Episode Details

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois explore diverse food industry topics. The show kicks off with a conversation about Texas barbecue, featuring Chuck Charnichart, also known as BBQ Rat, the young, award-winning pitmaster of Barb’s BQ. Her journey from working at Texas' top barbecue spots to launching her own critically acclaimed restaurant is highlighted.

The discussion then shifts to economic and trade challenges, particularly rising beef prices. Charlebois explains how droughts, shrinking herds, and producer exits have driven beef prices to record highs, with Canada’s cattle population at its lowest since 1987. Egg prices are also soaring in the U.S. due to avian flu, with millions of birds culled. However, Canada’s supply management system has helped stabilize prices domestically.

The hosts also touch on Amazon’s decision to close its Quebec warehouses, raising concerns about the company's impact on the grocery and retail sectors. Trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. are another key topic, with tariffs, multilateralism, and political uncertainty under scrutiny.

The episode wraps up with lighter topics, including Dubai chocolate, a rising trend in the global confectionery market. LeBlanc praises Canadian retailer Showcase for identifying and capitalizing on this trend early. The hosts reflect on Canada’s position in global agrifood rankings, highlighting issues in food processing, capital shortages, and supply chain inefficiencies.

MNP Study

https://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/most-influential-nations.html

Barb's B.Q.

https://www.barbsbq.com/

Franklin's BBQ

https://franklinbbq.com/

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 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues.

 Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered k