Schedule


Monday October 28

8:00AM

Industry Tour

*REGISTERED RETAILERS ONLY

Sponsored by:

5:30PM – 7:30PM

Opening Reception

OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES

TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–COLLABORATION CORRIDOR – J. MITCHELL LOBBY

Sponsored by:


Tuesday, October 29

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL EXHIBITORS, DELEGATES

TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–BALLROOMS A, B

7:45AM – 8:45AM

Registration/Check-In

Annual General Meeting

Sponsored by:

8:45AM – 9:15AM

CFIG’S Annual General Meeting

Updates from CFIG, Ron Welke, President & CEO

9:15AM – 10:00AM

Grocery Code of Conduct: What You Need to Know

This Industry must-attend session. What the Code will mean for your business and how you can ensure it benefits you. Industry group members who constructed the Code will go through key provisions and answer questions. Panelists: Diane Brisebois, President & CEO, RCC; Michael Graydon, CEO, FHCP; Ron Lemaire, President, CPMA; Giancarlo Trimarchi, President, Vince’s Market. Moderated by Gary Sands, Sr. VP, CFIG.

10:00AM – 10:45AM

Grocery Forecast: Trends & Opportunities Shaping the Grocery Industry

Aaron Goertzen, BMO Capital Markets; Carman Allison, NielsenIQ and Shabnam Weber, Tea and Herbal Association of Canada joins Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.

Sponsored by:

11:00AM – 4:30PM

Trade Show Exhibition

TCC–NORTH (HALL I)


Insights & Innovations Trade Floor Stage Sessions

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND
EXHIBITORS

12:00PM – 12:30PM

Hear about the latest grocery insights & consumer and category trends presented by Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.

2:00PM – 2:30PM

Winning with Today’s Grocery Consumer: Jason Beales, AIR MILES joins Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters, to discuss different ways that independents and CPGs can engage customers and grow their business through a multitude of loyalty levers and promotional capabilities.


Sip & Sample Stage Sessions

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND
EXHIBITORS

1:00PM – 1:30PM

Maple Leaf Foods’ Chef Sam draws inspiration from the latest flavours in season to create a fall Inspired Prime Chicken Recipe.

3:00PM – 3:30PM

Explore the world of mocktails with Maison Perrier CHIC as Brand Activation Manager, Erik Mili, shares insights on the booming trend of non-alcoholic mocktails and what consumers are looking for. Discover what sets Maison Perrier CHIC apart and indulge in a delightful sip of the new sophisticated yet low calorie mocktail experience.

Evening Events

TCC-NORTH BUILDING (HALL H), J. MITCHELL LOBBY (BALLROOMS A, B)

4:30PM – 5:00PM

Mix and Mingle Networking Event

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

Sponsored by:

5:00PM – 6:30PM

Merchandising Excellence Awards

Awards will be presented to Master Merchandiser Winners for best in-store displays; Top 10 in Grocery, and Best Booths from GIC. Co-hosts Ron Welke, Tony Chapman

Reception sponsored by

Master Merchandiser sponsored by:


Wednesday, October 30

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ALL SESSIONS

TCC–NORTH (HALL H)–BALLROOMS A, B

7:15AM – 7:50AM

Breakfast

Sponsored by

7:50AM – 8:30AM

Fireside chat on retail trends in design and communication to consumer in today’s environment with JP Lacroix, SLD and Patrick Rodmell, Rodmell & Company with Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters

Sponsored by

8:30AM – 9:10AM

The Demand for Diversity in the Aisles. How ethnic grocery retailing has evolved beyond dumplings and donairs. Rick Rabba, Rabba Fine Foods; Inder Chohan, CJR Wholesale Grocers, Don Seo, Five Continents International; Adrian Gianello, Yummy Market, with Tony Chapman, Chatter that Matters.

Sponsored by

9:15AM – 9:55AM

The New Game: How AI Is Changing Your Growth Plans Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the landscape of digital marketing and growth strategies. Join leading Digital Marketing Strategist & Entrepreneur Ross Simmonds to uncover how AI tools and technologies are reshaping businesses and how they can adapt to stay ahead. In addition, he brings it all together by sharing tactical ways marketers can use AI while also showing clear examples of ways in which AI could revolutionize the way we work for decades to come.

