Explore every episode of the podcast The FEED powered by Loblaw

How is Loblaw using AI, loyalty data and retail media to adapt to the way Canadians shop for groceries? Lauren Steinberg, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw Companies Limited, joins host Michael LeBlanc at Loblaw Digital's downtown Toronto offices. This century-old heritage building now houses one of the most modern parts of the business.

Lauren has spent more than 13 years at Loblaw, stepping into the SVP of Loblaw Digital role at the peak of the COVID-era. Her portfolio now spans digital and e-commerce, loyalty, retail media and enterprise AI. She explains why those pieces belong together: digitally engaged PC Optimum members spend twice as much and stay three times longer, and loyalty data plus strong in-store scan rates give Loblaw's retail media business its measurement edge and the ability to focus its messaging to consumers.

Lauren shares the operating principles behind a team that builds rather than buys: velocity, not speed, and act like an owner. She walks through Loblaw's ChatGPT integration for PC Express, which turns AI-generated meal plans into grocery carts. A channel that didn't exist six months ago is now PC Express's second-highest converting channel, behind only the Digital Flyer.

On enterprise AI, Lauren describes the shift from AI apps built for optimization to "vertical operating systems" built for transformation. Working with Canadian AI startup Shakudo, her team creates reusable skills and agents, with 75 to 80 percent of each build reusable elsewhere across the enterprise. The flagship example is Robin, a store-operations sidekick that sees about a million interactions a week, helping store managers prioritize what matters, from stock stuck in the back room to items selling at negative margin. Her verdict on AI adoption at Loblaw and in the industry? We're in the top of the first inning.

The conversation turns to online grocery shopping, where Lauren calls e-commerce table stakes for Canadians. The real differentiators are getting a 40-item basket right every time, handling substitutions well when it goes wrong, and solving for discovery. With 40 percent of PC Express baskets built through Quick Shop and another 40 percent through search, Lauren argues personalization must move beyond exploitation toward exploration, using a merchant's mindset to suggest what customers might love next.

Lauren also covers privacy versus prediction, leaning into usefulness and never crossing the line into creepiness; why she hires for curiosity and adaptability; her advice for vendors pitching Loblaw Digital ("show me the use case, not the roadmap"); and her career advice for aspiring digital leaders: roll up your sleeves and do the work, including building with AI tools herself.

Essential listening for retail executives, CPG brand leaders, suppliers, e-commerce and retail media professionals, and anyone curious about how Canada's largest food and pharmacy retailer is putting artificial intelligence to work for customers and colleagues.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Shantelle Rhynold, Executive Director of President's Choice Children's Charity, for an inspiring conversation about addressing child food insecurity in Canada and how school food programs help kids learn, grow, and thrive. Recorded live at Loblaw's head office, this episode explores how a national team of just nine people reached a remarkable milestone: feeding one million children.

Shantelle shares her nine-year journey with PC Children's Charity, from a promotional planning role at Loblaw to marketing and fundraising, and now into executive leadership. She explains the charity's mission, removing hunger as a barrier to learning, and why feeding kids with dignity and without stigma is at the heart of everything the charity does.

Listeners will learn how the Power Full Kids program works in nearly 2,200 schools coast to coast. Rather than shipping food, the charity provides flexible funding so each school can build the breakfast, snack or lunch program that fits its community. Programs must be universally accessible, run at least four days a week, and pair a fruit or vegetable with a protein or grain. Shantelle also explains the charity's equipment support, school audits, and mid-year funding reviews as it extends its reach to all three Canadian territories this year.

Because Loblaw covers administration costs as founding partner, 100% of customer and community donations go directly back into communities. She also describes how Loblaw's network of stores, distribution centres and store support teams rallied together to help the charity hit its one-million milestone. Shantelle explains how the in-store checkout roundup program turns micro donations into major impact, and why small change matters when Canadians are feeling the pressure of food affordability.

The conversation also digs into food education and innovation. Shantelle shares memorable stories from the field, including cooking with harvests from a hydroponic container farm in a remote northern Indigenous community in Saskatchewan, and a cheese-making class in Sarnia that revealed the power of hands-on learning. She previews the charity's next chapter: smaller, mobile hydroponic growing towers that teach kids how food travels from seed to plate.

Michael and Shantelle also discuss how charities, provincial and federal governments, and like-minded organizations can collaborate without duplicating efforts, and why food insecurity is an invisible issue that exists in every community. Looking ahead, Shantelle says the priority is to make feeding one million children a sustainable annual commitment, then fill the gaps where help is needed most.

Whether you're interested in Canadian retail, corporate social responsibility, school nutrition, food security or community giving, this episode offers an inspiring look at how Loblaw and PC Children's Charity are making a difference, one child at a time.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

The Myth that stores were going to go away and be replaced by eCommerce was just that: a myth.  Nobody knows that better than the person leading the team that built thousands of them.

Recorded live at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Sharla Paraskevopoulos, Senior Vice President, Real Estate at Loblaw Companies Limited, for a fast-paced, candid look at how Canada’s largest retailer decides where to build, what to build, and what a store should feel like when a customer walks in.

Sharla’s path to real estate is a unique one: 18 years at Loblaw, starting in HR, moving to Shoppers Drug Mart as one of the first colleagues over after the acquisition, then five years leading operations for roughly 500 conventional grocery stores — including during the COVID era. Her takeaway from that stretch is a leadership lesson as much as a retail one: with no playbook and no textbook, you set clear objectives and anchor every decision to them.

Then it’s on to the stores. 

Sharla explains why Loblaw scrapped the old guardrail that kept banners five kilometres apart, and why its formats now coexist far more comfortably than anyone assumed. She unpacks the thinking behind the new No Frills design — the yellow frame as a beacon for value and volume, a simpler box underneath, and a deliberate refusal to signal discount through dim lights and shabby presentation. As she puts it, you shouldn’t have to feel discounted to shop value.

She also opens up the data engine behind it all: the Market Analytics team sizing trade areas by population, income and cultural demographics; analogue stores used to forecast how a proposed location will perform; and data running through construction, value engineering, procurement, energy and CO2 measurement. AI is already live in maintenance — centrally dimming lights, managing climate, spotting a fridge heading for failure before it fails.

And a preview of what’s next: Shoppers Drug Mart is being redesigned inside and out for the first time in 23 years, with more discovery and treasure hunting on the way.

Store development, as Sharla says, is a blend of art and science.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Recorded live at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit in Toronto, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Dr. Isabelle Huot, Doctor of Nutrition and founder of Isabelle Huot Docteure en nutrition — for her very first English-language podcast interview.

A household name in Quebec after two decades on television, radio, and in the pages of the Journal de Montréal, Isabelle has written 19 books, sold more than a million copies, and is working on her twentieth. Along the way, she turned reader demand into a business: when people told her they loved her recipes but had no time to cook them, she started shipping nutritionally sound ready-to-eat meals to their doorstep.

