Consumer shopping habits are constantly evolving, especially during these inflationary wars. For instance, Nielsen IQ just announced the US FMCG sector experienced its first positive unit growth month (April 2024) over the past 15-months. Monthly negative FMCG unit growth in Canada has been a constant over the same time frame. This is what makes the […]
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Life has always been about coping with challenges. More than two decades ago I was diagnosed with depression. When I was first diagnosed, I kept it to myself. Today, I still do. Though I feel it is a stigma that I am not proud of, many well known personalities such as Dwayne Johnson, Michael Landsberg, […]
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Growing up, Kraft Dinner was a favourite for Canadians. Great taste and it was easy to prepare, especially for an amateur chef like myself. Introduced simultaneously in both Canada and the US in 1937, Canadians consumed 55% more boxes per capita than Americans.[i] I remember when Kraft admitted their iconic product contained synthetic colours. Due […]
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Brand loyalty, is the mission for business when launching a new product. When I was the Brand Manager for Tabasco Sauce in Canada, they enjoyed an +80% brand loyalty level. That was during an era of no social media, and food prices were stable. Today, that term is more fiction than fact. “The death of […]
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In the early 1990’s I remember the first Dollar store opening up in the GTA. Having identified this new retail channel, I brought it to the attention of Senior Management in Canada, and the United States. My concerns were unheeded by Senior Management, and I was told they would never become a serious threat to […]
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The Canadian grocery sector is in a volatile state due to the inflationary wars. Though much has been made about the rising food prices in Canada, the UK’s November’23 CPG inflationary figure came in at 9.2%[i], as compared to 5% for Canada.[ii] Over the past year, though food sales increased 6.6%, it was all fueled […]
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“We stand at a crossroads in the world’s economy. On the one hand, we are poised to generate better standards of living for more of the world’s people than ever before. At the same time, it is increasingly clear that the consumption-based model of economic growth cannot be applied globally without causing immense environmental and […]
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Mental health is a subject matter that is extremely personal and one that is very difficult for people to discuss openly. Why? There has always been a stigma attached but thankfully, times are changing. In September 2010, Bell launched the “Bell’s Let’s Talk” mental health initiative to help drive awareness and end the stigma surrounding […]
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Working in the food and beverage sector I have the privilege to observe the evolution of food and the consumer. This is no more evident than when it comes to consumers’ health and wellness. For instance, in the past when consumers had an upset stomach, they may have taken pepto bismol or tums. Yet, today […]
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Consumers are concerned with global warming, and the impact it is having on the environment. Global tragedies linked to global warming are happening in front of our eyes every day. Though fossil fuels receive most of the attention, the food sector is highly scrutinized. Globally, wasted food contributes 11% of the world’s total greenhouse gases, […]
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