The Food Professor

The latest episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosted by Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois, offers a forward-looking discussion on 2025's potential impacts on the food industry. From groundbreaking AI applications to evolving political landscapes, this episode is packed with insights.   Key topics include AI's transformative potential, particularly in optimizing supply chains and reducing...

In the final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2024, presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois reflect on a whirlwind year in the agri-food industry. With a mix of sharp insights and humour, we tackle the top ten food stories of the year and set the stage for what's to come in 2025. The episode starts with the week's news, starting with a deep dive into the GST...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discuss various pressing topics in the food and retail sectors. We begin with reflections on the release of Canada’s Food Price Report, which sparked substantial media coverage despite being overshadowed by broader economic and political issues, including the proposed GST holiday. Sylvain shares his unique exper...

This episode of The Food Professor #podcast highlights the release of Canada's Food Price Report, forecasting a 3-5% increase in food costs for 2025, translating to an additional $801 yearly expense for a family of four. Key drivers include escalating meat prices due to small herd sizes, pork inflation, and avian flu impacting poultry. The eastern provinces face heightened food inflation due to lo...

In this engaging episode of The Food Professor Podcast , hosts Sylvain Charlebois and Michael LeBlanc navigate a packed agenda, blending international trade, environmental policy, and groundbreaking innovation in the coffee industry. The episode kicks off with a live interview with Ed Hoehn, COO of Atomo Coffee , recorded at the Coffee Association of Canada's conference. Ed discusses Atomo's pione...

In this lively episode of The Food Professor Podcast , presented by Caddle, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois tackle a rich menu of topics spanning BBQ, agriculture, global health, and trade. We kick things off with a nod to Texas BBQ culture, celebrating the Michelin Guide's arrival in the state. We highlight an inspiring conversation with special guest Kyle Kyle Engelman , Executive Dir...

This week on The Food Professor Podcast , presented by Caddle, we dive into a compelling episode featuring Mitchell Scott, CEO of Cult Food Science. Mitchell's company is at the forefront of cellular agriculture, a revolutionary field paving the way for cultivated meat. Cult Food Science is making strides in commercializing lab-grown—though they prefer "cultivated"—meat, positioning itself as a le...

In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast , Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois discuss the implications of Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency on the agri-food sector. We explore how his administration may impact trade, environmental policies, and Canadian food security. Trump's presidency, with a Republican-controlled Congress, signals potential changes in tariffs, which co...

On this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois bring on an influential guest: Per Bank, President and CEO of Loblaw Companies Limited. Bank, who joined Loblaw in late 2023 after a diverse career in Europe, shares his perspectives on Canadian retail, competition, and his vision for the company's future. In the news, we discuss Per's...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast , we welcome back to the show Colleen Martin from Caddle, who presented exclusive research on sustainability based on a survey of over 8,900 Canadians. Colleen revealed that 55% of consumers consider sustainability important when choosing products, but price sensitivity remains a key barrier. Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to prioritize eco-frie...

In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast , presented by Caddle, we welcome a special guest, Zeeshan Fazal, Regional Director and Agrifood expert from Export Development Canada (EDC). Recorded live at the SIAL food innovation show in Montreal, Zeeshan explains how EDC supports Canadian companies in expanding their reach beyond borders, including into the United States, by providing finan...

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Heidi Dutton, CEO of Lovingly Made. Heidi shares how her organization is revolutionizing plant protein for people, pets, and aquaculture, ensuring the highest standards in sustainable sourcing. We dive deep into the world of agricultural entrepreneurship, with Sylvain providing his expert insights, particularly as someone who admires the ag innovators of...

Welcome to The Food Professor Podcast , presented by Caddle! I n this episode, recorded live at SIAL in Montreal, we’re thrilled to have Marie-Noëlle Cano, Founder of Canoe Intelligence Collective, as our special guest. Marie-Noel shares valuable insights for food entrepreneurs and executives, offering lessons to inspire and inform your business strategies. We also discuss the latest news impactin...

