The Food Professor

Michael LeBlanc, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Join Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax with host Michael LeBlanc as they look at the hot issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries. We'll discuss proprietary industry and consumer food related research, check out fresh new ideas and talk about half baked strategies. Presented by Caddle. © 2020-2024 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved. read less
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EU Tilt Right & Ag, Montreal Terrace Fiasco, Veggie Hot Dog Controversy, and guest Jake Freeze, Managing Director and Part-Owner of Sussex Ice Cream
3日前
EU Tilt Right & Ag, Montreal Terrace Fiasco, Veggie Hot Dog Controversy, and guest Jake Freeze, Managing Director and Part-Owner of Sussex Ice Cream
In the latest episode of the Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome special guest Jake Freeze, Managing Director and Part-Owner of Sussex Ice Cream. Jake, who was born and raised on a dairy farm in Sussex, continues to have a deep connection to the local agricultural community as he balances his career as a practicing lawyer with his role in the family business. Jake, his father, Dave, and a dedicated team ensure Sussex Ice Cream maintains its commitment to high-quality, locally sourced dairy products.Sylvain, with his 22nd appearance at the INDU in Ottawa, shares compelling insights from his recent testimony. The conversation then delves into current news, discussing the far-reaching implications of the EU elections on global trade, a snap election in France, and their direct effects on farmers and rural populations. The hosts also touch on the decline in beer sales, Chocolats Favoris' decision to freeze ice cream prices for the summer, and the surprising departure of Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut from the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest due to his affiliation with plant-based hot dogs. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Rate Cut Ripple, Beef with Beef Processing, Strawberry Fields Forever, and guest Isabelle Marquis, SIAL Jury President and Tertulia Brugge's El Gusto's Eugenia Sanchez
06-06-2024
Rate Cut Ripple, Beef with Beef Processing, Strawberry Fields Forever, and guest Isabelle Marquis, SIAL Jury President and Tertulia Brugge's El Gusto's Eugenia Sanchez
Our guests live from SIAL In Montreal are competition jury President Isabelle Marquis, back for her third visit on the #pod, and Tertulia Brugge's El Gusto Gourmet Drip Coffee's Eugenia Sanchez, who won the Grand Prix Gold award. The brand will receive a $10,000 grant in products or services provided by Nielsen and a 100-square-foot bare booth for SIAL Toronto 2025.In the news, we look at the implications of the Bank of Canada's long-awaited interest rate cut, the labour challenges with beef processing in Canada, what that means for BBQ season, and California's strawberry boom.  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Ketchup Wars Reduxe, BOC's Interest Rate Pending Decision, Theft Stats and guest Adekambi (Kambi) Laleye, co-founder and CEO of UpTaste, SIAL Technology and Packaging Award Winner
30-05-2024
Ketchup Wars Reduxe, BOC's Interest Rate Pending Decision, Theft Stats and guest Adekambi (Kambi) Laleye, co-founder and CEO of UpTaste, SIAL Technology and Packaging Award Winner
Our special guest this week, recorded live at SIAL Montreal, is Adekambi (Kambi) Laleye, co-founder and CEO of UpTaste. UpTaste recently won the Technology and Packaging Award for their innovative automated in-store sampling solution.Sylvain and I discussed the latest ERA Awards, which recognize excellence in various retail categories. Metro Inc. won for eCommerce Experience, Farm Boy Inc. for In-Store Experience & Design, LCBO for Loss Prevention and Talent Development, Tim Hortons for Philanthropic Leadership, and Pattison Food Group for Retail Marketing.Fresh from a whirlwind visit to Berlin, Sylvain shared insights on his trip, sparking discussions on international food trends. Breaking news from the RCC STORE2024 conference revealed that Eataly is opening its third Toronto location at Don Mills, with a fourth soon at CF Eaton Centre, making Toronto the top city for Eataly locations worldwide.We also touched on the RCC grocery theft numbers and the recent Heinz-Kraft deal renewal with Leamington. A lively debate ensued about whether cashiers should sit down during their shifts, highlighting differing perspectives on customer service and employee comfort.Looking ahead, we speculated on the upcoming Bank of Canada decision on June 5 and whether they will cut interest rates. We also examined whether supply management contributes to higher food prices, backed by compelling data demonstrating price volatility.  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Food Inflation hits the brakes, Dairy Avian Flu Mystery Meeting, Loblaw New Strategy, guests SIAL Gold Winners Jennifer Zimmermann and Amy Bronstetter, co-founders of Epic Tofu and Exclusive BBQ research with Colleen Martin from Caddle
23-05-2024
Food Inflation hits the brakes, Dairy Avian Flu Mystery Meeting, Loblaw New Strategy, guests SIAL Gold Winners Jennifer Zimmermann and Amy Bronstetter, co-founders of Epic Tofu and Exclusive BBQ research with Colleen Martin from Caddle
In this episode, presented by Caddle, Michael LeBlanc brings fresh insights from the action-packed SIAL food innovation show in Montreal. Michael & Sylvain share their experiences and interviews, highlighting the energy and innovations at the event. The episode's special guests, Jennifer Zimmermann and Amy Bronstetter, co-founders of Epic Tofu, discuss their victory in SIAL Canada's food and beverage Start-Up Pitch Competition. They impressed the judges with their innovative frozen tofu, which offers superior texture and flavour, triples shelf-life, reduces food waste, and has replaced over 250,000 meat-based meals.The episode also features Colleen Martin from Caddle, who presents exclusive research on BBQ trends. She delves into what people are cooking, their equipment, and their preferences, providing invaluable insights for BBQ enthusiasts and the food industry and helping them stay ahead of the curve.Michael and his co-host delve into a post-analysis of the SIAL show, reflecting on the sessions, key takeaways, and overall vibe. They also delve into pressing issues such as inflation, engaging in detailed discussions on recent inflation numbers and their profound impact on the food industry, providing the audience with a comprehensive understanding of the topic.Additionally, the podcast covers the recent House of Commons agriculture committee meeting on H5N1, which was unexpectedly held in-camera, and Loblaw's new public relations strategy featuring Dufresne on BNN and a new Code of Conduct.The episode concludes with a look at Red Lobster's fate and ownership structure, noting its decline in Canada and the U.S. and its ownership structure with only 30 remaining restaurants, humorously dubbed "Dead Lobster."  BBQ Ideas for Fishhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcsOZjlDuxxKtifO3YVhOTHoGgUSLb-T7 About Epic TofuWe met 6 years ago after our 2nd babies were born—in a mommy-group encounter that feels like a life time ago. We chatted about babies, breastfeeding, bottles, and business. But, with young kids underfoot and existing careers in progress, starting a business together was always just a passing comment.As the years went by we raised kids (lots of girls), worked together, and became friends. Then a global pandemic hit—everything slowed down. No time for ourselves as parents without child care, but funny enough, lots of time to think.  