August Express Checkout
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President's Message
A Message from CFIG President & CEO
On behalf of the team at CFIG, I hope all of you have had an outstanding summer, with strong results and some time to spend with friends and family.
So far 2026 has been a dynamic year with uncertainty on the geopolitical landscape. CFIG has continued to advocate for our members' interests and has had some positive results. The year started with the launch of the Grocery Code of Conduct in Canada, and Independent Grocers have been receiving the benefits of the code since Jan. 2nd. If you haven't become a member of the code yet, we would be happy to speak with you about the benefits. Independent Grocers in Ontario are also seeing the benefits of a modernized marketplace for the sale of beer and wine, with several enhancements that CFIG advocated for. CFIG was also recently present when Prime Minister Carney announced the Federal Government's new Food Security Strategy, which has several components designed to benefit Independent Grocers. CFIG will also be facilitating discussion with Canada's Competition Bureau as they complete a study on the Food Supply Chain in the country.
CFIG has also been working to complete an Economic Impact Study on the impact of Independent Grocers across the country. It will include important facts regarding the role Independent Grocers play in helping to provide food security in remote and rural areas of the country. The study is expected to be completed in the fall and will be shared with members, governments and other stakeholders.
As fall is around the corner, now is the time to start planning to attend Canada's signature grocery event, Grocery Innovations Canada, being held in Toronto on October 26–28th. This year's conference speakers are available on the conference website, and the Trade Show Exhibits are trending to be even larger than last year's record size, with growth in both Canadian and international exhibitors. It's the place for the industry to gather and network, as well as celebrate Master Merchandiser winners, Independent Grocer of the Year Awards, and CFIG Life Member Honourees.
I look forward to seeing you in Toronto, and want to thank you for all that you do to provide outstanding service to the communities you serve!
Advocacy Announcement · August 24, 2026 (Toronto)
CFIG Welcomes Martha Murray as VP of Public Policy & Advocacy
The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) is pleased to announce that Martha Murray has joined CFIG, effective August 11th, as Vice President of Public Policy and Advocacy – a newly created role.
“Martha brings a wide range of knowledge and experience that she has gained in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors to her new role at CFIG. This new capacity reflects the desire of the CFIG Board of Directors to enhance our ability to advocate on behalf of our members on a number of important public policy issues,” said Ron Welke, President and CEO of CFIG. Prior to joining CFIG, Martha Murray was Vice President, Public Affairs & Advocacy for the Cement Association of Canada, and previously served as Chief of Staff in the Office of Ministers in the Government of Ontario.
“We are very excited to have Martha as part of our team. I know she is looking forward to meeting with and getting to know our members in the months ahead,” added Gary Sands, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy.
Please feel free to reach out to Martha at: mmurray@cfig.ca
Martha Murray, VP of Public Policy & Advocacy
Program News
Independent Grocer of the Year Award
Thank you to all retailers who participated in this year's Independent Grocer of the Year program. We were pleased to have 237 stores take part, and all winners have now been contacted. CFIG also extends its sincere appreciation to Al Hollman, Jim Bexis, and Judith Bennett for travelling across the country to evaluate participating stores. Your dedication, along with the continued strength and resilience of our members, helps make Canada's independent grocery industry truly exceptional.
Join us on Oct. 28 at the Toronto Congress Centre for the Gala Awards Night as we celebrate the best in the industry.
National Scholarship Award
Our National Scholarship submission closed Aug. 17 – we received a total of 41 applications and are now working on selecting the winners. Winners will be contacted in late August by email. The national winner receives $15,000; the four regional winners each receive $3,500, paid to the winner's school student account. The National winner will be presented at the IGYA Gala Night on Oct. 28th at the Toronto Congress Centre.
We wish all those who have submitted their essay good luck, and thank our members for promoting this award. To learn more about the program, contact membership@cfig.ca.
Master Merchandiser Program – A Record-Breaking Season
The 2026 Master Merchandiser Program season officially closed on Aug. 10, and we are thrilled to share that this year marked another outstanding success. The program received a record-breaking 27,138 submissions, up from 20,138 in 2025.