In this conversation, Isabelle traces how healthy eating has changed since she started — more variety, more multicultural food, and far less time to cook during the week — and why clean label has become the biggest shift she sees on shelves. Shoppers are reading ingredient decks in the aisle, and manufacturers are pulling dyes, artificial sweeteners and additives in response.

She's also candid about the fight she's waging every day. TikTok trends spread faster than the science can correct them, and AI has made it worse: scammers have cloned her face and voice to sell weight-loss pills she has nothing to do with, and she's taken the fight to the police.

Then there's the retail story. Isabelle explains how years of persistence, one Friday-afternoon meeting and a decision to strip the packaging entirely got her a single-store pilot at Maxi — and how that became two stores, then 28, then 100, and a finalist nod in Loblaw's small supplier program for her 100% woman-owned business. She talks frankly about the tension every entrepreneur faces between clean ingredients and an $8 price point, and why she runs thin margins to keep those meals accessible.

Michael also hands her a magic wand: what would she do as Minister of Health? Her answer starts with kids, school meals and prevention. Then it's a rapid-fire round where she scores cane sugar, GLP-1s, protein, fibre and daily water intake out of ten — with some strong opinions on protein cookies and added-fibre chips.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Irene Doody, Senior Vice President, Joe Fresh at Loblaw Companies Limited, joins Michael LeBlanc on The FEED powered by Loblaw podcast for a conversation recorded live and in person at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit, where close to 2,500 suppliers and Loblaw leaders gathered at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre around partnership, value, innovation and trust.

Joe Fresh turns 20 this year, and Irene has a rare vantage point on the entire arc. She was with the brand in the original days, when it lived in just 35 grocery stores as a convenience play built on surprise and delight — you came in for milk and cookies, and an irresistible product at an irresistible price ended up in the basket. Today Joe Fresh is in more than 300 stores, including standalone locations, and has an e-commerce business with over 10% penetration. Irene is also the brand's first female leader, a milestone she is justifiably proud of.

Ask her what business Joe Fresh is in, and the answer is all three: style, value and convenience. She frames the offer as essentials for real life — clothes that help customers feel put together and self-express, priced so the decision is easy. Blending affordability and style, she says, is an art: knowing exactly where to put cost into a garment. That's what matters to customers, and understanding where and why people actually wear the clothes.

In a market crowded with international competitors, Irene points to a consistent value proposition — essential style, exceptional value — plus two structural advantages: the Loblaw ecosystem and PC Optimum. 

She and Michael dig into how product discovery has been rewired, from flyers and mass media to social influencers, customer advocacy, and the store apparel managers who may be the brand's most credible voices.

Then Irene lays out the growth mandate: reigniting apparel at Loblaw, with an ambition to make Joe Fresh the number one destination for apparel in Canada. That means repositioning Joe Fresh to deliver even more value, adding national and licensed brands — yes, including Toronto Blue Jays — to fill white space and bring theatre back to the department, building out JoeFresh.com with virtual try-on and shop-the-look, and pushing accessibility everywhere: buy online pick up in store in more than 200 locations, and a DoorDash launch that made Joe Fresh the first apparel retailer in Canada on the platform. 

Add personalized PC Optimum offers and exclusive event invitations, and the three-year picture gets genuinely interesting.

Through it all, the roots hold: core essentials, real quality, and a definition of value that means the item is worth it. Style solutions, not runway trends. And above all, making it easy.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Recorded live and in person at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit, this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw brings you Joe Spano, Managing Partner and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Mucci Farms — one of North America's most deeply vertically integrated greenhouse growers.

Mucci Farms began as a small family farm in Kingsville, Ontario in the early 1960s, founded by Tony and Gino Mucci in the Leamington-Kingsville corridor that remains Canada's greenhouse hot spot. Joe joined nearly 29 years ago as employee number one of the sales and marketing company, and with his partners took the business through succession starting in 1999. Today Mucci supplies Loblaw with vine crops — beefsteak tomatoes, tomatoes on the vine, cucumbers in every format, lettuce and strawberries — from a controlled-environment operation that now includes a 105-acre indoor strawberry facility producing Canadian berries nearly twelve months a year, pesticide free and herbicide free. That project began as a challenge Loblaw brought to Mucci around 2015.

Joe is candid about what constrains greenhouse growth in Canada: the capital barrier to entry keeps rising, and power, utilities, labour and the border are what keep him up at night. On affordability, he reframes the conversation from cost to value, pointing to sell-through approaching 100 percent on beefsteak tomatoes and to strawberries that arrive fresh enough that consumers eat every berry in the punnet — less waste on shelf and less waste at home.

He also pulls back the curtain on something rare in agriculture: an in-house marketing team with graphic designers and printers, operating like an ad agency inside the building, working alongside global seed companies to trial and launch new varieties. Looking ahead, Mucci is trialling blackberries and raspberries, pushing further into leafy greens, and testing Asian vegetables including Asian eggplant and bok choy.

On winning a Loblaw vendor of the year award against much larger competitors, Joe credits a relationship spanning nearly three decades that has never felt transactional — joint trips to Holland to research strawberry varieties, calls at 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and category teams that feel like family. His advice to suppliers is refreshingly plain: be patient, think like a customer, and look at the business from the retailer's point of view.

Joe closes on the long game — a new long-term ownership partnership with Cox Farms of Atlanta, part of Cox Enterprises, and a hope that greenhouse growing is remembered as a cornerstone of accessible Canadian food supply.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

There's a trophy on the table between us when this conversation starts, and that's the right place to begin. Recorded live and in person on stage at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit — the day at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre that brought close to 2,500 suppliers and Loblaw leaders together around partnership, value, innovation and trust — this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw features Marcelo Braga, Co-Founder & Director of Frittos & Co., fresh off being named 2026 Small Supplier Partner of the Year. 

Marcelo arrived in Canada from Brazil in 2019 and settled in London, Ontario. He met his eventual business partner, Wallace Franca, through the local Brazilian community — and discovered that Wallace's father-in-law, an obstetrician back in Brazil, had delivered Marcelo's first daughter. That coincidence turned two families into one, and eventually into a company. 

The product is coxinha — the Brazilian chicken croquette that Marcelo calls the country's most popular snack — alongside cheese balls, churros filled with dulce de leche and chocolate, and a Canadian-facing line that includes pulled pork and pizza bites. The dough is the Brazilian part. The flavours are increasingly Canadian. What separates this story from most food startup stories is the sequencing. Marcelo and Wallace didn't begin at a farmers' market. 

They built a compliant incubator facility first, sorted GS1 packaging and nutrition facts before anyone asked, and then went looking for customers. So when a Real Canadian Superstore manager in Windsor flagged the product and Loblaw's local food program came to visit, the answer wasn't "give us six months." It was yes. As Marcelo puts it: be ready for the opportunity before the opportunity arrives. He closes with advice for food entrepreneurs at any stage. Passion and consistency, because plenty of people will tell you the category is already crowded. The right team, because you can't scale alone. And relationships — he still drives to every new store that lists the brand, just to shake the manager's hand and say, I'm the father of this product. A warm, honest conversation about getting from a good idea to the national freezer aisle.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Recorded live and in person at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit, where nearly 2,500 suppliers and Loblaw leaders filled the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Rohit Sriram, Senior Vice President, eCommerce and Loyalty at Loblaw Digital, joins Michael LeBlanc on The FEED powered by Loblaw for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of Canadian online shopping and where it goes next.