Sponsored by

10:00AM – 10:10AM

Coffee Break

Sponsored by


Concurrent Workshops

10:15AM – 10:45AM

ROOM 1

Theft/Shrink

Retail Theft: from general shrink statistics that tell you how many got away, to the overall economic impact of retail crime. Get access insight that will make the most on your bottom line before it goes public. Presented by Stephen O’Keefe, Bottom Line Matters.

ROOM 2

Benchmaking

FMS’ Annual Independent Grocers Survey 2024 results are presented by Robert Graybill, FMS

ROOM 3

Community Engagement

New ideas around the world that help you build loyalty and trust at home. Rachel Loui, Strategic Growth Factor

ROOM 4

Retailer Insights

The Path to Purchase Institute’s Cyndi Loza shares proprietary research shedding light on how retailers and CPG brands can best connect and engage with shoppers through in-store retail media. The session will also unpack research looking at what consumers have come to expect from retailer and brand loyalty programs and how they impact shopping behaviour.

Sponsored by

11:00AM – 4:00PM

Trade Show Exhibition

TCC–NORTH (HALL I)


Insights & Innovations Trade Floor Stage Sessions

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND
EXHIBITORS

12:00PM – 12:30PM

Detailed Loss Prevention programs: From summary to step-by-step instruction on how to implement programs, Stephen O’Keefe, Bottom Line Matters provides proven solutions for retailers.

2:00PM – 2:30PM

Harnessing Gen AI: A competitive edge for grocery retailers. How to optimally use free Gen AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to get insights about your business. Rachel Loui, Strategic Growth Factor

Sponsored by


Sip & Sample Stage Sessions

SESSIONS OPEN TO ALL DELEGATES AND
EXHIBITORS

1:00PM – 1:30PM

If ¾ of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best! This dedicated tasting features Fever-Tree’s new Non- Carbonated Mixers, made with only the best naturally sourced ingredients from around the world. Sip and Sample the Margarita, Mojito, and Caesar mixers presented by Fever-Tree and Tree of Life.Presented by Beth Havers, Kinda Whisky Incorporated

3:00PM – 3:30PM

Ignite your obsession for taste with Liberté yogourt and discover delicious and innovative recipes.

Evening Events

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

TCC-NORTH (HALL H) J. MITCHELL LOBBY, COLLABORATION CORRIDOR (BALLROOMS A, B)

5:30PM – 6:15PM

Reception

Sponsored by:

6:30PM – 9:15PM

Independent Grocer of the Year Awards

Awards will be presented to the best grocers in Canada.

Dinner sponsored by

Dessert sponsored by:

Awards sponsored by:

DRAW FOR GRAND PRIZE TRIP TO NGA SHOW IN LAS VEGAS

Sponsored by:

Daily Shuttle bus service to and from Westin Airport to Toronto Congress Centre

Monday, October 28—4:45PM – 8:00PM
Tuesday, October 29—7:00AM – 7:30PM
Wednesday, October 30—6:30AM –11:00PM

Sponsored by

Carman Allison

VP Thought Leadership, North America, NielsenIQ

Carman Allison is NielsenIQ’s vice president of thought leadership for North America. He is a member of NIQ’s global thought leadership team, a group of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) experts responsible for leading consumer research projects across 23 countries. Carman constantly has his finger on the pulse of the Canadian and American CPG markets, and manufacturers and retailers rely on him and his colleagues to provide solutions they need to make strategic business decisions. He has over 30 years of experience consulting on consumer and retail trends and has been featured in numerous trade and news media, including Grocery Business, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and MarketWatch.

Jason Beales

Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer, AIR MILES

As Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer at AIR MILES, Jason Beales helps steward Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, and the AIR MILES Rewards portfolio. He is motivated by working with partners to uncover unrealized value, advising on growth-driven corporate improvement, and optimization of client businesses (notably driving top line efficiencies).

Inder Chohan

CEO, CJR Wholesale Grocers

Inder is the CEO of CJR Wholesale Grocers. He is passionate about optimizing supply chains and driving the growth of Ontario’s independent grocers through brand innovation and strategic partnerships with CPG leaders. Under his leadership, CJR Wholesale Grocers was named DCI’s Partner of the Year in both 2021 and 2023. Inder’s commitment to excellence continues to shape the company’s success and its impact on the grocery industry.