Record-Breaking Submissions
27,138
total submissions received for the 2026 Master Merchandiser Program
Our team is now working through the selection process, and winners will be contacted in September. Thank you to our valued sponsors and participating retailers for helping make this year's program such a tremendous success. Join us at the Awards presentation night, Oct. 27th, at GIC – Toronto Congress Centre.
Submitted displays, 2025 vs. 2026
Submitted entries by display type, 2026
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EVENTS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS
Join Us at Grocery Innovations Canada
Add Category Connect to Your Registration
A retailer-focused meeting program designed to maximize value in one room.
Category Connect at Grocery Innovations Canada is a premium, face-to-face meeting program that helps grocery retailers make the most of their time at the show. Taking place Monday, Oct. 26, from 12–3 p.m., this first-come, first-booked program brings retailers and supplier partners together for pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings focused on discovery, category planning, and faster decision-making.
Retailers can meet relevant suppliers across multiple categories, explore new products and innovations, identify store solutions, and leave with practical insights and actionable next steps.
Make the most of your time at Grocery Innovations Canada with Category Connect. Contact Matthew Brown at mbrown@cfig.ca to register.
Store Tours & Conference Keynote Speakers
See the full conference agenda for this year's store tours and keynote lineup.
Members in the News
Sunripe Fresh Celebrates Two Milestones
CFIG extends its warm congratulations to Will Willemsen and the Sunripe Fresh team, celebrating 44 years of Sunripe and 10 successful years at the Hyde Park location. These milestones reflect their ongoing commitment to quality, service, and the local community.
Yummy Market Promotes Jamie Cooney to Chief Operating Officer
Cooney's role expands to support long-term business growth
CONCORD, Ont., Aug. 18 – Yummy Market, a European food experience grocer, today announced the promotion of Jamie Cooney to the position of chief operating officer (COO), effective Aug. 3, 2026.
Currently serving as chief procurement officer, Cooney will assume the role of COO while continuing to oversee his existing responsibilities. This strategic appointment further strengthens Yummy Market's leadership team and positions the organization to accelerate its commitment to operational excellence, sustainable growth, and long-term business priorities.
Since joining Yummy Market in May 2024 as chief procurement officer, Cooney has played a significant role in strengthening the organization. During his tenure, he has built a high-performing procurement team, implemented improvements across key operational areas, developed business models that support the company's category management strategy, and partnered closely with retail teams to elevate merchandising standards and the customer experience.
Adrian Gianello, chief executive officer (CEO), commented: “It is our talented individuals who will help us to forge ahead. Jamie has demonstrated his resilience and his passion for continuing to develop a best-in-class specialty grocery retail operation. His dedication to our values of respect, teamwork and a collaborative approach has been appreciated by colleagues across the organization.”
This promotion reflects both Cooney's contributions and the collective efforts of the company’s team. As Cooney noted, “No one person can make an organization succeed; it is only with a collective partnership that we succeed.”
Moving forward, Cooney represents the company’s commitment to excellence and growth, and Yummy Market is confident the organization will continue to build on its momentum under his operational leadership.
For media inquiries, please contact: Elena Nikolaev, 416-665-2424, ext. 366, elena.nikolaev@yummymarket.ca
About Yummy Market
Founded in 2002, Yummy Market is a gold award-winning European grocery chain in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario. It specializes in traditional European flavours, crafted from scratch daily in its in-store kitchen and bakery. Yummy Market also offers a large assortment of local and imported specialty foods tailored to European communities and curious foodies. For more information, visit www.yummymarket.com or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or LinkedIn.
Read the Full AnnouncementMembers in the News
CFIG Congratulates Our Members on Their Impact Awards
Congratulations to 19 of our members groups who were recognized across the 4 categories in the Canadian Grocer Impact Awards.
Retailer – Community
Freson Bros.
