October Express Checkout
President & CEO’s Message
I wanted to take the opportunity to provide you with an update on this year’s Grocer Innovations Canada (GIC), which is taking place in Toronto from Oct 26-28th. This year’s event will be our largest ever and our Trade Show is now sold out. GIC activities start on Monday Oct 26th with an industry visit for Retail Members to the Ontario Food Terminal as well as one of our Member Retail stores. Space is limited, so preregistration for this event is required. On Tuesday October 27th we have our Annual General Meeting where we will share some highlights of the past year. Following our AGM will be several educational sessions including a panel on the Grocery Code of Conduct, a presentation from Cyndi Loza on GLP-1 is shifting consumer’s baskets and an Economic Update from BMO’s Micheal Gregory. Wednesday’s conference sessions include Brian Wong speaking on real world uses of AI and a Retailer Spotlight on Store Experience and Layout as well as an informative presentation on Consumer Insights from NielsenIQ’s Carman Allison. In addition, there are several additional workshops and sessions on our Advantage Solutions Insights and Innovations Stage.
At GIC, we will also be celebrating the best merchandising in the country at our Master Merchandiser Awards Reception on Tuesday evening and the winners of this year’s Independent Grocer of the Year Awards will be announced on Wednesday evening. We will also be honouring 3 new CFIG Life Members, John Tobin from Maple Leaf Foods, Tom Szostok from Lactalis and Jeffrey Min from Galleria Supermarket and Korea Food Trading at our Gala on Wednesday.
Please join us for the Insights, Innovation, Networking and speak with our team and your peers about today’s current industry landscape.
Thank you all for what you do, to provide outstanding service to your communities!
We look forward to seeing you at Grocery Innovations Canada.
BEST VALUE! Get your FULL DELEGATE Pass with Dinner to Access All Conference & Events
Spots Limited! A retailer-focused meeting program designed to maximize value in one room
DATE: Monday, Oct. 26 12:00pm – 3:00pm | Toronto Congress Centre, North Bldg. Ballrooms A, B
Make the most of your time at Grocery Innovations Canada with Category Connect — a retailer-focused meeting program that brings meaningful supplier conversations, category insights, and product discovery together in one efficient format. Designed to help retailers uncover new opportunities and build stronger supplier connections, Category Connect delivers valuable face-to-face meetings that support smarter planning and better in-store results.
Please note: Once registered for this complimentary program, your company must send at least one representative who can attend for the full three hours. Matthew Brown at CFIG will guide you through the program and process step by step. Category Connect provides guaranteed meetings with vendors from across the country, all in one room at a set time. The program takes place on Monday, Oct. 26, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Industry Tour
Mon. Oct. 26 — 6:30am–12:00pm — for CFIG Retailer members only.
Tour of Ontario Food Terminal & Longo’s Queensway. Meet in Westin Hotel Lobby 6:30am
Preregister hereConference
Exclusive Speaker Sessions for Business Insights
Tues. Oct. 27 Conference with Continental Breakfast 7:30am – 11am | FREE With Show Ticket (CFIG Retailers Members get free trade show ticket)
- Annual General Meeting President’s Updates
- GLP-1 Basket Shift – What shoppers are buying and dropping, Cyndi Loza, Path to Purchase
- Grocery code update: Giancarlo Trimarchi, Vince’s Market; John Pritchett, Powell’s; Martin Payant, Unilever; with Gary Sands, CFIG
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Conference Sessions with Hot Breakfast
7:15am–11:00am — Pre-registration required.
- Retail & AI – Brian Wong, Ascii Ventures
- Store Design Panel with US and Canadian Grocers with Design firms WD Partners, Brother Fixtures
- NielsenIQ Consumer Outlook 2027, Carman Allison
- Concurrent workshops on Fresh, Loyalty, Consumer Insights & 2D Barcodes
MASTER MERCHANDISER Cocktail & Awards
All invited – Tues. Oct. 27 4:30pm – 6:30pm
The best merchandising displays are celebrated along with top 10 in grocery and best booth winners.
