Articles

Source / Commentary: Sentinel Management Consultants’ “The Grocery Code” column argues that grocery behaviour typically shifts for two reasons: tighter rules and stiffer competition. With Canada’s Grocery Code moving into enforcement and global discounters continuing to expand, 2026 is positioned as a turning point for how retailers and suppliers plan, …

Sensitivity to food prices, cultural diversity, and sustainability among the shifts in consumer behaviour By Carolyn Camilleri Pasta and sauce have been staples in Canadian homes for decades for so many reasons: affordable, nutritious, shelf stable, and quick to prepare even on the busiest days. Moreover, pasta and sauce meals …

Hot sauce makers thrive amid market oversaturated By Robin Brunet The hot sauce market in Canada is still experiencing robust growth. The global market is expected to reach approximately USD 4.3 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 6.5% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2035.  According …

Patriotism is at a high. But so are grocery prices By Carly Peters It’s a conundrum consumer have been facing since earlier this year, and one that might not be resolved any time soon. In response, grocers have had to grapple with merchandising shifts (how many Canadian maple leaf stickers …

Because of my agriculture background, I am often asked if organic produce is better than conventional. In full disclosure I served on the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in the past, and our company sells both organic and conventional frozen peppers. Which is healthier for the planet? When it …

By Henry Chambers, SVP Sentinel Global Commercial Training. With the announcement from the OGSCC (Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct) this week confirming the Dispute Resolution Process (DRP) for the new Grocery Code of Conduct, the big question is, what happens now? As with any global Grocery Code, there will be hurdles ahead, …

By Jason Chiu In Canada, shrinkage now costs retailers $9 billion annually – a sharp increase from $5 billion in 2018. At the same time, shoplifting continues to rise, climbing another 14% in 2024 compared with 2023. For grocery operators, this means that while customer and employee safety remains a …

Superficial branding like maple washing isn’t cutting it anymore. Without transparency, the Buy Canadian movement won’t last By Sylvain Charlebois The so-called buy Canadian movement gained momentum when former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested, half in jest but with a tone of menace, that Canada could one day become America’s …