Diane Brisebois

President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada (RCC)

Diane J. Brisebois has been the president and CEO of RCC since 1995. She has been leading industry associations in Canada for more than 45 years. RCC represents over 53,000 retail establishments across Canada which account for more than 75% of all retail sales in the country. As the CEO, Diane is the spokesperson for the industry, leading a team that is responsible for advocating and lobbying on behalf of the industry, which includes grocery, quick service restaurants, drug chains, mass merchants, and specialty retailers of all sizes and formats across Canada.

She currently serves on the Advisory Boards of St. Mary’s University David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services, Federation of International Retail Associations, the Golden Pencil Food Industry Executive Advisory Committee, the Federal Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) Minister’s Disability Inclusion Business Council and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations.

Tony Chapman

Creator, Host of Podcast Chatter that Matters

With a name synonymous with excellence in marketing and advertising, Tony Chapman is a trailblazer in the industry, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape. Inducted into both the Marketing Hall of Legends and the Canadian Advertising Hall of Fame, Tony’s journey is a testament to the transformative impact of passion, innovation, and fearlessness.

In the dynamic realm of advertising, Tony Chapman distinguished himself by founding and building two internationally renowned advertising agencies and a cutting-edge research firm. His visionary leadership and keen understanding of market dynamics propelled these ventures to unprecedented success.

Robert Graybill

President & CEO, FMS

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

Adrian Gianello

President and CEO, Yummy Market

Adrian Gianello is a business executive with a wealth of experience. He took over the company in 2023 from the founders with plans for further growth and expansion.

Michael Graydon

CEO, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP)

Michael Graydon is Chief Executive Officer of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) the national association voice of Canada’s food, health and consumer products sector. A seasoned business executive, Michael has more than 20 years of visionary CEO leadership across multiple industries, driving proactive and collaborative stakeholder engagement and consistent corporate results. Since joining FCPC in 2016, his leadership has dramatically repositioned the organization into a driving force on industry issues as diverse as Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, free trade and tariff issues, environmental sustainability, product labelling and the changing dynamics of the supplier/retailer relationship.

Aaron Goertzen

Senior Economist & Vice President, BMO Capital Markets

Aaron analyzes performance and risk across a diverse selection of industries and countries. His research is regularly distributed to clients and the media and is also used as an input to internal risk management functions. In addition, Aaron provides macroeconomic support to the team and plays a central role in the development of The Goods, the department’s monthly commodity price publication.

Chef Samantha Lazuric

Head of Culinary – Retail (Research, Development & Technology), Maple Leaf Foods

Chef Samantha Lazuric, AKA Chef Sam, has more than 15 years’ experience combining her passion for food with corporate culture and sustainability. As the Head of Culinary – Retail (Research, Development & Technology), Chef Sam leads Maple Leaf Foods’ culinary department to achieve the highest standard of excellence through products which nourish Canadian families from coast to coast. She combines her skill and business acumen to apply consumer insights, which determine flavour profiling and emerging food trends and leads the development of the hundreds of delicious recipes for Canadian families on mapleleaf.ca.

Ron Lemaire

President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Ron works in the fast-paced world of perishable products that manoeuvres through global regulatory swings, supply chain disruptions, variable climate, food safety outbreaks, disruptive technology advancements, and ever-changing consumer demands and expectations.

In his role as CPMA President, Ron represents the needs and interests of over 870 Canadian and international member companies that are responsible for over 90% of the fresh fruit and vegetable sales in Canada.

He is also the Chair of the Global Coalition for Fresh Produce which brings together 11 fresh produce associations from around the world to create resilient global value chains for fruits and vegetables and bring a myriad of economic, environmental, and societal benefits. Additionally, Ron is a member of the Grocery Code of Conduct Steering Committee.

Rachel Loui

Fractional Chief Commercial Strategy Officer
StrategicGrowthFactor.com

Rachel Loui is a visionary international growth executive who helps companies use quantitative and qualitative data to inform innovation, expansion, and market differentiation. Rachel was most recently at Google as an International Growth executive. There, she helped clients identify and optimize market expansion opportunities across a multitude of industries, including retail.

Rachel Loui is a visionary international growth executive who helps companies use quantitative and qualitative data to inform innovation, expansion, and market differentiation. She specializes in finding creative ways to help companies achieve their growth and revenue potential in existing and new markets. Her talent is optimizing a company’s full value proposition by understanding customer needs through “big” and “small” data, translating the offering into business language that best resonates with existing and new customers, and deploying insights through innovative sales and marketing activities that drive customer action.