And thought we did until the right idea finally came to us!Food became scarce for a while in the early months of the pandemic. Tofu was nearly impossible to get our hands on; in particular, Jenn's favourite brick of smoked tofu. And just like that, an idea was born; if we can't buy flavoured tofu, we'll make our own! And we'll make it even better than ever.So here we are, putting ourselves (and our recipes) out there for the world to judge! We love what we do, we love tofu and we hope you will too!About AmyMy dream has always been to start a business... with 18 years of experience and the most passionate "work spouse" anyone could ask for, Epic Tofu is finally here! I have had the privilege of working with some of the worlds finest entrepreneurs and I have done every "job in the building". Thanks to these experiences (and of course a ridiculous amount of hard work) Epic Tofu will become synonymous in Canada with "the best natural, marinated plant based protein on the market"... Bold I know, but there's no other way to dream!About JenniferJenn is a Marketing and Communications nerd whose experience spans the consumer packaged goods, retail and government industries. A communicator at heart, Jenn spent her career helping companies build better relationships with their customers by telling the stories that make their brands truly unique.Now, Jenn is building her own brand as co-founder of Epic Tofu—a self-funded plant-based food start up. They’re challenging the plant-based industry with full-flavour marinated tofu products that are so epic, even tofu haters love them. About ColleenColleen has been working in the Retail industry for close to 25 years with a proven track record in growing businesses by providing strategic direction and leadership to merchandising and marketing teams. At Caddle, Colleen is responsible for driving revenue growth and maximizing profitability within the organization. She leads cross-functional teams, aligning sales, marketing, customer success to ensure a unified and customer-centric approach to revenue generation. Colleen is adept at fostering a high-performance culture, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and customer satisfaction as core values within the revenue-generating functions of the company.Specialties: Creation & implementation of winning store-level programs, brand development, team development, communication, project management, marketing strategies & communication, retail assortment, insights from data analysis, category management, profit and loss management, negotiation, digital and social media retail strategies, advertising strategy and execution, SEO/SEM.  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Live at SIAL in Montreal, Canada's Sad Supply Chain, and our guest Marc Vaucher, Scale AI
16-05-2024
Live at SIAL in Montreal, Canada's Sad Supply Chain, and our guest Marc Vaucher, Scale AI
In the latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, we are live from Montreal's SIAL's Food Innovation Show. We discuss our first day at the show and our numerous interactions with industry professionals. The episode features an insightful interview with Marc Vaucher, Senior Investment Director at Scale AI, highlighting the organization's role in enhancing productivity for Canadian companies through AI adoption. Marc explains that Scale AI, backed by substantial federal funding, has supported 120 projects, adding significant value to the Canadian economy. The conversation covers various AI applications in agriculture and grocery retail, including predictive analytics for crop management and optimization of retail operations.In the news, we delve into the state of the Canadian supply chain, discussing potential labor disruptions at Vancouver Ports and on the rails with CN, and their potential impact on businesses. We underline the importance of recognizing the food supply chain as an essential service to avert such disruptions. Furthermore, we explore the current trends in the food industry, noting a shift towards creating recession-proof products and the increasing focus on catering to millennial preferences.We conclude with discussions on the strategic movements of major companies like Kraft Heinz, their divestment from certain product lines, and the growing trend of consumers shopping at a greater variety of retailers. We mourn the end of the automatronic band at Chuck E Cheese, celebrate the opening of  a big new facilities by The Little Potato Company. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Florida Bans Lab Meat, Fake China Cooking Oil, Starbucks Troubles and Guest Dr. Tony Walker, Dalhousie University
09-05-2024
Florida Bans Lab Meat, Fake China Cooking Oil, Starbucks Troubles and Guest Dr. Tony Walker, Dalhousie University
In this episode, we are thrilled to have Professor Tony Walker, a distinguished environmental scientist from Dalhousie University, as our guest. Professor Walker shared profound insights from his recent groundbreaking study on plastics in the food industry, a study that has been widely recognized and published in the prestigious journal Science. This episode delved into the crucial environmental impacts of plastics in the food chain, providing a comprehensive understanding of his findings, which were previously touched upon in an earlier episode.We provided an update on the bird flu outbreak affecting U.S. dairy, a situation that has led to increased vigilance in Canada. We discussed Florida's pioneering ban on meat produced from cell cultures, a move that is being considered by other states including Alabama. The episode also examined the cancellation of Calgary's plastic bylaw, a decision that could have had significant implications for the city's environmental policies.Additionally, the episode previewed the upcoming SIAL event in Montreal, where the podcast will serve as the official podcast, releasing episodes during and after the event as summer bonuses.The discussion also included allegations of fraudulent cooking oil from China and Starbucks' challenges.  *********Image: Volunteers from Green Africa Youth Organization and End Plastic Pollution Uganda examine branded plastic waste and record brand audit data in Kampala, Uganda. (Nirere Sadrach photo About Professor WalkerDr. Tony Walker is a Professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University in Canada. Tony has studied the impacts of plastic pollution for nearly 30 years. He helped participate in a Leaders and Experts Roundtable on Plastics and Marine Litter to help develop the Ocean Plastics Charter for Canada's 2018 G7 presidency. He represented Canada at the G7 Science Meeting on Plastic Pollution in Paris, France. He has published extensively on policies to reduce the impacts of plastic pollution and is an Associate Editor for Marine Pollution Bulletin and Editor for Cambridge Prisms: Plastics. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adj8275https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-021-00747-4https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijcs.12691https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X22001424 The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
The Philosophy of Boycotts, McDonald's Results Miss & guest Chamali Kodikara, University of Manitoba Ph.d Candidate & IFTSA Board of Directors
02-05-2024
The Philosophy of Boycotts, McDonald's Results Miss & guest Chamali Kodikara, University of Manitoba Ph.d Candidate & IFTSA Board of Directors