Interested in Participating? Contact: membership@cfig.ca
IGYA Gala Cocktail & Dinner
Wed. Oct. 28 — 5:30pm–9:15pm — Preregistration required.
The top grocers across Canada are awarded prizes for their retail operations.
RegisterWant to participate next year? More info
Life Members
Celebrate our life members
Jeffrey Min
Chairman, Galleria Supermarket
Tom Szostok
SVP Sales, Lactalis Canada
John Tobin
VP and GM, Retail Sales, Maple Leaf Foods
Explore the New CFIG Website
Sign in faster, manage your membership, and stay connected—all in one place.
When you sign in, you are taken directly to the CFIG Hub, where you can view your personal and company profiles.
Personal profile: Select your membership profile to update your contact details.
Company profile: If you have administrator access, you can manage contacts, update the company logo, and add or remove employee contacts.
Discover What’s New in the Hub
Join groups, explore updates from CFIG suppliers, and follow the suppliers that interest you to stay informed.
Missed an Express Checkout Newsletter?
Select the News tab in the CFIG Hub to browse all past issues.
Members in the News
Save-On-Foods opens 195th Location
We would like to congratulate Save-On-Foods for open their 195th location in Vernon B.C.
Longo’s Renovates Oakville Location
Congratulations to Longo for completing and extensive renovation at its Burloak Location in Oakville, Ont. On Saturday Sept 12th.
New Members
Egyptian Market
www.egyptianmarket.ca
Gander Consumers Co-op
www.gandercoop.ca
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) promotes U.S. agricultural and food exports around the world, connecting American producers with international buyers and supporting a strong, mutually beneficial trade relationship between the United States and its partners. In Canada, FAS works closely with grocers, retailers, distributors, foodservice operators, and industry associations to expand market access for U.S. agricultural products, from fresh produce and specialty foods to beverages and value-added goods. Our Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa teams support U.S. exporters through market intelligence, trade promotion events, and direct connections with Canadian buyers, helping to strengthen the deep and longstanding agricultural trade partnership between our two countries. We're pleased to join the CFIG community and look forward to supporting Canada's independent grocery sector with U.S. products, ingredients, and expertise. agottawa@usda.gov
www.fas.usda.gov/regions/canada
Crosby Foods
Crosby Foods is a fifth-generation, family-owned Canadian food company with roots dating back to 1879. Best known for molasses, the company offers a growing range of products for the baking, sweetener, dessert and beverage aisles.
Its portfolio also includes syrups, organic sugar, jelly powders, flavoured drink mixes, hot chocolate and powdered hydration beverages. These products help retailers offer shoppers choice and value across everyday categories, with products manufactured in Canada.
Crosby Foods also works with retailers to develop products under their own brands. Its private label and co-manufacturing capabilities span product development, formulation, blending and packaging.
A new hydration stick pack line expands those capabilities to convenient, single-serve powdered beverages, including hydration and functional drink mixes. The line offers retailers an opportunity to develop products tailored to their brands and shoppers.
With a focus on long-term supplier relationships, Crosby Foods helps Canadian grocers bring distinctive products to their shelves.
www.crosbys.com
Great Little Box Company
From design, through to printing, application and manufacturing we have you covered in all aspects of your packaging journey. Our award winning team can design and produce packaging that complements your entire product offering and helps you win on the shelf. And all with the shipping and warehousing flexibility you require with locations to serve you throughout Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
www.glbc.com
Food Innovation & Research Studio (FIRSt), George Brown Polytechnic
FIRSt is a Technology Access Centre that supports the food and beverage sector with scientific R&D services from our lab at George Brown Polytechnic. We work with our clients to troubleshoot product development challenges and help them bring new ideas to market.
georgebrown.ca/first
Sonwil
Sonwil is a family-owned logistics company providing transportation, warehousing, distribution, and supply chain solutions to businesses across North America. Since 1942, we have built our reputation on reliability, flexibility, and responsive service.
With extensive experience supporting food, beverage, retail, and consumer product supply chains, Sonwil helps customers manage the day-to-day challenges of moving and storing products efficiently. Our capabilities include freight brokerage, asset-based transportation, dedicated and regional trucking, cross-border service between the U.S. and Canada, warehousing, distribution, and customized logistics support.