Rohit oversees online businesses across food, beauty and apparel — Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Shoppers Drug Mart and Joe Fresh — along with PC Optimum. He brings a practitioner's view to a subject Michael has been close to since selling the world's first pair of Levi's online in 1998.

The two open on the big picture: Canada's long-standing reputation as an e-commerce laggard. Rohit agrees the label was earned, though the gap with the United States has narrowed considerably, while Asian markets remain far ahead, particularly in the grocery category. COVID, he explains, didn't just spike demand, it reset the floor. Penetration settled at two to three times pre-pandemic levels and stayed there, with Canada now hovering around nine to nine and a half percent overall. Online grocery remains underpenetrated but is accelerating quickly, and in certain regions and banners, penetration is already north of ten percent.

Why does online grocery live or die on the produce pick, while apparel hinges on brand, fit and feel? Why did Canadians embrace click and collect first, and why is delivery now the fastest growing part of the business? Rohit walks through the "moments" framework his teams use to think about channel choice, a deliberate mindset shift away from treating e-commerce as a separate business and toward the reality that customers don't think in channels at all. They think about shopping, moving between store discovery and online convenience and expecting a seamless handoff.

They dig into value — not just price, but time savings, easy returns and the delivery fee that remains a sticking point for many shoppers. Rohit makes a pointed argument: online was once a premium service sold at a premium price, and retailers no longer have that excuse.

On speed, Michael revisits his own public bet that one hour delivery would stay niche. Rohit's read is that same-day has become table stakes, sub-thirty-minute rapid delivery isn't yet the Canadian norm, and the Asian race to ten-minute delivery ultimately landed on the insight that anything faster than thirty minutes wasn't really needed. Loblaw is still investing, with a DoorDash partnership serving dense urban, late night and over-the-counter demand.

The episode closes on technology and AI, and how Rohit's team separates signal from noise: start with the problem, demand differentiated value, design a test, and scale only when the customer benefit is real.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Recorded on location at the third annual Loblaw Supplier Summit — which brought nearly 2,500 suppliers and Loblaw leaders to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre around partnership, value, innovation and trust — this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw finds host Michael LeBlanc sitting down with Jonathan Carroll, Senior Vice President, Real Canadian Superstore Operations, to explore where food waste, food security and value intersect.

Jonathan oversees 182 Real Canadian Superstore locations and chairs Loblaw's enterprise-wide food waste committee, a cross-banner group that pulls Superstore, No Frills, Maxi and the rest of the 1,700-store fleet onto a single playbook. His framing is blunt: food waste isn't solely a sustainability line item; it's a cost — packaging, transportation, labour and lost product stacked behind every item that never reaches a customer.

But the conversation moves quickly past table stakes. Jonathan walks through the donation network Loblaw has built with Food Banks Canada, Food Banks Quebec and Second Harvest, including the Second Harvest app that lets store operators list short-coded product — food approaching its best-before date — so food bank teams can shop it daily based on what their community actually needs. LeBlanc calls it a shadow supply chain running parallel to the commercial one, powered by volunteers coast to coast. Carroll connects it to Feed More Families, the pledge backed by self-checkout donations, and to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank's freeze-dried strawberry programme, where diverted Loblaw product is transformed and sent to communities that rarely see fresh fruit.

Then there's the consumer-facing side. Carroll has been working with Flash Food since its first pilots in Sarnia and Oakville, and he explains how the daily store walk pulls short-coded bakery and produce onto the app at a discount for pickup at customer service. The newer wrinkle: flash-freezing fresh meat and seafood before expiry to extend shelf life, so shoppers can buy lean ground beef at fifty percent off and stock the freezer. He shares a favourite — the five-dollar produce bag, five pounds of surprise produce — and the story of a shopper who pulled out a dragon fruit and came back the next week to tell her store manager. A Too Good to Go pilot is underway in Ottawa and downtown Toronto.

Upstream, AI-powered forecasting is sharpening ordering accuracy, and the whole system points at one target: zero food waste to landfill by 2030. Carroll is confident the team gets there — and says the real win arrives when the rest of Canadian retail shares the same best practices.

Asked which motivates him most — sustainability, efficiency or food security — Carroll doesn't hesitate: food security. Getting good food out to good people is the whole point.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

The FEED powered by Loblaw goes live from the grand opening of T&T Supermarket's first California store, where host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Tina Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarket, in front of a packed crowd at Westgate Centre in San Jose.

Tina Lee's story is as much personal as it is professional. Born in Vancouver, B.C., she was just 13 when her parents, Jack and Cindy Lee, opened the first T&T Supermarket in 1993 — a business named after Tina and her sister, Tiffany. Lee traces the company's origins to her mother's frustration with grocery shopping across scattered Chinatown shops, with no carts and no bathrooms, and to the family's determination to build "an Asian Safeway": a single, modern destination for Asian grocery shopping in Canada.

After earning a degree at UCLA and spending six years in California working for Deloitte Consulting, Lee returned home to join the family business, eventually taking the helm as CEO. Under her leadership, T&T expanded from British Columbia into Alberta, Ontario and a hard-won Quebec market, becoming part of the Loblaw family in 2009. That partnership, she explains, has fueled the retailer's private-label engine — now more than 600 SKUs strong in Canada and Canada's number-one Asian food brand, distributed in over 1,000 Loblaw stores nationwide.

The conversation turns to T&T's long-awaited U.S. push, which started with a single email in 2016, stalled through COVID, and finally landed with the company's first American store in Bellevue, Washington. San Jose marks store number three in the U.S. and number 40 overall — and Lee uses the live setting to break genuine news, announcing three more Bay Area locations, including a 70,000-square-foot flagship at NewPark Mall in Newark targeted for 2028.

Lee also unpacks what she calls "six senses retailing": the deliberate design choices behind T&T's produce-forward layout, curated in-store playlists tailored to shopper demographics, loose fruit displays, bakery aromas, and constant in-store sampling. She digs into the surprising rise of T&T's K-beauty and beauty business, now one of the largest movers of Asian beauty products in Canada, and shares a crowd-pleasing pro tip for beating the line at the kitchen counter. She also details the regulatory hurdles — from Prop 65 warnings to English-only packaging rules — that come with operating a Canadian retail brand on U.S. soil.

Recorded live in front of hundreds of shoppers on opening day, this episode captures a founder-led retailer at a genuine inflection point: scaling a beloved regional grocery brand into a national and now cross-border force, without losing the family story that built it.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc travels to Vancouver for a remarkable conversation with David Long, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, about reimagining what a modern food bank can—and should—be.

Forget everything you think you know about food banks.