This episode features Chamali Kodikara, a notable Graduate Research Scientist from the University of Manitoba. The discussion kicks off with Chamali's significant role in the food science community, including her position on the IFTSA Board of Directors. We discuss the philosophy and effectiveness of boycotts in the context of solid results this week from Loblaw. The episode takes a serious turn as we discuss the potential health implications for Canada and North America. We delve into the discovery of a dangerous bird flu virus strain, H5N1, found in the lung of a symptomless U.S. dairy cow. This virus, identified in processed, pasteurized milk, exhibits unique genetic changes, hinting at a wider spread among cattle than previously anticipated, raising food safety concerns. In the realm of economic news, we discuss the recent downturn in McDonald's global sales growth, a clear indication of shifting consumer spending habits. However, amidst this, we bring a ray of excitement as we share the news of Shake Shack's plans to open its first Canadian outlet in Toronto's bustling Yonge-Dundas Square. This promises to be a game-changer, offering a fresh and significant dining option for the area.Lastly, the Quebec liquor board's decision to cull up to 200 local spirits from its inventory highlights the challenges facing microdistilleries in Quebec due to intense competition and stringent regulations. This move has sparked a debate about the sustainability and variety of local products in a challenging economic climate.Links for Chamalihttps://www.ift.org/press/press-releases/2024/march/22/iftsa-elects-chamali-kodikara-vp-of-competitionshttps://www.producer.com/news/food-researcher-adds-more-to-her-resume/ The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Food Safety & Affordability Research, Shrinkflation Signage, California Fast Food Wage Impacts & Tanner Townsend, Uncle Bob's Popcorn Kernels
25-04-2024
Food Safety & Affordability Research, Shrinkflation Signage, California Fast Food Wage Impacts & Tanner Townsend, Uncle Bob's Popcorn Kernels
In the latest episode of "The Food Professor" podcast, we have the privilege of hosting Tanner Townsend from Uncle Bob Popcorn in Ontario. He provides unique insights into the intricacies and passion behind the family-run popcorn business, making for a fascinating discussion. Michael shares his excitement about moderating a panel with industry expert Stuart Samuel at the upcoming SIAL Montreal innovation food show. Broadcasting from Dallas, Texas, Michael also touches on his participation in a book launch for "Leaders Leap" with Steve Dennis and plans for a barbecue tour in Austin. The episode shifts to cover significant industry news, starting with a new study on food safety that Sylvain finds alarming; we delve into the issue of shrinkflation in grocery stores, comparing tactics on the shelf and consumer reactions internationally.Additionally, the episode addresses the Gate Gourmet Canada strike and the implications of California's new $20/hr minimum wage law.Food Safety Researchhttps://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/food-safety.htmlUncle Bob'shttps://www.ontariopoppingcorn.com/Steve Dennis's new bookhttps://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/leaders-leap-transforming-your-company-at-the-speed-of-disruption/9781637560297.html The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Food & the Federal Budget, Breakfast Breakdown and Exclusive Edible Cannabis Research with Colleen Martin, Caddle
18-04-2024
Food & the Federal Budget, Breakfast Breakdown and Exclusive Edible Cannabis Research with Colleen Martin, Caddle
In this podcast episode, we are thrilled to have back on the #pod for her regular monthly gig Colleen Martin, a renowned research expert from our presenting sponsor Caddle, who joins us to discuss their research conducted for our show and audience. Coinciding with the 4.20 Holiday, this episode delves into the latest consumer trends in retail cannabis, particularly edibles, beyond traditional forms like the 'devil's lettuce.' Colleen's exclusive, fresh-baked, proprietary research enriches our understanding of consumer preferences in this evolving market.The episode then shifts gears to discuss recent economic policies significantly affecting the food industry. We dissect the federal budget, highlighting key aspects such as rebates on the carbon tax benefiting farmers and small businesses and the absence of a "grocery windfall tax" Providing relief for the restaurant sector. We also delve into the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers, noting the moderation in food inflation, a trend Sylvain had previously predicted while underlining the impact of rising costs in other areas, like gas and housing, on overall inflation.Government employment trends are another focal point, with Sylvain presenting data on increased federal employees during both Trudeau eras. This section provides context to government staffing levels compared to previous administrations, noting a ratio of 110 federal employees per citizen, significantly lower than the 150 per citizen in the U.S.The episode briefly mentions trending topics in the food sector, such as survival food kits, reflecting on their practicality and recent surge in popularity, and the future of Red Lobster in an era of very high-priced lobster. Caddle Survey on Canadian Cannabis Consumer Habitshttps://askcaddle.com/thefoodprofessorpodcast/Breakfast Surveyhttps://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/breakfast-survey.html The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Stats Canada Food Fight, $ US1.4 Trillion Farm Bill, Rib Robots and guest Ian Lee, Associate Professor at Carleton University | Sprott School
11-04-2024
Stats Canada Food Fight, $ US1.4 Trillion Farm Bill, Rib Robots and guest Ian Lee, Associate Professor at Carleton University | Sprott School
In the latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois are joined by the esteemed Dr. Ian Lee, an Associate Professor at Carleton University. Together, they delve into a series of pressing topics in food and agriculture, leveraging Dr. Lee's extensive knowledge and experience. The discussion covers competition in the food industry, the anticipated impact of the Code of Conduct, and Canada's economic outlook.The episode kicks off with a crucial conversation about the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) and its potential implications for Canada. The hosts then turn their attention to Statistics Canada's food basket pricing, a topic of significant interest and debate, questioning whether it underestimates or overestimates the real costs. They reference a Toronto Sun column penned by Sylvain that highlights some discrepancies in the pricing.Attention shifts to the upcoming US Farm Bill, which is anticipated to allocate $1.4 trillion over ten years, juxtaposed against Canada's comparatively modest $3.5 billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) over five years. The hosts also correct a previous claim regarding Amazon's "just walk out" technology, clarifying misconceptions about the system's operation.The conversation further explores the evolving landscape of automation in meatpacking, highlighting Smithfield's initiative to deploy robots for tasks like rib pulling, significantly reducing waste and reassigning workers to less physically demanding roles. This shift toward automation, exemplified by Smithfield's strategy to reassign about 500 employees annually, marks a transformative phase in food production, aiming for higher efficiency and worker safety.Lastly, we touch upon the wine industry's challenges, noting a significant surplus in California's bulk wine market, showcasing the broader economic and logistical complexities facing today's food and agriculture sectors.Statistics Canada PHOTO BY TONY CALDWELL/POSTMEDIAhttps://www.wsj.com/business/meet-the-robots-slicing-your-barbecue-ribs-338a7794?