Whether a business needs additional transportation capacity, warehouse space, cross-border support, or a reliable logistics partner to strengthen its existing network, our team works closely with customers to develop practical solutions around their specific needs.
As a family-owned business with more than 80 years of experience, Sonwil combines the capabilities of an established logistics provider with the responsiveness, relationships, and personal service customers expect from a long-term partner.
sonwil.com
Hive Retail Solutions
Hive Retail Solutions is a female-founded retail sales & merchandising agency created to empower & elevate the retail success of brands and help them grow on shelf and in-store across Canada.
hiveretailsolutions.com
DHenrico Consulting
Dean brings over 30 years of leadership in security and asset protection, having spent more than two decades at Loblaw Companies Limited, where he ultimately served as Senior Vice President of Asset Protection. His deep expertise spans loss prevention, workplace safety, operational risk, and security technology, with a practical, real-world approach to safeguarding people and operations.
A nationally recognized expert in Organized Retail Crime (ORC), Dean’s leadership and strong public-sector partnerships led to two of the largest retail crime investigations in Canadian history, Project Kingfisher and Project Sommes. His efforts helped dismantle high-risk criminal networks and established a gold standard for how retailers and law enforcement can collaborate to protect communities and combat organized theft.
Dean now brings his broad industry expertise directly to the broader grocery and retail community through executive speaking engagements and strategic consulting opportunities.
www.dhenricoconsulting.ca
Trophy Foods
Since 1967, Trophy Foods has been exploring life’s delectable moments while building a proud Canadian legacy founded on excellence, innovation, quality, and reliability.
From its beginnings in Canada, Trophy Foods has grown through strategic expansion and continued investment in its capabilities, evolving into a market leader in nuts, seeds, trail mix, dried fruit, and confectionery. Today, we proudly serve the Retail and Foodservice markets with a diverse portfolio of both branded and private label products, supporting customers and consumers nationwide.
Throughout that growth, one principle has remained constant: quality starts with the best ingredients and never cutting corners. Our extensive knowledge of key commodities and ingredients enables us to source 270 premium and sustainable food ingredients from 40 countries, supported by trusted supplier relationships and global procurement expertise.
Today, Trophy Foods combines nearly six decades of experience with a passion for innovation, quality, and continued growth, delivering products Canadians can trust while building toward an even stronger future.
Trophy Foods. Canadian heritage. Global expertise. Quality without compromise.
www.trophyfoods.comTRADE 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.
Practical resources to help prepare for cyber threats
Did you know that nearly half (44%) of all Canadian organizations faced a cyber-attack in 2024, and for many, the fallout included lost clients and reputational damage1? When a data breach occurs, the impact can be staggering—averaging nearly $7 million last year, a ten‑percent jump from the previous year, according to IBM.
These numbers serve as a reminder that every business, no matter its size, requires strong cybersecurity to help protect your business, bottom line, and customers. To help you stay ahead of evolving risks, we’ve developed four practical cybersecurity resources:
- Understanding Malware Attacks
- How to Spot & Prevent Phishing Scams
- Five Tips for Stronger Password Security
- Safe Webcam & Video Conferencing Practices
As a 100% Canadian-owned insurer, Federated Insurance is here to support you and your business. To learn more, visit www.federated.ca, call us at 1.855.436.0111, or if you’re a Federated customer, you can contact your Commercial Insurance Specialist with any questions.
Ressources pratiques pour vous aider à vous préparer aux cybermenaces
Saviez-vous que près de la moitié (44 %) des organisations canadiennes ont été confrontées à une cyberattaque en 2024 et que, pour nombre d’entre elles, les conséquences ont été de perdre des clients ou de voir leur réputation ternie1? Lorsqu’une violation de données se produit, les répercussions peuvent être foudroyantes : en moyenne près de 7 millions de dollars en pertes, selon les données de l’année dernière, soit une augmentation de 10 % par rapport à l’année précédente, d’après IBM.
