By Sylvain Charlebois — January 22, 2026 A web of regulations, compliance costs, carbon pricing and interprovincial trade barriers is pushing food prices higher Food prices in Canada are rising faster than in any other G7 country, and the reason is no longer a mystery: domestic policy failure is driving …
Read More »A ‘DaVinci’ approach energizes London Drug’s New Winnipeg Store
By Robin Brunet A balancing act: that’s one way to describe the care it takes to refresh a major brick and mortar retail brand. Deviate too far from the norm, and you risk losing customers in droves. Clint Mahlman, president and COO of London Drugs, understands this intimately, and that’s …
Read More »Why 2026 Marks a Turning Point for Grocery Retail
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, …
Read More »Microplastics in the Food Chain: A Silent Threat to Public Health
New views on pasta and sauce
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 …
Read More »Playing With Fire
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 …
Read More »Canadians Carry On
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 …
Read More »Stoke the Fire Triples Production with Record Pepper Harvest in BC’s Similkameen Valley
Organic vs Conventional: Which is Better?
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 …
Read More »The Elephant in the Room
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, …
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