Episode Details

Our special guest this week, recorded live at SIAL Montreal, is Adekambi (Kambi) Laleye, co-founder and CEO of UpTaste. UpTaste recently won the Technology and Packaging Award for their innovative automated in-store sampling solution.

Sylvain and I discussed the latest ERA Awards, which recognize excellence in various retail categories. Metro Inc. won for eCommerce Experience, Farm Boy Inc. for In-Store Experience & Design, LCBO for Loss Prevention and Talent Development, Tim Hortons for Philanthropic Leadership, and Pattison Food Group for Retail Marketing.

Fresh from a whirlwind visit to Berlin, Sylvain shared insights on his trip, sparking discussions on international food trends. Breaking news from the RCC STORE2024 conference revealed that Eataly is opening its third Toronto location at Don Mills, with a fourth soon at CF Eaton Centre, making Toronto the top city for Eataly locations worldwide.

We also touched on the RCC grocery theft numbers and the recent Heinz-Kraft deal renewal with Leamington. A lively debate ensued about whether cashiers should sit down during their shifts, highlighting differing perspectives on customer service and employee comfort.

Looking ahead, we speculated on the upcoming Bank of Canada decision on June 5 and whether they will cut interest rates. We also examined whether supply management contributes to higher food prices, backed by compelling data demonstrating price volatility. 

Join us at the Coffee Association of Canada's Annual Conference Thursday, November 12th, 2026
at Angus Glen in Toronto (Markham)

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This year’s conference will bring together leaders from across the industry for a day of bold conversations, market insights, networking and inspiration, focused on the ideas, people and innovations shaping the future of coffee in Canada.

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About Us

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal.

He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada.

Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 20