Rabba Fine Foods
Stong’s Market
Vince’s Market
Retailer – Sustainability
Georgia Main Food Group
Save-On-Foods
Retailer – Impact Champions
Rima Rabba (formerly of), Rabba Fine Foods
Associate – Community
Coke Canada Bottling
Conagra Brands Canada
General Mills Canada
Kruger Products
Lactalis Canada
Pepsico Canada
UNFI Canada
Associate – Supporting Employees
Yoplait-Liberté Canada
Associate – Sustainability
Kruger Products
Lactalis Canada
Associate – Impact Champions
Irene Marok, Nestlé Canada
Li Wang, Burnbrae Farms
Affiliate – Sustainability
Flashfood
Save-On-Foods Opens New Manitoba Liquor Mart
Congratulations to Save-On-Foods on the new Manitoba Liquor Mart inside its Northgate store. Save-On-Foods is celebrating a new addition at its Northgate Shopping Centre location in Winnipeg with the opening of Manitoba's first new Liquor Mart since 2019. The small-format, freestanding store-within-a-store opened on Aug. 7 at 1399 McPhillips Street and spans 580 square feet, offering customers added convenience and a fresh format for the province's grocery retail landscape.
Farmer's Fridge Joins the Associated Grocers Family
CFIG is pleased to welcome Farmer's Fridge in Calgary, Alberta, to the Associated Grocers family. Brody Powell and Jim Hamilton have partnered with Associated Grocers to introduce a fresh new grocery destination in Calgary's downtown core. With the welcoming feel of a farmers' market, Farmer's Fridge offers hundreds of local products across produce, meat, dairy, and grocery – giving shoppers a convenient place to find quality, freshness, and a strong connection to the local community.
CFIG extends its warm congratulations to Associated Grocers on celebrating 99 years of business supporting independents. This milestone reflects their ongoing commitment, trust, dedication and support across western Canada.
Pattison Completes Automated Grocery Fulfillment Operation
Pattison Food Group has completed an automated grocery fulfillment operation in Langley, BC.
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New Retail Members
CFIG welcomes Clarenville Co-op to our retail member community. They have been in business for 58 years in Clarenville, Newfoundland.
Learn more →
About Campari Canada
Founded in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Milan, Italy, Campari Group has grown from a single iconic aperitif into one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, with a portfolio of more than 50 renowned brands enjoyed in over 190 countries worldwide. Today, Campari Canada proudly represents many of these iconic brands, including Aperol, Campari, Forty Creek, Appleton Estate, Espolòn, SKYY Vodka, and Grand Marnier, delivering memorable experiences to consumers across retail, grocery, convenience, e-commerce, and hospitality channels from coast to coast.
Driven by our purpose to unlock human connections and our mission to create the “first shared drink” occasion, Campari Canada continues to invest in innovation that meets evolving consumer preferences and emerging occasions.
A key example is the upcoming launch of Aperol Spritz To Go, an exciting new Ready-to-Drink (RTD) innovation that brings the iconic Aperol Spritz experience into a convenient, portable format. Designed for today's consumers seeking premium, easy-to-enjoy refreshment occasions, Aperol Spritz To Go combines the unmistakable bittersweet taste and vibrant spirit of Aperol with the convenience of a ready-to-enjoy cocktail.
Campari Canada: celebrating over 165 years of Italian heritage, innovation, and unforgettable moments shared together.
Learn more →Trade Media
Trade Media Section
A new $768M project in Ottawa will support science and research to help protect the Canadian food supply.
Read MoreTo get daily news, sign up for a free subscription to Grocery Business.
Additional trade media partners (Canadian Grocer, Western Grocer) to be added once their contras are finalized.
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Protecting Against Vehicle & Catalytic Converter Theft
Vehicle theft continues to be a real concern across Canada. In fact, one in four Canadians say they, or someone they know, has experienced vehicle theft in the last five years.*
For businesses, risks like vehicle theft and catalytic converter theft — where a valuable part of the vehicle’s exhaust system is removed — can happen quickly and lead to unexpected costs and disruptions.
To help you mitigate risks and prevent costly damage, we’ve created resources that outline practical steps you can take to help reduce both vehicle and catalytic converter theft.
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*Insurance Bureau of Canada, “Auto Theft Prevention”
Contribuer à se protéger contre les vols de véhicules et de convertisseurs catalytiques
Le vol de véhicules continue d’être une réelle préoccupation partout au Canada. En fait, un Canadien sur quatre indique que sa voiture ou celle d’une personne qu’il connaît a été volée dans les cinq dernières années*.