Under David's leadership, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank has transformed from a traditional emergency food provider into one of North America's most innovative food recovery organizations. Rather than relying on donated canned goods and expired pantry items, David has built a sophisticated operation focused on rescuing fresh, nutritious food, reducing waste, supporting farmers, and creating sustainable new revenue streams.

David shares his extraordinary journey from apprentice chef in Ireland to leading one of Canada's largest food banks, revealing how a passion for leadership and systems thinking inspired a complete rethink of food distribution. Today, more than 80% of the food distributed by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank is fresh, with some weeks reaching an incredible 90%.

Michael and David explore why food insecurity isn't caused by a shortage of food, but by a failure of distribution. They discuss innovative partnerships with farmers, retailers, distributors and food manufacturers that rescue millions of pounds of perfectly good food before it reaches landfill. David explains how provincial farmer tax credits are unlocking surplus production, why infrastructure—not food supply—is Canada's biggest challenge, and how strategic investments in refrigeration, warehousing, freeze-drying and transportation could fundamentally reshape food security nationwide.

The conversation also highlights remarkable examples of innovation, including freeze-dried strawberries, fresh mandarin orange juice created from surplus fruit, partnerships with retailers including Loblaw, collaborations with organizations like YMCA BC, and new approaches that transform rescued food into premium products that help fund future operations.

David also offers an honest assessment of Canada's growing food insecurity crisis, explaining why demand has tripled during his tenure while emphasizing that solutions already exist—if governments, industry, charities and consumers are willing to work together. The discussion covers rising demand among seniors, working Canadians, newcomers and families, while making a compelling case that innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking—not simply more donations—represent the future of food security.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw podcast, host Michael LeBlanc travels to Vancouver to sit down with Paul Gill, Founder & CEO of Naked & Saucy, for a fascinating conversation about food entrepreneurship, innovation, retail growth, and what it really takes to build a successful consumer packaged goods brand in today’s competitive grocery industry.

Paul shares the remarkable story behind Naked & Saucy’s origins, explaining how a family member’s soy allergy inspired him to identify a significant gap in the market for soy-free alternatives. What began as an entrepreneurial experiment eventually evolved into one of North America’s fastest-growing premium sauce brands, now sold in approximately 5,000 retail locations across Canada and the United States.

Throughout the conversation, Paul reflects on his unconventional path into entrepreneurship—from initially pursuing medicine to discovering his passion for business—and discusses the lessons learned while scaling a food company from farmers’ markets and independent retailers to national grocery chains. He offers candid insights into product development, why great taste must always come first, and why successful innovation is often about improving familiar products rather than inventing entirely new categories.

Michael and Paul dive deep into the realities of building a modern food business, including managing cash flow, navigating supply chain complexity, achieving operational excellence, and listening carefully to retail buyers. Paul reveals how an offhand conversation with Loblaw merchants completely reshaped his product strategy, leading him to focus on high-velocity core flavours rather than niche innovations—an insight that transformed the trajectory of Naked & Saucy’s business.

The discussion also explores Paul’s decision to vertically integrate by acquiring his own manufacturing facility and creating Hummingbird Foods, which now produces for more than 20 brands while supporting both retail and foodservice customers. The conversation highlights the operational challenges that emerge once a product earns national distribution and why execution often becomes more difficult after securing a coveted retail listing.

Finally, Paul shares practical advice for aspiring food entrepreneurs, emphasizing product quality, operational discipline, resilience, and continuous learning. He also discusses the evolving role of retail media, consumer marketing, and household penetration as Naked & Saucy enters its next phase of growth. From the value of the Loblaw Small Supplier Program to the realities of scaling operations and building a lasting brand, this episode is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, retailers, and anyone passionate about innovation in the food business. Whether you’re launching your first product or leading an established consumer brand, you’ll find actionable advice from an entrepreneur who has successfully navigated every stage of the journey.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc travels to West Vancouver to sit down with Patrice Mousseau, Founder and CEO of Satya Organics, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, Indigenous business leadership, and building a purpose-driven consumer brand.

Patrice's journey is anything but conventional. A former journalist, broadcaster, and national news anchor, she never imagined herself becoming an entrepreneur. But when her infant daughter developed severe eczema and Patrice couldn't find a natural solution she trusted, she turned to research, traditional knowledge, and experimentation. What started in a small crock pot in her kitchen quickly became Satya Organics.

In this episode, Patrice shares how a deeply personal challenge evolved into a thriving business built on trust, simplicity, and product performance. She explains why Satya's minimalist approach—using only a handful of carefully selected ingredients—has resonated with consumers seeking effective alternatives to conventional skincare products.

Michael and Patrice explore the realities of scaling a consumer packaged goods business in Canada, from farmers' markets and independent retailers to national distribution and placement in major chains including Shoppers Drug Mart and other leading retailers. Patrice offers candid insights into what it takes to prepare for retail growth, manage inventory challenges, build operational infrastructure, and maintain strong customer relationships while expanding rapidly.

The conversation also examines the value of retailer support programs for emerging brands, the importance of educating store associates, and why word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing tools available to entrepreneurs.

As an Indigenous founder and leader, Patrice discusses how values, authenticity, and community have shaped her leadership philosophy. She shares lessons learned from building a high-performing team, navigating setbacks, and staying focused on long-term sustainability rather than chasing short-term growth.

Looking ahead, Patrice reveals ambitious plans for international expansion, including opportunities in China and beyond, while reflecting on the importance of resilience, adaptability, and maintaining a clear sense of purpose.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On this episode of The Feed Powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with former Bank of Canada Governor and renowned economist Steve Poloz for a timely and wide-ranging conversation about the forces reshaping Canada's economy.

Drawing on insights from his influential book The Next Age of Uncertainty, Poloz reflects on how many of the disruptions he anticipated have accelerated far faster than expected. From geopolitical conflict and the restructuring of global trade to inflation, artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and supply chain volatility, he explains why Canadians are entering a new era defined by greater uncertainty—and greater opportunity.

The conversation begins with a look at the rise of generative AI and why Poloz believes it represents the Fourth Industrial Revolution. While businesses are rushing to deploy artificial intelligence technologies, he argues that the largest economic benefits are still ahead. Drawing parallels to the introduction of electricity and the computer chip, Poloz explains how productivity gains ultimately create more prosperity, even as they disrupt labour markets and force difficult transitions for workers and industries.

Michael and Stephen also examine the growing concerns surrounding employment, automation, and Canada's productivity challenges. Poloz outlines why Canada cannot afford to lag in AI adoption and argues that accelerating business investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship will be essential to maintaining living standards in the years ahead.

The discussion then turns to one of the most consequential issues facing Canada today: the disruption of global trade. Poloz explains why rising protectionism and tariff barriers create inefficiencies that ultimately reduce global growth, lower incomes, and slow economic progress. While Canada's deep economic ties to the United States remain critically important, he outlines why diversification, regulatory reform, energy development, critical minerals, and new trading relationships will become increasingly important.