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1About IanI am an Associate Professor at Carleton University in the Sprott School where I started in 1988, teaching the 4th year and(later) the MBA Strategic Management capstone course, as well as related courses such as International Business Strategy, from then to now. After dropping out of grade 12 in 1971, I worked at a series of minimum wage jobs for 3 years in the early 1970s. In 1974, I started with an American financial services multinational as a credit manager trainee eventually becoming a Branch Manager in several branches in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. I was then recruited in 1977 by Canada’s oldest bank (that predates Canada by a half century), where I was given outstanding training in banking, economics and management by British bankers. I was employed at the BMO Main Office Branch (4thlargest in all Canada at that time) at 144 Wellington and Sparks opposite Parliament Hill and beside the National Press Club (Parliament subsequently acquired, refurbished and renamed the branch as Sir John A. Macdonald Building for Parliament Hill receptions). As Loan and Mortgage Manager in my mid 20s, I dealt with cabinet ministers in the Trudeau Government, Senators, MPs, national journalists, Supreme Court judges, deputy ministers, national NGOs and staff of embassies including the Chinese and USSR Ambassadors, as well as national institutions such as the Bank of Canada. And in that capacity throughout those years, I evaluatedpersonal and corporate financial statements and lent millions and millions of dollars in demand loans, consumer loans, mortgage loans and business loans.  After completing my entire undergraduate degree on a part time basis in the evenings over 10 years while employed full time, I resigned from the bank to enroll full time in a master’s degree in public policy in 1982 at Carleton University. However, I completed the second year of the master’s degree full time in evenings in 1983-84 as I accepted a position as a full time policy analyst with Canada Post Corporation in Corporate Finance and Banking, Head Office. Upon graduation in 1984, I resigned from Canada Post to enroll in the PhD program in the public policy stream at Carleton University graduating in 1989. My 850 page PhD thesis was titled: The Canadian Post Office: Origins, growth and decay of the state postal function, 1765-1981. While completing my PhD, I was employed for one summer in 1985 in the Privy Council Office, Machinery of Government.Shortly after starting with the Sprott School on a tenure track in 1988, the Berlin Wall came down in October 1989. Then in 1990-91, Carleton University School of Business was awarded $3 million by Foreign Affairs Canada to establish a Canadian Business School in Poland at theprestigious Central School for Planning and Statistics – later renamed the Warsaw School of Economics. In April 1991, I became the first western professor to teach in a university in a former communist country under an OECD country funded business management program. I have continued to teach at Warsaw School of Economics (in the EMBA since 1997) where I have had a bird’s eye view of the remarkable transformation of Poland from an impoverished, corrupt centralizedsocialist economy managed by the elite nomenklatura to a remarkably vibrant prosperous decentralized democratic country in transition.Since 1990, I have taught approximately 100 times across the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans, mostly in EMBA programs, in many different countries ranging from Poland to Russia to Iran to Ukraine to Cuba to Romania to Slovenia to Latvia to Czech to Argentina to Croatiato Mexico and after 1997 in China – always inAmerican or Canadian universities in partnership with a local university. I taught a number of times for the University of Washington (Seattle) with ASEBUSS in Bucharest, Romania; Katz Graduate School U Pittsburg in Prague; SUNY Buffalo with Riga Business School, Latvia; Carnegie-Mellon with IMI-Kiev, Ukraine; Carleton Sprott School with Qeshm Institute in Qeshm and Tehran, Iran; University of Ottawa in Hong Kong; Carleton Sprott School with Donghua University in Shanghai; UQAM at Warsaw School of Economics; Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship, Warsaw; Czech Management Center, Prague; IEDC, Bled, Slovenia; Zagreb, Croatia.These extensive international teaching experiencesover a third of a century, provided a much deeper understanding of non-western, often authoritarian, frequently deeply corrupt, state centrally planned or administered countries sometimes transitioning to western, rule of law, decentralized economies and societies.From 1996-98, I was appointed as Supervisor of the Bachelor of International Business in the Sprott School to address significant structural issues that emerged after this innovative new program had been operational for 2 years. In 2007, I was appointed as Chair of the MBA Restructuring Committee that led to the replacement of the former thesis based master’s degree with a brand new professional MBA degree. We benchmarked key competitor MBA programs and completed extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders that led to the proposed new structure including 50 new MBA graduate courses. I was then appointed the new MBA Director from 2007-2010 to implement the new program including staffing 50 new MBA courses with permanent faculty and contract instructors.I completed two sabbaticals in the USA: at American University in Washington DC in 1995 and Cal State Monterey Bay one hour south of Silicon Valley from 2001-2003. I am presently a member of the Carleton University Board of Governors, 2016-2019. I am also a member of the Sprott School MBA Committee, Carleton University EURUS Advisory Board and the Carleton University Graduate Appeal Committee since 2010.During the past 50 years, in addition to visiting every Canadian province, I completed road trips through 43 of 50 US states and visited 8 of 14 US Presidential libraries. I have visited most West, Central and East European countries including living for 2 years each at RCAF 3 Wing, Zweibrucken, West Germany andRCAF 1 Wing, Marville France in the mid 1950s (where my father flew F-86 Sabre jets and later F-104 Starfighter jets).Over the years, I appeared extensively in the media including CBC, CTV and Global National News, CBC TV On the Money weekly on The Roundup, and Power and Politics and CBC Radio Syndication. I am a weekly regular on CFRA Rob Snow program and Sirius-National Post Radio as well as the Corus Radio Networkin Toronto. Over the last 10 years, I published 45 Op-Eds in the Globe and Mail, New York Times, National Post, Financial Post and Ottawa Citizen concerning contemporary public policy issues as well as research monographs for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute concerning Canada Post, supply management, alternative payment instruments, deficits and the retirement income system.Since 2008, I appeared by invitation before House of Commons and Senate finance, banking, industry and trade committees 25 times concerning public policy debates. I have been invited by Global TV to attend every federal budget lockup as one of their expert witnesses since 2008.I have published multiple times in the annual edition of How Ottawa Spends concerning Canada’s retirement system, the PBO, deficits, corporate income reform and the Liberal downsizing of 1995-97 and the Conservative Government downsizing of 2010-15. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
New School Food Program Gets The Grade, Olive Oil Squeeze, Avian Flu Dairy and guests James Crosby & Lori King, Crosby Foods
04-04-2024
New School Food Program Gets The Grade, Olive Oil Squeeze, Avian Flu Dairy and guests James Crosby & Lori King, Crosby Foods