In this episode of the Food Professor Podcast, our special guest is Andrew Andriano, the founder and CEO of Flourish , who has reimagined breakfast despite, or as a result of, a challenging start to his career. Michael is tuning in from the RevTech Accelerator summit in Dallas and brings the perspective of what people are talking about here in the U.S. in the food industry, avian flu and the risin...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael hosts Maxime Beauchesne from Pâtisserie Michaud, recorded live at the SIAL food innovation show. Maxime shares the history of the company, founded by Colette Michaud in 1983, and discusses how it has grown under the leadership of her son, Mario Michaud and his wife, Sophie Alain. The conversation highlights their success in diversifying sales...

The podcast episode discusses several important topics, focusing on grocery e-commerce, sustainability, and economic trends in food access. The hosts, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois, along with guest Colleen Martin for Caddle, analyze proprietary research data on online grocery shopping habits among Canadians. Key findings include: Online Grocery Shopping Trends : About 36.7% of Canadians...

In this episode, we welcome Francois Bouchard, Senior Vice President of Subscriber Engagement at GS1 Canada , live from the SIAL innovation show in Montreal. We dive into the latest innovation from GS1—the introduction of 2D barcodes and how it impacts global product tracking. We also discuss various hot topics, such as the changing landscape for convenience stores in Ontario, new beer sales regul...

We're back for our 5th season as one of Canada's top independent management podcasts after a summer break from live shows with a fast-paced review of all the big stories in the Canadian food industry that happened since we were last together live on the mic in June. It was an action-packed summer!!   Helping us kick off our season premiere with style is the one and only Tony Chapman, serial entrep...

Top Global Retail Technology Expert & friend of the #pod Carl Boutet discusses his role as the in-house retail technology expert at the Montreal SAIL show, highlighting his involvement in marshalling the experts in the food and innovation industry together to share wisdom and insights across the sector here in Canada and around the world. Carl emphasized the importance of food in retail, noting th...

On this episode, Sylvain and I sit down again with one of our favourite repeat guests—a food industry professional who has forgotten more than we'll ever know about the fascinating and complex world of cheese— Gurth M. Pre tty. We talk about the innovations happening in the world of cheese and the challenges facing Canadian retailers of bringing that innovation to market across the nation.   Visit...

On this episode, Sylvain and I sit with Daniel Jurkovic , Co-Owner at Aliments Putters Inc., for a fascinating conversation and entrepreneurial journey that quickly became a lot more than Daniel bargained for when another major pickle brand supplier got into financial difficulties in the heart of the super-tight window that is the cucumber harvest season. Daniel and the team marshalled their talen...

In this episode, we welcome back to the podcast one of our favourite guests, Chef Chuck Hughes. Chuck stops by the SIAL podcast studio and visits us to chat about his new line of food products  - one of which was a finalist in the SIAL innovation awards.   We talk about how he decided to get into the food business, what it takes to get products off the menu and onto the shelf and the tricky inters...

Welcome to our Summer SIAL Special bonus episodes of The Food Professor podcast, brought to you by our friends at Caddle! In this episode, meet Michi Furuya Chang , Executive Vice President, Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, FHCP. As the official podcast for the SIAL Food Innovation show this year in Montreal, Sylvain and I had the opportunity to interview the leading thought leaders, brands, an...

Welcome to our Summer SIAL Special bonus episodes of The Food Professor podcast, brought to you by our friends at Caddle! In this episode, meet Guillermo Anderson, COO for St. Brigid's creamery - maker of fantastic bespoke butter right from grass fed Jersey Cows, and you all know how much I like my butter! About Us Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at M...

Welcome to our Summer SIAL Special bonus episodes of The Food Professor podcast, presented by our friends at Caddle! In this episode, meet Souriya Otmani, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Canada, SIAL's 2024 Country of Honour.  We learn all about this fantastic country at the crossroads of many cultures and traditions, its unique and diverse food offerings, and a little bit about the tradec...