Food inflation and affordability also take centre stage. Poloz offers a clear explanation of how global shocks—including energy prices, fertilizer costs, drought conditions, geopolitical conflicts, and supply chain disruptions—continue to influence food prices long after the initial event has passed. He also discusses Canada's internal trade barriers, describing them as a major untapped economic opportunity.

The episode concludes with Poloz's prescription for Canada's future prosperity: embrace technology, remove barriers to investment, improve productivity, and create the conditions for innovation-led growth.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded in North Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Fardad Moayeri, Principal - Chief Esthetics Officer, Parissa Laboratories Inc., to explore a classic Canadian entrepreneurial journey—from immigrant startup to globally recognized natural beauty brand.

Parissa Laboratories, now approaching 43 years in business, began out of necessity. Moayeri’s mother, a highly educated chemical engineer, struggled to find employment after immigrating to Canada in the early 1980s. Faced with limited options, she turned to a traditional Persian sugar wax recipe, producing and packaging products at home with her family before selling them at local markets and stores.

What followed is a story of persistence, adaptability, and disciplined growth. Built literally “store by store,” Parissa scaled alongside the evolution of modern retail—transitioning from independent shops to major partners like Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart. Today, the company operates globally, with distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining a focused niche in natural hair removal products.

At the heart of Parissa’s success is an unwavering commitment to customer intimacy. From early days conducting in-store demos to today’s direct engagement through digital channels, the company has prioritized understanding real consumer pain points—often outperforming larger competitors who rely on expensive market research. This connection has fueled product innovation, education, and brand loyalty.

Moayeri also shares candid insights into the realities of scaling in retail. From supply chain readiness and category positioning to the financial pressures of onboarding major accounts, he emphasizes that success requires more than a great product—it demands operational excellence and deep alignment with retailer expectations. His advice to entrepreneurs is clear: understand your category, prepare for rapid growth, and never underestimate the complexity of retail execution.

Beyond business fundamentals, the episode highlights Parissa’s broader purpose. Rooted in values of ethics, sustainability, and community, the company continues to invest in local manufacturing, support new Canadians, and prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded live at Granville Island in Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chris Hobson, Founder of Hobbs Pickles, to explore how a creative professional transformed a personal obsession into one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands.

Chris didn’t set out to disrupt the pickle category—but after years in advertising and a deep passion for flavour, he saw a clear gap in the market. After moving to Vancouver, Hobson noticed the absence of high-quality, authentic deli-style pickles and decided to build something entirely new. What began as a concept—complete with branding boards, experiential retail design, and a “pickle tasting bar”—quickly evolved into a cult-favourite destination at Granville Island.

At the heart of Hobbs Pickles is a commitment to craft and storytelling. Working with traditional pickle-making families in New York, Hobson developed a product that delivers a classic East Coast flavour profile with a modern West Coast brand aesthetic. The result is a premium, clean-label product that stands apart in a legacy category dominated by heritage brands.

The conversation dives deep into how he built his brand from the ground up, leveraging experiential retail, word-of-mouth marketing, and a relentless focus on product quality. Hobson shares how Granville Island became his “ultimate focus group,” helping refine everything from flavour profiles to naming conventions—like the now-iconic “Big Dill.”

As the brand scaled beyond its physical roots, Hobson discusses the challenges of translating that in-person energy to grocery shelves across Canada. From packaging design to strategic retail placement and storytelling, he explains how Hobbs Pickles competes in a crowded aisle by simplifying its message and staying laser-focused on one thing: doing pickles exceptionally well.

The episode also explores broader industry dynamics, including disruption in the pickle category, the rise of Canadian brands, and evolving consumer interest in artisanal, flavour-forward foods. Hobbs reflects on working with major retailers like Loblaw, the importance of education at shelf, and the role of innovation—such as snackable pickle pouches—in driving trial and growth.

For food entrepreneurs, Hobson offers clear, actionable advice: tell your story authentically, stay focused, and build a brand with your first true fans who connect with it emotionally.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens flagship store in Toronto, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Enza Cianciotta, Founder of Solenzi Food, to explore the intersection of food innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving Canadian grocery landscape.

Enza’s journey into the food industry is anything but traditional. After spending more than 30 years building software startups across North America and the UK, she returned to Toronto with a renewed passion for food, nutrition, and ingredient transparency. Inspired by the higher-quality, cleaner-label food standards she experienced in Europe, she identified a significant gap in the North American market: convenient, gourmet meal solutions made with simple, high-quality ingredients.

That insight became the foundation of Solenzi Food—a brand focused on delivering “free-from” products that eliminate unnecessary additives, sugars, and artificial ingredients without compromising taste. From single-ingredient, high-protein lentil and chickpea pastas to innovative sauces made with coconut cream instead of dairy, Enza has built a product portfolio that aligns with modern consumer demand for both health and flavour.

A standout example of her innovation process is the development of her boscaiola sauce—created organically from a trade show demo that quickly became a consumer favourite. This hands-on, market-driven approach reflects her broader philosophy: products must first pass the “craveability test” before they earn a place on the shelf.

The conversation also dives into the realities of scaling a food brand in Canada. Enza shares how Loblaw’s small supplier program enabled her to transition from distributor-led retail to a direct relationship with one of the country’s largest grocers, accelerating her growth and providing critical market access.

At the same time, she candidly addresses the challenges facing emerging Canadian brands, including tariff disruptions that forced her to pivot away from U.S. expansion and refocus on domestic growth. Her experience highlights both the opportunities and the friction within Canada’s grocery ecosystem, particularly as consumers increasingly seek local, high-quality alternatives.

Ultimately, this episode is a masterclass in modern food entrepreneurship—blending global insight, product innovation, and retail strategy. Enza’s story underscores a powerful shift in consumer expectations: today’s shoppers want food that is not only convenient, but clean, transparent, and genuinely delicious.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc explores the remarkable entrepreneurial journey behind The Handpie Company, one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands, with founder Sarah Bennetto O’Brien.

Recorded at the historic Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens store in Toronto, the conversation explores how a classically trained chef from Sudbury, Ontario, built a thriving frozen-food company rooted in local agriculture, culinary craftsmanship, and comfort-food innovation in PEI.

Sarah’s journey started with a passion for cooking and formal culinary training. After earning her Red Seal certification at just 20, she worked across Canada before settling in Prince Edward Island, where a pivotal culinary discovery occurred. While experimenting with recipes from an Outlander-inspired cookbook, Sarah recreated a traditional Scottish hand pie using ingredients from the local PEI farmers’ market. Tasting her creation with her husband, Sarah instantly recognized its uniqueness.

What began as a small restaurant and takeout operation soon evolved into a larger entrepreneurial vision. Through a $10,000 Kickstarter campaign and a tiny 580-square-foot kitchen, Bennetto O’Brien launched the first version of The Handpie Company. The product quickly developed a loyal following thanks to its buttery pastry, creative fillings and strong commitment to local sourcing.