Ces chiffres nous rappellent que chaque entreprise, quelle que soit sa taille, a besoin d’une cybersécurité solide pour protéger ses activités, sa rentabilité et ses clients. Pour vous aider à garder une longueur d’avance sur l’évolution des risques, nous avons élaboré quatre ressources pratiques sur la cybersécurité :
- Comprendre ce qu’est une attaque par maliciel
- Comment déceler et prévenir l’hameçonnage
- Cinq conseils pour améliorer l’efficacité des mots de passe
- Utilisation sécuritaire des webcams et des plateformes de vidéoconférence
Une société canadienne à 100 %, Les assurances Federated est 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.
Turning first-time shoppers into loyal customers
Why customer loyalty matters
Attracting new customers is important, but long-term success often depends on turning first-time shoppers into repeat customers. Building loyalty can help increase customer retention, strengthen relationships, and support sustainable business growth.
In its blog, How to Turn First-Time Shoppers into Loyal Customers, Moneris® explores practical ways businesses can build lasting customer relationships and encourage shoppers to return.
What this means for your business:
- Make a strong first impression. Positive experiences can help build trust from the very first interaction.
- Focus on the customer experience. Every interaction contributes to how customers view your business and whether they choose to return.
- Stay connected with customers. Ongoing communication can help keep your business top of-mind and strengthen customer relationships.
- Build loyalty over time. Consistently delivering value and positive experiences can encourage repeat business and customer advocacy.
Read the full blog to learn more.
Moneris understands the unique needs of independent grocers and offers payment solutions designed to support both today's operations and tomorrow's growth.
As a CFIG member, get access to preferred payment processing rates and modern commerce solutions from Moneris. Trusted by businesses across Canada from coast to coast to coast, Moneris delivers secure, reliable solutions designed to support how you sell today and as your business grows. Take advantage of your CFIG membership to get preferred rates from Moneris. Call 1-888-552-0341 and reference # 0030600059638 or learn more at moneris.com/associations.
Fidéliser la nouvelle clientèle
En tant que membre de la Fédération canadienne des épiciers indépendants (FCEI), obtenez des taux préférentiels pour le traitement des transactions ainsi que des solutions de commerce modernes développées au Canada par MonerisMD. Reconnue par les entreprises de tout le pays, Moneris offre une technologie sécuritaire et fiable conçue pour soutenir vos activités commerciales actuelles et vous accompagner sur le chemin de la croissance.
Pourquoi la fidélisation de la clientèle est-elle importante?
Il est important d’attirer une nouvelle clientèle, mais le succès à long terme dépend souvent de la capacité à fidéliser la nouvelle clientèle. La fidélisation de la clientèle peut contribuer à accroître la rétention, à renforcer les relations et à favoriser une croissance durable de l’entreprise.
Dans son blogue intitulé Comment fidéliser la nouvelle clientèle, Moneris explore des moyens concrets permettant aux entreprises d’établir des relations durables avec leur clientèle et à l’encourager à revenir.
Voici ce que cela signifie pour votre entreprise.
- Faites une excellente première impression. Les expériences positives peuvent instaurer un climat de confiance dès le tout premier contact.
- Concentrez-vous sur l’expérience client. Chaque interaction influe sur la façon dont la clientèle perçoit votre entreprise et sur sa décision de revenir ou non.
- Restez en contact avec votre clientèle. Une communication régulière peut contribuer à ce que votre entreprise reste présente dans l’esprit de votre clientèle et à renforcer vos relations avec elle.
- Fidélisez la clientèle au fil du temps. Offrir constamment de la valeur ajoutée et des expériences positives peut favoriser la fidélisation et la promotion de la marque.
Lisez l’article au complet pour en savoir plus.
Moneris comprend les besoins précis des épiciers indépendants et propose des solutions de paiement conçues pour soutenir à la fois leurs activités actuelles et leur croissance future.
Tirez profit de votre adhésion à la FCEI afin d’obtenir des tarifs préférentiels avec Moneris. Composez le 1 888 552-0341 et mentionnez le numéro de chaîne 0030600059638 ou consultez la page moneris.com/associations.
