2025
Schedule
Discover opportunities to connect, learn, and get inspired at GIC.
All in-person sessions are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Daily Shuttle Bus: To/From Westin Toronto Airport Hotel to Toronto Congress Centre North Building.
Monday, October 27 (Evening)
From 4:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28
From 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29
From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: Federated Insurance
2025 Schedule
8:00 AM
8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Lobby Westin Toronto Airport Hotel
Industry Tour
Pre-registration & Registered Retailers ONLY
Pick up at 7:45AM Lobby Westin Toronto Airport Hotel
Tour List:
Cataldi:2265 Keele St
Longo’s Leaside: 93 Laird Drive
Galleria Sheppard: 4950 Yonge Street
Summerhill: 3609 Dundas Street West
Tour List:
Cataldi:2265 Keele St
Longo’s Leaside: 93 Laird Drive
Galleria Sheppard: 4950 Yonge Street
Summerhill: 3609 Dundas Street West
TOUR
5:30 PM
5:30 PM-7:30 PM
Collaboration Corridor-J.Mitchell Lobby Hall H
Opening Reception
ALL EXHIBITORS AND ATTENDEES WELCOME
All exhibitors and attendees welcome
Sponsored by:Tree of Life
TOUR
7:30 AM
7:30 AM–8:00 AM
Ballrooms A, B
Continental Breakfast
FULL DELEGATE, CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW PASSES
Registration/Check-in for Annual General Meeting
Sponsored by:Federated Insurance
8:00 AM
8:00 AM–8:30 AM
Ballrooms A, B
CFIG Annual General Meeting
FULL DELEGATE, CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW PASSES
CFIG updates - President & CEO
8:35 AM
8:35 AM–9:20 AM
Ballrooms A, B
President & Adjudicator · Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct
FULL DELEGATE, CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW PASSES
Adjudicator Karen Proud. Q&A to follow with Gary Sands, CFIG Moderator
CODE
9:25 AM
9:25 AM-10:05 AM
Ballrooms A, B
Smart Shelves, Smarter Stores: AI's Impact on the Future of Grocery
FULL DELEGATE, CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW PASSES
In this thought-provoking keynote, Ramy Nassar, an internationally acclaimed expert in AI and Strategic Foresight, will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the grocery sector.
Sponsored by:Conagra Brands
Keynote
10:10 AM
10:10 AM-10:50 AM
Ballrooms A, B
BMO Economist - State of the industry
FULL DELEGATE, CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW PASSES
Sponsored by:A. Lassonde
Keynote
10:55 AM
10:55 AM-11:00 AM
TCC North Building – Hall H
Ribbon Cutting
All Welcome
11:00 AM
11:00 AM-4:30 PM
TCC North Building – Hall I
Trade Show
12:00 PM
12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Ballrooms A, B
Category Connect Meetings
Pre-registration required
Face-to-face program brings together retailers and exhibitors to have one-on-one meetings to discuss products, services and/or solutions in their respective categories! This is a first-come-first-booked program with guaranteed meetings!
Meeting
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
Interac Insights & Innovations Stage
Independent grocers are operating on razor-thin margins and facing pressure from all sides
OPEN TO ALL TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES
Rising labour and logistics costs, aggressive pricing from national chains, and shifting consumer expectations. But a wave of made-in-Canada foodtech innovations is helping level the playing field. This panel will showcase practical, low-barrier technologies grocers can pilot today to drive productivity gains and stay competitive. Moderated by Richa Gupta, Canadian Food Innovation Network
Sponsored by:Interac
Session
1:00 PM
1:00 PM-1:30 PM
Interac Insights & Innovations Stage
From Print to Performance: How Retail Media Is Reinventing the Weekly Ad
OPEN TO ALL TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES
Sponsored by:Interac
Session
2:00 PM
2:00 PM-2:30 PM
Interac Insights & Innovations Stage
The Hot Ones
OPEN TO ALL TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES
From Seoul to the Supermarket, the hottest trends in K-Food to boost your sales with Korea Food Trading’s Edward Son
Sponsored by:Interac
Session
4:30 PM
4:30 PM-5:00 PM
J Mitchell Lobby, Hall H
Networking Cocktail
All Delegates, Exhibitors Welcomed
Sponsored by:TGP
Network
4:30 PM-6:30 PM
J. Mitchell Lobby Hall H; Ballrooms A, B
Merchandising Excellence Awards
All Delegates, Exhibitors Welcomed
MCs Ron Welke, Laura Collaton
Awards
5:00 PM
5:00 PM-6:30 PM
J. Mitchell Lobby Hall H; Ballrooms A, B
Award Presentation
All Delegates, Exhibitors Welcomed
Best merchandising displays are awarded and top 10 in grocery winners announced.