In the latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, we explore the heart of Canadian food industry insights, with a particular focus on innovation and heritage.The episode features James Crosby, President & CEO of Crosby Foods, a quintessential family-owned Canadian company from New Brunswick, and Lori King, who spearheads their innovation and marketing efforts. Crosby, representing the fifth generation of leadership within the company, discusses the evolution of Crosby Foods and its commitment to quality and innovation in a conversation that's far from slow - a playful nod to their flagship product's reputation.In the news, we talk about the significant disparity in Canadians' monthly food spending, which has dropped as an index from $339 to $248. The discussion unfolds around the contentious carbon tax open letter, debates the merits of the newly announced National School Food Program by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—a $1 billion investment over five years aiming to provide meals to an additional 400,000 children—and touches upon the emerging trends in grocery, including Amazon's venture into the sector.The episode doesn't shy away from global challenges affecting the food industry, such as the bird flu outbreak in livestock and the rising popularity of butter as a simpler, healthier food ingredient amidst changing consumer preferences. It also discusses the financial implications of the surging prices of olive oil. This episode is dedicated to SCTV's Joe Flaherty, celebrating his iconic roles and significant cultural impact. Salute to SCTV's Joe Flahertyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnTjs0heRJohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPFAAGC0Jxo About JamesJames is the 5th generation of the Crosby family to serve as President of Crosby Foods Ltd. His entrepreneurial spirit has forged the path for growth and innovation to provide consumers with new products in new categories under a better for you lens. James is impassioned to continue to provide consumers with foods they trust and expect from his family’s much loved brand, embraced by Canadians for the past 145 years.James graduated from Queen’s University (B. Comm) and holds a professional designation with the Canadian Logistics Institute. James serves on the board of directors of Food, Health, and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP), and Food Producers of Canada (FPC). He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).James is married with 3 children and enjoys skiing, basketball, and golf. Other interests include reading, music, and politics.About LoriAn experienced and successful brand builder with success in CPG marketing, specializing in the wine & spirits industry. Strong reputation for brand creation, product development, packaging and program innovation.Skilled in developing and managing multi functional areas to ensure all resources are working most efficiently.Experienced in the US and Canadian marketplaces.Lori has successfully developed, launched and built brands in the premium wine, luxury spirits and craft beer categories, throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Specialties: Brand Creation Innovation Product DevelopmentPackagingBrand & Portfolio Strategy Naming Creative DirectionShort film production Art Direction Copywriting Sales Hospitality/Tasting Room Guest ExperienceMarketing Collateral Social Media PlanningPrinting Consultation The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Bad Shrimp, Fungus Frustrated Easter Bunny, One Million Canadians on GLP-1s and Guest Chef Charlotte Langley
28-03-2024
Bad Shrimp, Fungus Frustrated Easter Bunny, One Million Canadians on GLP-1s and Guest Chef Charlotte Langley
In the latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, presented by Caddle, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois dive into a range of pressing issues within the food industry, alongside their esteemed guest, Chef Charlotte Langley, co-founder of Scout and the visionary behind Langley Foods. This episode not only celebrates the innovation and sustainability in seafood canning but also explores the transformative journey of emerging Canadian brands through Langley's latest venture.A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to discussing groundbreaking Canadian research on GLP-1 weight loss drugs, presented by Caddle. This revelation is set against the backdrop of various industry challenges and evolutions, including the dramatic incident in Baltimore where a shipping liner collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, raising concerns over the immediate impact on North America's food supply chain.As Easter approaches, the unprecedented surge in cocoa prices to over $10,000/mt US prompts a debate on whether this is a fleeting occurrence or a potential trend, and how it might affect consumers already anticipating their chocolate treats.The episode takes a sobering turn with investigative reports shedding light on the dire working conditions in the sugar and shrimp industries in India, revealing systemic issues of exploitation and the urgent need for corporate accountability.Moreover, the discussion on the significant reduction in Canadian grocery spending since early 2020 opens up questions on consumer behaviour shifts due to COVID-19, inflation, and the balance between grocery and foodservice spending.Lastly, the podcast touches on the controversial topic of Bitcoin's role in the food industry, signaling a deep dive into digital currencies and their implications. The episode wraps up with a nod to poutine, celebrating its 60th year as a cherished dish, showcasing the podcast's blend of serious industry insights with cultural highlights. Caddle's GLP-1 Researchhttps://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/glp1-survey.html The Globe & Mail Article on Shrimp Production in Indiahttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-outlaw-ocean-india-seafood-plants/ New York Times expose on Sugar Production in India for Pepsi & Cokehttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/24/world/asia/india-sugar-cane-fields-child-labor-hysterectomies.html?searchResultPosition=2 The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Cattle Futures, Vegas Restaurant Bifurcation, the state of food inflation, Carbon Tax Nation, and special guest Michelin star chef, Irish restauranteur, JP McMahon (R)
21-03-2024
Cattle Futures, Vegas Restaurant Bifurcation, the state of food inflation, Carbon Tax Nation, and special guest Michelin star chef, Irish restauranteur, JP McMahon (R)
Our extraordinary guest in this episode is JP McMahon, Michelin star chef, restauranteur, ambassador for Irish food and author, reprising our interview from early 2023.   In the news, we cover cattle futures and the high. Rising cost of beef, talk about experiential dining in Vegas versus highly efficient AI dining in Del Taco, Canada's poor track record (we think!) in private food innovation investment, and Sylvain's perspective on the carbon tax and alternative solutions to help manage the impacts of climate change.  