Pour les entreprises, des risques tels que le vol de véhicules et le vol de convertisseurs catalytiques – où une pièce coûteuse du système d’échappement du véhicule est enlevée – peuvent survenir rapidement et entraîner des frais et des perturbations inattendus.
Pour vous aider à atténuer les risques et à éviter de coûteux dommages, nous avons créé des ressources qui présentent des mesures pratiques pour contribuer à prévenir les vols de véhicules et de convertisseurs catalytiques.
Les assurances Federated est une société canadienne à 100 %. Nous sommes là pour vous soutenir, vous et votre entreprise. Pour en savoir plus, visitez le www.federated.ca ou appelez-nous au 1 855 436-0111. Si vous êtes déjà client des Assurances Federated, communiquez vos questions à votre agent en assurance de dommages.
*Bureau d’assurance du Canada, « Prévention du vol d’automobiles ».
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Helping Independent Grocers Deliver Faster Checkout Experiences
Busy stores put pressure on the checkout. Customers expect fast, seamless service, especially during peak shopping periods. When checkout lines become too long or systems slow down, it can impact both the customer experience and day-to-day operations. Improving checkout efficiency is one of the easiest ways for retailers to reduce friction, keep customers happy, and encourage repeat visits.
How the Right POS System Can Help
A modern point-of-sale system does more than process payments. The right solution can help retailers:
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As one of Canada’s leading payment processors, Moneris helps businesses simplify payment acceptance while providing modern POS solutions designed to support operational efficiency and growth. With the right technology in place, retailers can spend less time managing processes and more time focusing on serving customers and growing their business.
Exclusive Benefits for CFIG Members
As a CFIG member, you have access to preferred payment processing rates and modern commerce solutions from Moneris, designed to support your business today and as you grow. This benefit can help improve operational efficiency while providing the tools retailers need to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Learn more at Moneris.com/associations or call 1-888-552-0341 and reference your CFIG membership.
Permettre aux épiceries indépendantes d’offrir des paiements plus rapides
Un achalandage élevé augmente la pression à la caisse. La clientèle s’attend à bénéficier d’un service rapide et fluide, surtout pendant les périodes de pointe. Si les files d’attente aux caisses s’allongent ou que les systèmes ralentissent, tant l’expérience client que les activités quotidiennes peuvent s’en ressentir. L’un des moyens les plus simples pour les commerces de détail de réduire les irritants, de satisfaire la clientèle et d’encourager les visites répétées est d’améliorer l’efficacité à la caisse.
Comment un système de point de vente adapté peut vous aider
Un système de point de vente moderne traite bien plus que des paiements. Une solution adaptée peut aider les commerces de détail à faire ce qui suit :
- Accélérer le passage à la caisse et réduire les files d’attente
- Obtenir des gains d’efficacité du personnel grâce à des flux de travail intuitifs
- Accéder aux rapports et aux perspectives sur les ventes
- Assurer la gestion des stocks
- Offrir une meilleure expérience client
En tant que l’une des principales entreprises de services de paiement au Canada, Moneris aide les entreprises à simplifier l’acceptation des paiements tout en leur proposant des solutions de PDV modernes, mises au point pour favoriser l’efficacité opérationnelle et la croissance. Grâce à la mise en place d’une technologie adaptée, les commerces de détail peuvent consacrer moins de temps à la gestion des processus et davantage au service à la clientèle et à la croissance.
Avantages exclusifs réservés aux membres de la Fédération canadienne des épiciers indépendants (FCEI)
En tant que membre de la FCEI, vous bénéficiez de taux préférentiels pour le traitement des transactions et profitez de solutions de commerce modernes de Moneris, conçues pour soutenir votre entreprise dès maintenant et l’accompagner dans sa croissance. Cet avantage peut améliorer l’efficacité opérationnelle tout en fournissant aux commerces de détail les outils dont ils ont besoin pour offrir une expérience client exceptionnelle.
Pour en savoir plus, visitez le site Web Moneris.com/associations ou composez le 1 888 552-0341 en mentionnant votre adhésion à la FCEI.