Today, The Handpie Company produces hundreds to thousands of hand pies per day, offering a wide range of flavours. The lineup includes classics such as chicken pot pie alongside inventive creations like bacon cheeseburger, curry chickpea and beet, corn and goat cheese — all built around a buttery pastry made with PEI butter and locally milled heritage grain flour.

A key achievement for the business came when Bennetto O’Brien decided to pursue and successfully obtained federal CFIA licensing, permitting the company to distribute products beyond Prince Edward Island. Achieving certification for meat, dairy, and egg production required two years of construction and investment in a new production facility, ultimately enabling entry into national retail markets.

Her efforts paid off when, through Loblaw’s Small Supplier Program—designed to help emerging Canadian food entrepreneurs—Bennetto O’Brien secured distribution for The Handpie Company across Atlantic Canada after a successful pitch in Toronto. This achievement expanded reach through Loblaw’s Moncton distribution centre.

Throughout the conversation, Bennetto O’Brien shares candid insights and advice about the realities of scaling a food brand — from balancing culinary creativity with operational discipline to navigating retail portals and grocery supply chains.

At its core, The Handpie Company remains deeply rooted in its founding values: supporting local farmers, maintaining ingredient quality and giving back through the company’s “Pie It Forward” program, which provides food donations to shelters and food banks.

Looking ahead, Bennetto O’Brien has an ambitious goal — bringing hand pies to a much larger Canadian audience, starting with expansion into Ontario. 

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Recorded live inside a Real Canadian Superstore in Port Coquitlam, this episode of The FEED Powered by Loblaw features an in-depth conversation with Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD. Together, we explore the future of grocery retail, AI-driven commerce, hypermarket reinvention, and the evolving expectations of Canadian shoppers.

Stewart leads IGD’s global insights and foresight work, tracking retail signals and innovations that will shape the next five to seven years. He outlines IGD’s “Store of the Future” framework — built on four pillars: enhanced experience, optimized operations, value delivery, and positive impact (including health and sustainability). This very store ranks among IGD’s global Top 25 must-see stores — and Stewart explains why.

We examine how Loblaw’s hypermarket model is evolving amid global pressure on large-format retail. From elevated beauty and health services to clear value messaging, loyalty integration, and improved sightlines, the modern store blends experience with efficiency. Stewart highlights how omnichannel fulfillment — especially in-store picking and third-party partnerships — has become foundational post-COVID, reflecting a structural shift in grocery e-commerce penetration.

A major theme of the episode: AI’s accelerating role in grocery. From demand forecasting and pricing optimization to generative AI and emerging “agentic AI,” Stewart shares why he believes non-food retail will see transformation first, while grocery follows at a more deliberate pace. We discuss AI agents making autonomous purchase decisions, the future of personalization, and the implications for retail media and digital monetization.

Stewart also predicts that even by 2040, grocery e-commerce will likely remain under 20% of total sales — reinforcing that physical stores remain central. However, they will become increasingly “hyper-connected,” powered by data that enhances workforce productivity, operational efficiency, and customer engagement.

Finally, we explore trust as retail’s emerging superpower in an AI-driven world. As consumers navigate misinformation and digital complexity, trusted grocery brands may hold a distinct competitive advantage.

If you want to understand where grocery retail is headed — from format innovation to AI, omnichannel, loyalty ecosystems, and the future of store operations — this conversation delivers clarity, strategy, and foresight.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Some of the most remarkable food stories in Canada do not begin in corporate boardrooms—they begin on farms, with families deeply committed to quality. In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with John Miller and Marie Miller, co-owners of Miller’s Dairy, recorded live at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws flagship store.

Miller’s Dairy is a multi-generational Ontario dairy whose history stretches back to the late 1800s, including a family legacy tied to the earliest use of glass milk bottles in Canada. Today, that heritage lives on through a fully integrated, family-run operation where the Millers grow feed, milk Jersey cows, process their dairy products on-site, and deliver directly to stores—often within the same regional communities.

A key differentiator is their exclusive use of Jersey cows, prized for milk with higher butterfat, protein, and natural sweetness. John explains how Jersey milk delivers richer flavour with a lower carbon footprint, while Marie highlights how those qualities reduce the need for added sugar in products like chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and eggnog. The result is dairy that tastes noticeably different on the shelf.

The conversation dives deep into craftsmanship and sustainability, including Miller’s commitment to reusable glass bottles with a deposit-return system, animal welfare practices focused on cow comfort, and a processing model designed to preserve freshness and quality. From mattresses and rotating brushes in the barn to meticulous bottle inspection, the Millers describe a philosophy rooted in respect—for animals, customers, and the product itself.

Listeners also hear the origin story behind some of Miller’s most beloved products, including their seasonal eggnog—custom-formulated after months of stove-top experimentation—and small-batch ice cream made using a restored vintage ice-cream machine from the 1950s. These products have helped the brand stand out in a competitive dairy category.

Finally, John and Marie share how persistence, strong relationships with store managers, and Loblaw’s support for small suppliers helped Miller’s Dairy expand thoughtfully while protecting quality. This episode is a powerful reminder that in an era of scale and speed, authenticity, patience, and pride of ownership still matter—and consumers can taste the difference.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chad Jakeman, Chief Executive Officer of Jakeman’s Maple Syrup Products, to explore how one of Canada’s most iconic food products is being scaled for modern retail—without losing its heritage.

Jakeman’s is a 150-year-old, family-owned Ontario business that now funnels more than half of the province’s maple syrup through its operation. Chad shares the remarkable evolution of the company, from his ancestors selling syrup roadside in rural Ontario to becoming a nationally recognized grocery brand found on shelves across Canada. The discussion offers a masterclass in how heritage brands can modernize while remaining deeply authentic.

The episode also dives into the realities of producing a climate-dependent product. Chad outlines how inconsistent winters, shifting freeze-thaw cycles, and regional weather differences across Ontario directly impact maple syrup yields. He explains the role of strategic maple syrup reserves in Quebec and why supply management is critical to ensuring industry stability during poor harvest years.

From a production standpoint, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at the science of consistency. Chad describes how Jakeman’s blends traditional maple-making methods with modern processes—using filtration, charcoal, spectrometers, and precise density controls—to ensure every bottle delivers the same taste, colour, and quality.

Innovation and brand storytelling are recurring themes. Chad discusses the importance of a bold 2019 rebrand to stand out on crowded grocery shelves, how tourism and retailer feedback influence product extensions like maple cookies and maple cotton candy, and why authenticity consistently outperforms flashy marketing for growing Canadian food brands.

The conversation concludes with a forward-looking discussion on growth, including Western Canadian expansion, increased European exports, and the importance of diversification. Chad’s reflections on risk, resilience, and loving the work provide valuable insights for food entrepreneurs, retailers, and brand builders alike.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Greetings and welcome to season two of The FEED, powered by Loblaw podcast!   

We conceived of The FEED as an opportunity to showcase thought leaders, taste makers, innovative brands and leaders, who are making a difference in the grocery and health industries and helping Canadians Live Life Well.

We’re off to a great start, wrapping Season one and 2025 with a powerful interview with Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist from CIBC.