About JPJP McMahon is one of Ireland’s most prominent chefs. A passionate advocate of wild, seasonal and sustainable ingredients from the west of the country, he is committed to promoting the food of Galway, and to producing world-class, contemporary Irish cuisine. His Michelin-star restaurant Aniar does both, but it also feeds back into the local community on a much deeper level. His annual Food On The Edge symposium in Galway reaches even further afield, with its roll call of top chefs from all over the world. Which is why JP McMahon is one of the most influential people in European gastronomy today.The Dublin-born chef had his first food epiphany as a child while on holiday in Tipperary. While the rest of the family had burgers, he opted for a spaghetti bolognese, which was a revelation to the youngster. It set him on a course of discovery that would see him work in various kitchens, while also harbouring an ambition to become a writer. It wasn’t until 2008 that he opened his first venture, a Spanish restaurant called Cava. It quickly won a reputation for serving some of the best tapas in Ireland, and it gave McMahon the confidence to embark on his most ambitious restaurant project to date.Aniar (meaning ‘west’ in Gaelic) is a love letter to the produce and landscape of the West of Ireland and its rugged coast. Almost every ingredient used here is either native to the local region or from somewhere else in Ireland, whether it’s foraged seaweed and Galway Bay oysters, or seasonal sea urchins and truffles. Terroir is the central theme, and although the menu changes daily, it is certain to have a distinctive local flavour that mirrors McMahon’s cooking philosophy. Pickled, smoked, cured and fermented ingredients hint at his commitment to the environment, using the methods of the past in order to inspire future sustainability.Among JP McMahon’s signature dishes are his Galway Bay oyster with pickled seaweed, oyster emulsion and sea herbs. His Dexter beef tartare, smoked egg yolk and pepper dulse seaweed showcases some of the very best farmed and foraged ingredients in the country. Meanwhile, his cod and seaweed beurre blanc with trout roe reveals the very best of the west coast of Ireland.Aniar has retained a Michelin star since 2013, but its significance locally has more impact than mere awards. McMahon founded the Aniar School Project, in which he teaches children of all ages about the importance of food. And the Aniar Cookery School, also led by McMahon, aims to instruct chefs of all levels how to cook local ingredients sustainably. The conversation about the environment doesn’t stop there, however.At the annual Food On The Edge symposium, chefs from around the world gather in Galway to discuss the future of food. As founder and director, McMahon plays a key role in setting the agenda, but with participants of the calibre of Massimo Bottura, Elena Arzak, Matt Orlando and Amanda Cohen, the discussion frequently branches out in all kinds of fascinating tangents, from food waste to mental health. The idea is to bring people together to share ideas and form powerful collaborations that can help change the way we think about food. Some of the chefs also participate in Aniar’s Chef Swap initiative, which sees guest chefs from all over the world take over the kitchen and create their own menu.It’s this ethos of collaboration that typifies JP McMahon’s work, not only as a chef, but also as a culinary thought leader. Whether it’s local food producers in the West of Ireland, or celebrated chefs from the other side of the world, the emphasis is on working together to ensure a better future for all. That way, the author of the book 10,000 Years Of Irish Food is aiming to ensure another 10,000 more.Source: https://www.finedininglovers.com/people/jp-mcmahon The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Where's The Beef (from)?, Did Aldi Even Take the Call, and our first Caddle Rapid Response Survey: Ungraded Mexican Beef on Canadian Shelves
14-03-2024
Where's The Beef (from)?, Did Aldi Even Take the Call, and our first Caddle Rapid Response Survey: Ungraded Mexican Beef on Canadian Shelves
In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, we kick off our new monthly Rapid Response segment featuring Colleen Martin from Caddle with Canadians' perceptions of ungraded Mexican beef on our grocery shelves. This timely discussion sheds light on consumer awareness, concerns, and the potential impact on purchasing decisions.But first, we examine international beef regulations, highlighting the U.S.'s push for stricter "Made in U.S.A." standards and the Canadian Cattle Association's critique, labelling them overly stringent. The episode also touches on Aldi's significant expansion plans in the U.S., speculating on the implications for the Canadian market.  A particularly eye-opening segment of the podcast covers the exploitation of North Korean labour in the Chinese seafood industry, as the Globe & Mail and the Outlaw Ocean Project reported. This investigation reveals how products processed by forced labour are entering North American markets despite United Nations sanctions and Canadian legislation to prevent such imports.Finally, the podcast addresses public opinion on the causes of high food prices in Canada, citing a Leger poll that points to global factors, grocery retailers, and federal policies as key contributors. The episode concludes with discussing HelloFresh's plummeting shares and the broader impacts on the meal kit industry.https://askcaddle.com/the-food-professor-podcast/https://www.theoutlawocean.com/https://leger360.com/surveys/inflation-at-the-grocery-store/ The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Cookie Monster Hates Shrinkflation, Growing Global Obesity, and Global Hunger with guest Paul Hagerman, Canadian Foodgrains Bank
07-03-2024
Cookie Monster Hates Shrinkflation, Growing Global Obesity, and Global Hunger with guest Paul Hagerman, Canadian Foodgrains Bank
In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, our special guest live from Winnipeg is Paul Hagerman from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, sharing insights from his extensive experience in agriculture and food security across various regions, including Canada, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The episode covered a range of pressing topics, starting with the Bank of Canada's decision to pause interest rates again. It also addressed the escalating global health problem of obesity, now surpassing global hunger. A significant focus was placed on integrating AI in agriculture, probing its potential to enhance productivity. The conversation shifted to the notable departure of Oprah Winfrey from WeightWatchers, alongside her decision to donate her shares to the National Museum of African American History, which coincided with a decline in the company's stock value. This move came against the backdrop of WeightWatchers' acquisition of Sequence, a telehealth company, indicating a strategic shift for weight management.The episode also highlighted the unfortunate destruction of the Covered Bridge Potato Chips factory in Hartland, New Brunswick, by fire, emphasizing its impact on local employment and tourism and the supportive response from government officials. Further discussions included the comparison of Canada's GDP productivity to the U.S., the portrayal of food costs and consumer behaviour through characters like Tony the Tiger and the Cookie Monster, and the looming disappearance of plastic bagged milk, reflecting on the evolving landscape of dairy and dairy substitute consumption and production practices.About PaulPaul Hagerman joined the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in 2007 and now oversees advocacy work on food security issues within the organization. Prior to his work with the Foodgrains Bank, Paul worked in agriculture for over 20 years in Canada, Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. While most of this time was spent in agricultural extension, he has also been involved in agricultural education and research.Paul has a Masters in Agriculture degree from the University of Guelph in combined agricultural pest management with rural planning and development. Paul is a member and music leader at Knox United Church in Winnipeg. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Let Them Eat Cake and Corn Flakes, Dynamic Dumpster Fire & Special Guest Colleen Martin, Caddle
29-02-2024
Let Them Eat Cake and Corn Flakes, Dynamic Dumpster Fire & Special Guest Colleen Martin, Caddle
