Episode Details

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, opens with co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois breaking down the week’s top food and retail stories.

First, they tackle the evolving Canadian political stance on supply management. Prime Minister Carney’s reversal in support of Bill C-282 suggests renewed government protectionism in agricultural trade, potentially complicating future international deals. Sylvain, who testified against the bill, argues for a smarter, more competitive dairy sector rather than entrenching status quo inefficiencies.

Next, they examine the return of Trump-era tariffs, including a 50% levy on aluminum. This move could squeeze margins in the canned food and craft beer sectors. Sylvain praises the Canadian government’s decision not to retaliate immediately, calling it a strategic pause rather than knee-jerk nationalism. Then they discuss NielsenIQ data revealing that Canadians are cutting back on U.S. goods—not necessarily out of patriotism, but due to anti-American sentiment—while failing to significantly boost local Canadian brands.

The final news item highlights the surprising global shortage of black pepper, linked to poor climate and farming shifts. As Sylvain jokes, barbecue fans like Michael may want to stock up on their secret weapon: 16-mesh pepper!

The spotlight then shifts to special guest Vince Sgabellone, Food Service Industry Analyst at Circana Canada. Vince shares compelling insights from the frontlines of Canadian food service. A major trend? The explosion of global cuisine. Whether it’s falafel shops, Nepalese momo dumplings, or Ethiopian cafés, Canadians are craving authentic international flavors—even from mainstream chains like Recipe Unlimited.

Vince attributes much of this shift to immigration and younger generations of diners. One-third of all restaurant visits now come from people of color, and that number is even higher among Gen Z. These consumers are reshaping the restaurant landscape, fueling growth in fast casual dining and independent eateries with strong ethnic roots.

He also reveals that dining out remains resilient in Canada, especially compared to a softening U.S. market. Delivery and takeout are climbing again, even as lunch remains the industry’s weakest segment due to remote work. The growing popularity of solo dining, driven by changing social patterns and younger demographics, is creating new design opportunities for restaurant operators.

This episode is rich in data, spiced with insights, and ends with a wild story about an elephant raiding a grocery store in Thailand—a perfect reminder that food always finds a way to surprise us.

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 we