Cyndi Loza

Managing Editor Member Content, Path to Purchase Institute

Cyndi has been a member of P2PI’s editorial team for more than 10 years, covering the merchandising and marketing activities of retailers, including Target, Kroger and Dollar General. She also serves as the in-house retail media analyst, reporting on the growth of retailer media networks and related partners, and their impact on the commerce marketing landscape.

Erik Mili

Brand Activation Manager, Perrier/Nestlé Canada

Erik Mili brings over 15 years of expertise in the hospitality industry, including a decade dedicated to the super premium and luxury sectors. With a dual degree in Hospitality and Business Management, Erik’s background spans high-end spirit and beer sales, leading to his current role as Brand Activation Manager at Perrier/Nestlé Canada. In this capacity, he orchestrates high-profile events and collaborations with top-tier hospitality groups, including venues recognized in the “50 Best Bars” list both locally in Canada and with partners across the globe.

Stephen O’Keefe

Founder, Bottom Line Matters

Stephen O’Keefe founded Bottom Line Matters following a corporate career running Loss Prevention and Risk Management for Walmart Canada and other top brands. Specializing in advisory services for retailers and solution partners, the philosophy of Bottom Line Matters is to place focus on the health of a P&L relative to the amount of loss incurred through waste, inefficiencies and crime. Stephen holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Psychology, and was honoured with a lifetime achievement award by an industry of his peers.

Rick Rabba

President, Rabba Fine Foods

Rick Rabba is the President of Rabba Fine Foods, a chain of 37 urban markets recognized as a “Toronto institution since the ’60s” by the Toronto Star. A Chartered Professional Accountant with decades of retail grocery experience, Rick is a respected business executive and leader of a diverse and complex organization. He has led the company to multiple awards, including the Canadian Grocer Impact Award for both sustainability and for community service. Rick has served on the board of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers since 2019 and currently sits on its executive committee.

Gary Sands

Sr. Vice President Policy & Advocacy, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers

Gary Sands is Sr. Vice President Policy & Advocacy with CFIG and has been with the association for 24 years. Gary has extensive experience in government at the political level as a Chief of Staff and helped oversee Government entities such as Ontario Place, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ontario Lottery Corporation and the Niagara Parks Commission. He was also part of the team that negotiated bringing the Molson Indy to Toronto. Gary also helped develop and pilot through the Legislature, landmark reforms to municipal governance, elections and financing ̶ changes that still stand today.

During his tenure with CFIG he was elected the Chair of the Small Business Matters Coalition, composed of over 23 national trade associations which at the time of its existence, was the largest voice for business organizations in Canada. The Coalition helped spearhead reductions in Canada’s small business tax rate and credit card interchange fees.

He is part of the Interim Board of Directors that brought to fruition the Grocery Code of Conduct. Gary is also a recipient of CFIG’s Spirit of the Independent Award.

Don Seo

Director of Sales, Five Continents International

Don is a Sales Development Leader with over 9 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations within the multicultural industry. He excels at leading teams of inbound and outbound sales development representatives through call coaching, role-playing, strategy sessions, and more. Passionate about leveraging analytics to identify and track consumer trends and behaviors, Don is committed to driving performance and growth.

Ross Simmonds

Leading Digital Marketing Strategist & Entrepreneur

Ross Simmonds is an entrepreneur and marketing strategist who helps B2B & SaaS brands use content marketing, SEO, content distribution, and technology to unlock new levels of organic growth. He is the founder of Foundation Marketing, a B2B content marketing agency that combines data and creativity to support successful and ambitious software brands in the world. Foundation works and has worked with brands like Canva, Procore, Unbounce, Jobber, Snowflake, and more. Ross is considered one of the leading experts in Content Distribution coining the phrase “Create once. Distribute forever”.

In addition to running Foundation Marketing; Ross is the founder of a wide range of different businesses including Hustle & Grind, an eCommerce brand described as the voice of modern entrepreneurs. Ross has invested in a handful of SaaS start-ups and sits on the board of directors for non-profit organizations. Ross has been named one of the most influential marketers in the world by multiple marketing publications and firms like BuzzSumo, SEMRush, and more. He’s been published or featured in a plethora of industry publications and mainstream media channels like Forbes, HuffPost, VentureBeat, BET, and CBC.