In this episode we welcome Colleen Martin, Chief Revenue Officer for Caddle, as a new regular contributor. Colleen brings a wealth of business acumen and insight, offering listeners custom research and industry perspectives. She will return as a regular feature guest with customers, never seen before research debuted on the pod in the coming weeks and months!The episode dives into the contentious issue of dynamic pricing, spotlighting a controversial (but misunderstood?) statement from Wendy's president. Sylvain unravels the complexities of dynamic pricing strategies, questioning why such a standard business practice stirs significant public uproar.Further stirring debate, the president of Kellogg's off-the-cuff suggestion for economic relief through cereal dinners sparks criticism. The hosts dissect the implications of such statements on consumer perceptions and brand image.The conversation shifts to accolades and industry developments, highlighting H-E-B's triumph in Dunnhumby's Annual Retailer Preference Index report, asserting its dominance in the U.S. grocery sector with a unique blend of price, quality, and convenience.In more sombre news, the episode covers the U.S. Justice Department's lawsuit to block the Kroger and Albertsons merger, emphasizing potential consumer and employee impacts. Additionally, the hosts tackle a concerning New York Times article on lead contamination in applesauce, exposing gaps in the food safety system.Finally, big congrats to a friend of the pod, Aeryon Ashlie, on her nomination for the RBC Women of Influence Awards!  The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Let Them Eat Lobster (please), Grocery Shopper New Insights, and guest Ori Cohavi, Co-founder & CTO of Remilk
22-02-2024
Let Them Eat Lobster (please), Grocery Shopper New Insights, and guest Ori Cohavi, Co-founder & CTO of Remilk
In the latest episode of the Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, the show delves into the evolving landscape of the food industry, emphasizing innovative approaches to food production and consumption.This episode features a special guest, Ori Cohavi, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Remilk from Israel, discussing the groundbreaking development of lab-grown milk recently approved for sale in Canada by the CFIA, marking a significant step in food technology.The podcast also explores recent research conducted with Caddle, focusing on food discounting and rescue. Key findings include a 32% increase in average visit frequency since 2018, highlighting a shift towards more frequent shopping, potentially influenced by cash-flow shopping, deal hunting, and or the increase in remote work allowing for less batched shopping trips.Further discussions touch upon the latest figures on food inflation, with Canada's food inflation rate at its lowest since October 2021, presenting a comparative analysis with other countries and highlighting the global perspective on food prices. The episode also humorously references Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and his viral lobster-eating picture from his Malaysia promotional tour.Lastly, Beyond Meat's latest product iteration aims to revitalize the brand with healthier options. This episode of the Food Professor Podcast presents a comprehensive overview of current trends and challenges in the food sector, blending expert insights with critical analysis of consumer behaviour, industry practices, and technological innovations. About OriDr. Ori Cohavi’s career has been shaped by a belief in the power of science to save lives, solve today’s most pressing challenges, and transform the world we share. Cohavi received his doctorate and PhD in biochemistry, with a focus on functional structure of proteins, from the world-renowned Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.Cohavi spent the early part of his career developing life-saving drugs for rare diseases before shifting focus to address one of our world’s most pressing and fundamental challenges: food security.As Chief Technology Officer, Cohavi and fellow co-founder Aviv Wolff are reimagining the future of food and disrupting the 900+ billion-dollar dairy category. Remilk pioneered an environmentally friendly yeast-based fermentation process to produce animal-free milk proteins free of lactose, cholesterol and growth hormones. Cohavi heads Remilk’s R&D strategy and leads the a team of accomplished scientists and researchers. This team already has submitted several patent applications in connection with their work. Prior to joining Remilk, Cohavi served as head of Mitoconix Bio’s drug development team, and as a senior researcher at Semorex Technologies. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Farmers Fight the Great Divides, Tim Horton's Scores in Seconds, and  Free Trade(ish)
15-02-2024
Farmers Fight the Great Divides, Tim Horton's Scores in Seconds, and Free Trade(ish)
In the latest episode, we take a solo dive into a week filled with significant news and developments in the food industry, promising the return of guest interviews in the upcoming episode. The episode, presented by Caddle, encapsulates a variety of topics highlighting the dynamic nature of the food sector.We begin with an insightful discussion on a survey about farmers' trust, revealing a concerning gap in confidence across generations. Sylvain expresses his trepidation upon reviewing the survey results, emphasizing the importance of understanding these generational differences. The conversation then shifts to legislative changes, specifically C-282, which aims to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development Act to provide immunity to supply management during trade deals. This legislative development is currently on its second reading in the Senate, indicating significant implications for the food industry.The hosts also discuss U.S. food inflation, which decreased to 2.6% in January, and ponder its implications for Canada.Highlighting business success, Sylvain and Michael discuss Restaurant Brands International's remarkable improvement in Tim Horton's profitability, attributing part of this success to operational efficiencies like reducing drive-through times. Moreover, the episode covers MTY Food Group Inc.'s impressive financial performance despite a slight decline in same-store sales, reflecting consumer discretion in spending.The episode also sheds light on the agricultural sector, particularly Ukraine's resilience in maintaining cargo volumes from its deep-water ports at two-thirds of their pre-invasion levels. This resilience is a testament to the country's agricultural robustness and strategic significance.Lastly, the podcast pays tribute to Bob Moore of Bob's Red Mill, who recently passed away at 94. Moore's legacy of giving the business to his employees through an employee stock ownership plan is celebrated, highlighting his innovative and employee-focused approach to business.About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Testy Testifying, Groundbreaking Remilk Gets Approval, Athletic Brewing Swifty Superbowl and guest Doug Alexander, VP Sustainability and Government Relations, Belmont Food Group
08-02-2024
Testy Testifying, Groundbreaking Remilk Gets Approval, Athletic Brewing Swifty Superbowl and guest Doug Alexander, VP Sustainability and Government Relations, Belmont Food Group
