products Email us at prisonbreaking@caliber-studio.com And leave us a message with all your burning questions at (401) 3-PBREAK Logo design by John Nunziatto @ Little Big Brands.  If you want one yourself, reach out at https://www.littlebigbrands.com/ and tell him we sent you.   PRISON BREAKING WITH SARAH & PAUL is a Caliber Studio production. 

Welcome to Prison Breaking's "Fan Fiction Fridays"!   Fan Fiction is some crazy, fun stuff and we dig into it!  Todays episode is titled "Safe" by Sobeys.  A fun one-shot, this pits Kellerman vs Sarah (perfect for us!).    Enjoy this sample, full VIDEO episodes are available to our Patreon subscribers in English and subtitled in Spanish, Portuguese, French & German with more languages coming...   If you love all the behind-the-scenes Prison Break convo that Sarah & Paul are bringing weekly, then please give us a review and a follow! If you really love what we're throwing, subscribe to the "Watch Party" on Patreon and re-watch every episode of Prison Break with Sarah & Paul's unfiltered commentary - https://patreon.com/user?u=116411884 Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/prisonbreakpodcast/ Merch!!! - https://pbmerch.printify.me/products Email us at prisonbreaking@caliber-studio.com And leave us a message with all your burning questions at (401) 3-PBREAK Logo design by John Nunziatto @ Little Big Brands.  If you want one yourself, reach out at https://www.littlebigbrands.com/ and tell him we sent you.   PRISON BREAKING WITH SARAH & PAUL is a Caliber Studio production. 

“Choosing a non-alcoholic option isn't a less than choice.” —Anika Sawni The lines between drinkers and non-drinkers are beginning to blur as new options emerge. Where social events were once defined by their alcohol consumption, people now gather for deeper connections unbound by beverage choices.  Gruvi co-founder, Anika Sawni's vision celebrates the joy of community while empowering individuals to make choices that align with their health, values, and mood. Their growing range of sophisticated yet accessible zero-proof options ensures no one ever feels left out or like a third wheel due to their drinking habits alone.   Listen in as Anika shares her journey launching Gruvi, and their focus on taste, variety, and accessibility when crafting their award-winning non-alcoholic bevies. Justine and Anika also discuss the growing interest in reducing alcohol consumption, what mindful drinking means, and how we can help build an inclusive drinking culture.  Meet Anika:    Anika Sawni is the co-founder and Director of Marketing at Grüvi, a company that produces alcohol-free beverages. She studied neuroscience at McGill University before teaming up with her brother, Niki Sawni, to launch Grüvi.   Anika's journey with Grüvi began when she noticed the lack of non-alcoholic options at social gatherings. This observation led her to create a healthier alternative that could complement social experiences without adding inebriation.   Grüvi started with a focus on the cannabis community in Denver, and it quickly gained popularity. Today, Grüvi's products, which include alcohol-free wine and beer, are sold across more than 1,500 stores, including Whole Foods, Total Wine, Target, and the Canadian grocery chain, Sobeys.   In addition to her work with Grüvi, Anika has also served as the VP of Events for McGill Students for DueNORTH from 2016 to 2019. She was named to Forbes's 30 Under 30 list in its food and beverage category in 2021. Anika's future aspirations include founding a company focused on brain-based interventions.   Anika Sawni's work with Grüvi exemplifies her commitment to promoting healthier lifestyle choices and her innovative approach to addressing gaps in the beverage market.   Website Facebook X Instagram LinkedIn Connect with NextGen Purpose: Website Facebook Instagram  LinkedIn YouTube Episode Highlights: 01:42 Building a Non-Alcoholic Brand  08:49 Working with Family 11:58 Addressing Consumer Barriers  18:45 Shifting Societal Attitude Toward Drinking 22:36 Mindful Drinking Habits 28:02 Focusing on Taste and Accessibility