Awards:
Reception Sponsor: A. Lassonde
Program Sponsors:
Awards
8:00 AM
8:00 AM-8:30 PM
Ballrooms A, B
Breakfast
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Sponsored by:
8:35 AM
8:35 AM-9:15 AM
Ballrooms A, B
Retailer Spotlight on Innovation
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Edward Son,KFT/Galleria; Brian Bradley, Stong’s Market
Keynote
9:20 AM
9:20 AM-10:00 AM
Ballrooms A, B
Consumer Insight Session NieslenIQ Exclusive.
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Leverage diversity for growth: A view into the ethnic shopper.
Keynote
10:10 AM
10:10 AM-10:20 AM
Ballrooms A, B
10 minute Coffee Break
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Sponsored by:
10:25 AM Workshops Rooms 6-9
10:25 AM-10:55 AM
Room 6
Benchmarking
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Independent Grocers Financial Survey Results. Robert Graybill,FMS
Sponsored by:
Workshop
10:25 AM-10:55 AM
Room 7
Keys to the New Grocery Code
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Retailers join this session to highlight what aspects of the Code are important to the retailer, becoming a Code member, using the portal & Global Code experience from the UK, Australia & New Zealand. Presented by Henry Chambers, Sentinel International Commercial Training and Management Consultants.
Sponsored by
Workshop
10:25 AM-10:55 AM
Room 8
The Future of Product Identification
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Why 2D Barcodes Matter to Your Business. Discover how 2D barcodes are transforming the future of product identification. Learn how this next-generation technology enhances transparency, streamlines operations, and creates new opportunities for consumer engagement and business growth. Presented by GS1 Canada’s Jason Laxdal and Pam Horvatis.
Jason Laxdal
VP Industry Managed Solutions at GS1 Canada
Pam Horvatis
SVP Industry Relations at GS1 Canada
Sponsored by:
Workshop
10:25 AM-10:55 AM
Room 9
EnsembleIQ provides the latest consumer insights and retail trends affecting your business.
FULL DELEGATES, CONFERENCE PASS HOLDERS
Sponsored by:
Workshop
11:00 AM
11:00 AM-4:00 PM
TCC North Building – Hall I
Trade Show
12:00 PM
12:00 PM-12:30 PM
Interac Insights & Innovations Stage
The State of Labour in 2025: What’s Changed and What’s Next?
OPEN TO ALL TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES
Join Steve Mendelssohn, of Jobsthatfeed.ca that helps employers attract and retain employees in the food industry.
Sponsored by:Interac
Session
1:00 PM
1:00 PM-1:30 PM
Interac Insights & Innovations Stage
The Hot Ones
OPEN TO ALL TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES
From Seoul to the Supermarket, the hottest trends in K-Food to boost your sales with Korea Food Trading’s Edward Son
Sponsored by:Interac
Session
Independent Grocer of the Year Gala
Registration required; payment onsite depending on availability
Registration required; payment onsite depending on availability
5:30 PM-6:15 PM
Collaboration Corridor J. Mitchell Lobby Hall H; Ballrooms A,B
Reception
Dinner Ticket / Full Delegate with Dinner Passes only
Independent Grocer of the Year Gala
GALA
6:30 PM-7:30 PM
Collaboration Corridor J. Mitchell Lobby Hall H; Ballrooms A,B
Dinner
Dinner Ticket / Full Delegate with Dinner Passes only
Independent Grocer of the Year Gala
Dinner Sponsors:
GALA
7:30 PM-9:15 PM
Collaboration Corridor J. Mitchell Lobby Hall H; Ballrooms A,B
Awards
Dinner Ticket / Full Delegate with Dinner Passes only
Independent Grocer of the Year Gala
Award:
Award Sponsored by:
NGA Show Prize Sponsor: Saputo
Award
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