In this, our second season, we’re talking with amazing entrepreneurs and thought leaders from coast-to-coast - from The Handpie Company out of PEI to celebrating 42 years of innovation and natural beauty with Parissa in Vancouver - and plenty more in between! 

So be sure and follow us on your favourite podcasting platform and our YouTube channel, and stay tuned for another season of The FEED, powered by Loblaw!

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this wide-ranging and insightful conversation, Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist at CIBC, joins Michael LeBlanc to close out Season One of The FEED powered by Loblaw with a clear assessment of where Canada’s economy truly stands—and where it is headed.

Tal opens by reframing the post-pandemic narrative. While Canada avoided a formal recession, he characterizes the economy as “resilient, not strong.” Growth has been uneven, investment remains negative, housing markets in Ontario and British Columbia are in recessionary territory, and recent GDP strength was driven more by falling imports than genuine momentum. Consumers and exports are holding up—for now—but the foundation is fragile.

One of Tal’s strongest warnings centers on youth unemployment, now hovering around 15%. Drawing parallels to the 1990s jobless recovery, he explains that entering the labour market during a downturn can permanently damage earnings and career trajectories. This, he argues, is one of the most underappreciated risks facing Canada today and should be a priority for policymakers.

The conversation then turns to global forces shaping food inflation and affordability. Tal is blunt: U.S. political volatility—particularly trade policy and tariffs—remains the single biggest external risk. While tariffs are unlikely to disappear, Tal believes political realities will force compromise, leading to narrower, sector-specific impacts. Industries such as lumber, steel, aluminum, and energy face real exposure, while Canada’s auto sector may structurally shrink over time.

On immigration, Tal offers a nuanced and data-driven perspective. He acknowledges Canada overcorrected in 2023 but explains why the current shift toward converting non-permanent residents already in Canada into permanent residents could improve productivity outcomes. These newcomers tend to be younger, unattached, and already integrated into the workforce—delivering a stronger economic multiplier.

AI emerges as a defining structural force. Tal argues that with margins under pressure from deglobalization, labour shortages, and sustainability costs, AI is no longer optional.

The episode closes on cautious optimism. Tal believes stable interest rates, infrastructure spending, and diminishing policy uncertainty could make 2026 a transitional year—weak in the first half, stronger in the second—setting the stage for a much better 2027, provided geopolitical shocks do not derail progress.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Autonomous vehicles have long been promised as the future of logistics, but in this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, that future arrives decisively in Canada. Host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Rich Steiner, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs at Gatik, to explore how Loblaw and Gatik are launching Canada’s first fully autonomous, commercial middle-mile delivery operation, moving goods between facilities across Ontario—safely, legally, and at scale.

Steiner outlines Gatik’s evolution from a Silicon Valley garage startup to a North American autonomous trucking leader, now operating hundreds of vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. Unlike long-haul autonomous trucking or last-mile consumer delivery, Gatik specializes in regional, middle-mile logistics—the critical but often invisible segment that connects distribution centres, micro-fulfillment hubs, and retail stores. This is where retailers feel the greatest operational strain, particularly in an era defined by on-demand consumer expectations, labour shortages, and supply-chain volatility.

A central theme of the conversation is safety by design. Steiner explains how Gatik’s autonomous driving system integrates LiDAR, radar, cameras, and GNSS to create 360-degree visibility—day or night, in snow, fog, or dust storms. The trucks operate with no blind spots, prioritize defensive driving strategies, and even reroute to avoid unprotected left turns when safer alternatives exist. This safety-first philosophy extends beyond the vehicle itself, encompassing rigorous simulation testing, phased deployment, and extensive collaboration with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation.

The episode also dives into regulatory leadership, positioning Ontario as Canada’s most advanced jurisdiction for autonomous commercial vehicles. Under a new provincial framework launched in 2025, Gatik is deploying 50 autonomous trucks for Loblaw, representing the largest single autonomous trucking deployment in North America. Steiner discusses why harmonized regulations across provinces—and eventually across borders—will be essential to unlocking the next phase of scale.

From a retail perspective, the implications are profound. Autonomous middle-mile delivery improves reliability, reduces costs, enhances supply-chain resilience, and supports store-level inventory precision—especially during peak periods like the holiday season. Importantly, Steiner emphasizes that autonomy is not about replacing workers, but augmenting existing transportation networks to meet rising consumer demand.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

This episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw features an inspiring and deeply practical conversation with Natacha Rey, Founder of Lemon Aide—the breakout Canadian brand reinventing how consumers think about cleaning products. Natacha's entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional. Raised on an organic farm, connected to nature from an early age, and later trained in homoeopathic medicine in Australia, Natacha combined science and nature to build products designed to help the body—and the home—heal and thrive.

Lemon Aide was born out of parental necessity when Natacha’s daughter was young. Frustrated by shelves full of harsh chemical cleaners on one side and weak, vinegar-based solutions on the other, she envisioned a line that was safe, effective, beautifully scented, and a pleasure to use. What started as a personal solution quickly caught fire once Natacha shared her products with friends and family—sparking demand that revealed she wasn’t alone in wanting a better cleaning experience.

Today, Lemon Aide offers more than 15 products—surface cleaners, dish soap, glass cleaners, floor cleaners, hand wash, and even super-strength formulas—each grounded in performance and powered by lemons. Natacha credits her brand’s success to listening obsessively to customers who continually help shape new product development. Lemon Aide’s packaging, intentionally designed to leap off the shelf, has made the brand a destination for shoppers discovering it for the first time.

Natacha also shares her path into retail—one that didn’t begin with knocking on a buyer’s door. Instead, a Fortinos executive discovered Lemon Aide in her Niagara-on-the-Lake store, leading to a listing and then conversations inside Loblaw and ultimately participation in the Small Supplier Program. She explains why this program has been transformational: it gives emerging Canadian brands access to scale, support, and advocacy they’d struggle to attain through traditional listing processes. The result is a win for Loblaw, for entrepreneurs, and for consumers seeking products aligned with values like sustainability, safety, and performance.

Natacha also dives into co-packing, manufacturing at scale, and the emotional reality of entrepreneurship—how conviction, agility, reflection, and perseverance define the path forward. With international expansion underway, including meaningful traction in China, LemonAide is proof that the world is ready for natural products that work—and that Canadian innovation is having a moment.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone who cares about retail, consumer behaviour, brand building, and the future of sustainable, nature-powered household care.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In the latest episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Danni Peirce, Chief Sourcing Officer at Loblaw Companies Limited, for an energizing conversation that offers a fresh lens on retail sourcing in Canada. Still less than a year into her role with the company, Peirce brings a seasoned global executive perspective, shaped by two decades of sourcing and leadership roles across international retail markets. Her newcomer status gives her a unique vantage point: she sees Canada’s retail ecosystem with eyes trained by global scale, complexity, and opportunity.