This episode features Doug Alexander, Vice President of Sustainability and Government Relations at Belmont Food Group. Key topics include the intricate balance of environmental sustainability and food industry operations, explicitly addressing food waste and regulatory impacts. The conversation explores Belmont Food Group's initiatives for reducing carbon emissions and plastic use, emphasizing the need for industry-wide collaboration and innovation. The episode provides insights into how companies can navigate and contribute positively to environmental sustainability, highlighting the role of government relations and practical strategies for achieving these goals.In the news, Sylvain was in Ottawa testifying to a testy parliamentary Ag committee, sweet news with the Rogers sugar strike ending on the West coast, Athletic Brewing dominating the fast-growing non-alcoholic beer category, and a salute to Celine Dion, Taylor Swift and some big event happening in Las Vegas that a bunch of people will watch on big screen TV and consume a record amount of chicken wings.Thanks to our presenting sponsor Caddle, a leading Canadian consumer panel and research house, has become the exclusive presenting sponsor of the podcast. Caddle offers brands and retailers access to over 10,000 daily active users, facilitating rapid collection and syndication of consumer reviews. https://askcaddle.com/About DougDoug Alexander joined Belmont Food Group as Vice President and General Manager- Leadbetter Foods, in early 2021 took on the role of Vice President Sustainability and Government Relations. Belmont Food Group . Belmont Food Group is a operating group within Premium Brands comprising of 6 independent operating food processing companies, Premium Brands is a leading specialty food manufacturing and differentiated food distribution businesses with operations across North America. Servicing over 22,000 customers, the company and its family of brands and businesses operate in 100 locations.Doug’s experience running food processing operations spans over 37 years of Meat Processing and other food processing sectors. Recently served as Chair of the board of directors of the Agricultural Adaptation Council board and as director for 10 years, as well as and on boards of Food and Beverage Ontario board and the Meat and Poultry Ontario Board as well as the Innovation Advisory Council for the Canadian Food Innovation Network.Doug has served in the past as Chair of the Agri-Food Management Institute, Chair of Food Starter and the board of directors for Provision Coalition Doug has diplomas in Food Science as well as Industrial Engineering.Food In Canada article, whos who in Food, https://www.foodincanada.com/features/whos-who-2023-mentor-for-all/Food and Beverage Ontario Board - https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/team/doug-alexander/About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.
Dialling for Discounters, Lessons from European Farmers & guest Top Food Industry Lawyer Glenford Jameson
01-02-2024
Dialling for Discounters, Lessons from European Farmers & guest Top Food Industry Lawyer Glenford Jameson
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast features special guest Glenford Jameson, an expert in regulatory, commercial, and advertising law within the food sector. Jameson's insights cover SFCA compliance, labeling, product positioning, and interactions with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).The episode starts with an exciting announcement that Caddle, a leading Canadian consumer panel and research house, has become the exclusive presenting sponsor of the podcast. Caddle offers brands and retailers access to over 10,000 daily active users, facilitating rapid collection and syndication of consumer reviews. https://askcaddle.com/The discussion then moves to current news, starting with Canadian Minister Champagne's efforts to attract foreign grocers to Canada, raising questions about whether this is political posturing or a genuine attempt to address food affordability. The hosts also covered the ongoing European farmers' protests, where farmers expressed discontent by blocking roads and dumping manure.Next, we discuss Metro's latest quarterly results. Metro reported strong sales growth, with a notable increase in food and pharmacy same-store sales and the successful launch of a new distribution center. Despite these positive outcomes, net earnings showed a slight decrease.The episode also touches on Bayer AG's (Monsanto) $2 billion fine. It provides an update on the surge in the use of weight-loss drugs, specifically referencing North Carolina's state employees' insurance plan's spending on such medications.Finally, the podcast highlights Loblaw's charitable efforts, announcing a $1 million investment in community grants to support various organizations. These grants aim to empower historically underrepresented groups in Canada, including black women-led businesses, programs addressing gender-based violence, youth employment, Indigenous entrepreneurs, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community development.Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive overview of the latest trends, legal insights, and corporate initiatives in the food sector.About GlenfordSpecializing in regulatory, commercial, and advertising law, Glenford Jameson is a trusted legal advisor in the food sector. His expertise spans SFCA compliance, labeling, product positioning, and CFIA interactions. A recognized industry thought leader, he's lectured at notable universities, industry associations, and conferences on Canadian Food Law. Glenford's unique perspective at the crossroads of food, tech, and regulation empowers clients with innovative solutions. He's the founder of G.S. Jameson & Company, and his clients include multinationals, SMEs, NGOs, industry associations, and governments.G. S. Jameson & Company: https://law.gsjameson.comCanadian Association for Food Law and Policy: http://foodlaw.caExcellence in Manufacturing Consortium: https://emccanada.orgGood Food Institute: https://gfi.orgEuropean Food Law Association: https://www.efla-aeda.orgAbout UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa.About MichaelMichael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Today's Shopping Choice and Pandora Jewellery.Michael has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. ReThink Retail has added Michael to their prestigious Top Global Retail Influencers list for 2023 for the third year in a row.Michael is also the president of Maven Media, producing a network of leading trade podcasts, including Remarkable Retail , with best-selling author Steve Dennis, now ranked one of the top retail podcasts in the world.Based in San Francisco, Global eCommerce Leaders podcast explores global cross-border issues and opportunities for eCommerce brands and retailers.Last but not least, Michael is the producer and host of the "Last Request Barbeque" channel on YouTube, where he cooks meals to die for - and collaborates with top brands as a food and product influencer across North America The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle.  About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre’s Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. About MichaelMichael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He 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 Secure conference with leaders from The Gap and Kroger talking about violence in retail stores, keynotes on the state & future of retail in Orlando and Halifax, and at the 2023 Canadian GroceryConnex conference, hosting the CEOs of Walmart Canada, Longo's and Save-On-Foods Canada. Michael brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael also produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in North America, Remarkable Retail, Canada's top retail industry podcast; the Voice of Retail; Canada's top food industry and the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor, with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail influencers for the fourth year in a row, Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer, and you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state of the retail industry in Canada and the U.S., and the future of retail.