Kristin Laird

1 month ago | canadiangrocer.com | Kristin Laird

As the economic landscape shifts beneath our feet, retailers in Canada must act decisively and think strategically to survive and thrive. That’s why RCCSTORE25, Canada’s most anticipated retail event, isn’t just important—it’s critical. As disruption accelerates, it’s where industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers must come together to spark ideas, confront challenges, and shape the future of retail in Canada.

1 month ago | canadiangrocer.com | Kristin Laird

Where Gwillimdale Farms finds success is through community-based marketing. “We’re constantly going above and beyond working with the local community. We have school programs out there,” said Woods. “It’s all the extra stuff you can add, to add value to your brand, that some of your competitors aren’t doing.

1 month ago | canadiangrocer.com | Kristin Laird

It may have been cold in Montreal last week, but the innovations at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's (CPMA) Fresh Week were anything but. The conference and trade show, held annually, brought together retail leaders and produce professionals, and showcased the latest trends in the fruit and vegetable industry. Among the highlights was the New Product Showcase competition, which is highly anticipated each year.

1 month ago | canadiangrocer.com | Kristin Laird

The trade war between the United States and Canada was a hot topic during many of the conference sessions at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association's (CPMA) Fresh Week in Montreal. Before the end of the day Wednesday (April 9), not long after CPMA president Ron Lemaire’s opening address, U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tariff policy yet again, pausing his reciprocal tariffs on most countries around the world for 90 days.

2 months ago | canadiangrocer.com | Kristin Laird

1. Put your marketing and trade dollar where it counts. You want to create and capture demand in a saturated, complex Canadian marketplace while working with limited budgets and resources. Every dollar you spend needs to help maximize your return through volume and share. To get more bang for your buck, you’ll need to know where your highest value consumers are and how to reach them. Where do you start? Which media channels (traditional, digital, etc.) will deliver the highest ROI?