Danni's responsibilities are immense—she oversees everything Loblaw buys, from fresh produce and grocery products to health and beauty items and goods not for resale. Since arriving in Canada, she has been struck by both the country’s vastness and its diversity, elements that deeply influence sourcing and consumption. Her international career has taught her how geography, culture, customer makeup, and supply chains intersect in different regions; in Canada, she sees a retail landscape defined by national scale but regional nuance.

One of Peirce’s most compelling observations is the consumer-driven shift toward Canadian-made products. Tariffs and global supply chain disruptions created a once-in-a-generation reset—forcing shoppers to try new brands, especially domestic ones. Loblaw recognized the moment and responded decisively: 80% of suppliers onboarded this year are Canadian, a move Peirce describes as both a customer-driven insight and a strategic opportunity. Having worked in markets where domestic sourcing rarely carried emotional weight, Peirce notes that Canada’s embrace of local brands is meaningful, measurable, and—critically—sticky.

Her global experience also informs her thinking about supplier development. In many markets, retail scale is a barrier for small brands; Loblaw has flipped that dynamic. Peirce outlines the company’s Small Supplier Program, which provides:

• Seven-day payment terms to reduce cash pressure
• Free access to Loblaw’s performance and sales data
• A dedicated internal team to guide suppliers through systems, processes, and growth

She calls the program a competitive differentiator and proof of Loblaw’s commitment to nurturing Canadian innovation. Brands aren’t just getting shelf space—they’re growing into national players, with some now graduating out of the program and scaling up their capabilities.

Looking ahead, Peirce highlights AI as the most exciting unlock for sourcing. Her global sourcing experience lets her spot where technology can add leverage, particularly in commodity tracking, forecasting, and productivity enhancement. Sustainability also features prominently in her mandate, with aggressive goals around carbon reduction, packaging standards, and ingredient responsibility—strategic pillars shaped by the expectations of Canadian consumers and global retail shifts.

Peirce closes by offering advice grounded in her cross-market career: stay close to customers, learn relentlessly, and understand the priorities of your retail partners. Her clear message? Canada is entering a new era of sourcing—one energized by innovation, supported by scale, and powered by the curiosity of leaders who see opportunity everywhere.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, Michael welcomes Mark Brandt, Co-Founder of Twigz Pretzels, one of Canada’s fastest-growing and most talked-about snack brands. Twigz has captured national attention with its bold flavour innovation, uniquely Canadian brand identity, and remarkable growth story — a journey built by a tight-knit sibling team that turned a simple spark of inspiration into a rapidly scaling CPG success.

Mark begins by sharing Twigz’s humble origins: late-night recipe testing in their mom’s kitchen, weekend farmers’ market sampling, and the early hustle required to validate whether Canadians were ready for a pretzel that was anything but ordinary. From their flagship Buttery Herb flavour to fan favourites like Dill, Cheddar Ranch, Jalapeño, Sour Cream & Onion, and the runaway hit Cinnamon Churro, Twigz has leaned into flavour creativity and consumer curiosity — and Canadians have responded in droves.

Listeners get an inside look at the realities of launching a premium snack brand in a category dominated by global giants. Mark speaks candidly about working nights and weekends, learning the CPG world from scratch, and building distribution one store at a time. The conversation also highlights the company’s breakthrough partnership with Air Canada, in which its pretzels became a beloved onboard snack, massively accelerating brand awareness and trial.

Mark also shares the pivotal role of strong retail partners, particularly Loblaws, in supporting Canadian small suppliers with access, guidance, and national visibility — including giving Twigz a showcase at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. He explains how the “Buy Canadian” movement continues to boost trial and loyalty, especially as consumers increasingly seek Canadian-made, independent brands. 

A significant highlight of the episode is Twigz’s national U.S. launch in Kroger, one of America’s largest grocery retailers. This milestone speaks to the company’s strong operations, flavour innovation, and cross-border potential.

Mark discusses the complexity, volume, and operational rigour required to scale at that level while staying true to their Canadian roots and long-term goal of becoming a bona fide Canadian snack icon.

Mark closes with candid lessons for fellow food entrepreneurs: focus intensely on product quality, build a team with complementary strengths, master cash flow, and never underestimate the value of sampling, trial, and consumer engagement.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in Canadian CPG innovation, retail growth strategy, and the inspirational journey of building a national brand from scratch.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In the premiere episode of The Feed powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with retail industry leader, author, and analyst Bruce Winder for an in-depth exploration of the trends reshaping Canada's grocery landscape. With over two decades of experience at Canadian Tire, Air Miles, Zellers, HBC, and Sears, Bruce brings insider knowledge to today's most significant retail questions — from food inflation to AI-driven change.

Bruce begins by tracing his retail roots and his evolution from executive to educator and now Substack publisher, where his column This Week, Double Click offers thoughtful analysis on earnings and retail strategy. The conversation quickly shifts to the pressing issue of food inflation, as Bruce explains why prices are rising again — from supply chain pressures and weather disruptions to currency fluctuations — and how grocers balance supplier costs with delivering value to shoppers.

Drawing on his years as a merchant, Bruce explains the delicate negotiation between retailers and vendors when cost increases hit the shelf. He highlights the importance of data, collaboration, and transparency, noting how Loblaw and other retailers are using public communication, signage, and digital tools to build consumer trust amid rising costs.

From there, the conversation expands to consumer behaviour, including the shift toward hard discount formats like No Frills, the rise of private labels, and how younger shoppers are redefining convenience through paid delivery and digital loyalty ecosystems. Bruce also offers a compelling take on the Buy Canadian movement, describing it as a lasting tailwind for homegrown brands — one that's altering purchase habits and national sentiment alike.

Looking ahead, Bruce and Michael discuss AI in retail, both as a back-end operational tool and a front-end consumer influence. They explore how retailers must adapt to an era where shoppers increasingly use AI platforms to discover, evaluate, and purchase products — raising new questions of trust, authenticity, and authority in the digital age.

Closing out the episode, Bruce shares advice for consumers navigating higher prices: be informed, choose trusted retailers, leverage loyalty programs, and understand the trade-offs between fresh, frozen, and private label. Insightful, candid, and timely, this episode delivers a masterclass in modern retail strategy and consumer understanding.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Get ready for The Feed podcast, Powered by Loblaw!  We conceived of The Feed as an opportunity to showcase thought leaders, taste makers, innovative food and health brands, and, yes, a few key Loblaw executives who are making a difference in the grocery and health industries, together helping Canadians Live Life Well!

The Feed powered by Loblaw is produced and hosted by Michael LeBlanc, and in our first season, we'll take a snapshot of business and industry thought leaders in Canada, meet innovative food brands, and hear their real, inspiring stories of innovation and perseverance.  We'll meet a Loblaw retail executive who is both new to the country and new to the Canadian retail scene, learning firsthand about her impressions of our market, how she is navigating the big-picture retail trends and disruptive forces around us, and how she is helping shape the future of Canada's largest retailer.

So be sure to follow us on your favourite podcast platform or watch and listen to our episodes on our new YouTube channel, The Feed Powered by Loblaw, launching soon!

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.