Giancarlo Trimarchi

President, Vince’s Market

Giancarlo Trimarchi is the President of Vince’s Market, an independent grocery chain in Ontario, and a respected leader in the Canadian grocery industry. He has served on the board of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) for several years, culminating as Chair from 2021 to 2022. Giancarlo was nominated by CFIG to be the independent retail member on the Industry Working Group that developed the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct, ratified in 2024. His extensive experience and commitment to the industry make him a key voice in shaping the future of grocery retail in Canada. Giancarlo will be receiving the 2024 Life Member Award from CFIG at the Independent Grocer of the Year Gala.

Shabnam Weber

President, Tea & Herbal Association of Canada

For almost two decades, Shabnam Weber owned and operated her own tea company in Toronto, Canada. With retail stores and a wholesale business, her company was one of the first of its kind in Toronto. Her passion and love of tea led her to become involved with the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada as a Director, sitting on several committees, most notably the Education Committee where she wrote the Tea Sommelier® program.

Shabnam has been President of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada since 2018 and has transformed the association through the programs and resources it offers members and become an industry leader. She is the Canadian representative on the UN FAO’s Intergovernmental Group on Tea (IGG/Tea) and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the group. She sits on several working groups of the IGG/Tea, is Co-Chair of the Advocacy pilar, Vice-Chair of the working group on Smallholders and co-Chair of the working group on Tea and Health.

Patrick Rodmell

President & Founder, Rodmell & Company

Patrick Rodmell is President and Founder of Rodmell & Company, an integrated consulting and creative agency specializing in brand and customer experience optimization for grocery clients throughout North America.

Patrick is renowned for his strategic insights into consumer behaviour and innovative approaches to value creation. With experience spanning over three decades, Patrick has shared his perspective on the future of retail at countless international conferences and through leading business and retail publications.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix

President, Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD)

Innovator, designer, strategist, futurist, transformer of brands for growth, Jean-Pierre Lacroix is President of Shikatani Lacroix Design (SLD). Jean-Pierre Lacroix is strongly committed to design innovation. In addition to pioneering the successful firm, Jean-Pierre is also Past President of The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, Past President of DIAC (Design Industry Advisory Committee), board member of SEGD (Society of Environmental Graphic Designers), as well as former Director of the Packaging Association of Canada. SLD is a global branding firm specializing in transforming customer experiences for financial institutions and retailers brands. A key tenet of the company’s approach is the constant review of trends and market dynamics influencing ideal transformation outcomes

Beth Havers

Kinda Whisky Incorporated

Over the span of two dynamic decades, Beth Havers has fully immersed herself in the spirits world. Today, she stands tall as a luminary in the realm of whisky, revered as a pioneering force for women both in Canada and across the globe.

Honoured with the esteemed Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Ambassador of the Year Award, Beth has been entrusted with the art of shaping unique expressions for Glenfiddich, the pinnacle of Single Malt whisky. With a certification from the International Sommelier Guild, she brings a refined palate to her craft.

Now at the helm of Kinda Whisky Incorporated, Beth serves as a consultant, sharing her expertise with emerging distilleries and collaborating with renowned brands to create captivating brand activations and influencer gatherings. Adding a delightful twist to her repertoire, Beth also wears the hat of proprietor at Aunt Beth’s, a whimsical whisky bakery nestled in the vibrant heart of downtown Toronto. She also champions brand advocacy for Fever-Tree Premium mixers, adding sparkle to every sip.

Ron Welke

President & CEO, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers

Ron is a proven organizational leader with a bias for action and a successful track record of developing & executing strategy, collaborating, building trust with internal and external stakeholders, developing talent, managing risk, fostering innovation, and brand development. Ron processes a strong legacy of building partnerships and leveraging resources to accomplish ambitious objectives.

Ron has held progressively responsible positions during his 32-year career at Federated Co-operative Limited (FCL). Most recently, Ron was the Associate Vice President of Food at FCL, which had him leading all aspects of both Co-op’s Food and Independent Businesses, as well as the Pharmacy, Liquor and Convenience Business units.

Ron was previously a Board Member of Ecobain Naturals and Mother Labs and served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) from 2013-2022. His time on the CFIG board included 2 years as Chairperson (2019-2021). Ron was inducted into the Grocery Business Hall of Fame in 2024.

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