Last chance to engage with all-star grocery panel at upcoming conference

With Canada’s premier grocery show less than two weeks away, buzz is growing around the all-star grocery panel that will be one of the highlights of the two-day conference on September 29 and 30 in Toronto.

On Monday, September 29, attendees can enjoy a panel discussion with leading retailers and suppliers around how they’re meeting the needs of the new consumers-from ethnic to the aging boomers.

Tom Barlow, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, will lead the conversation with panelists Darrell Jones, president of Overwaitea Food Group; Alexei Tsvetkov, CEO of Yummy Market; Jeff York, CEO of Farm Boy; Shelley Martin, CEO and President of Nestle Canada; and Terry Wong, director of marketing, authentic ethnic, Tree of Life. Attendees will also hear about key trends driving their businesses going forward.

On the trade floor, retailers can discover innovative products that reflect key food trends. For example, there are new pavilions on high growth categories in grocery, with more new first-time exhibitors than last year, said Rolster Taylor, the show’s sales manager.

The VISA Global Food Festival area focuses on the growing international food scene with a focus on the trends in Asian, South Asian and global grocery goods. Korean food is touted as the next big cuisine, and Korea Food Trading will present products such as Arumi Japche, a glass noodle dish that traditionally takes hours of preparation but now only takes minutes.

Barlow said that this is the not to miss show if you’re involved in the grocery industry. “It’s the show to attend to network and discuss key industry issues with major stakeholders,” he said. “As well, Grocery Innovations Canada is the place to go to find out what consumer trends businesses need to be on top of.”

With consumers demanding more local products, retailers can head to the Choose Ontario pavilion for inspiration from farm-fresh Ontario pork to goat milk products from the province.

For those looking for greener choices, check out the Sustain Lane pavilion where they’ll get the latest on environmentally friendly options such as a Barrie,Ont’s Beaver Rock Roastery’s 100% Recyclable K-Cup Coffee Cups or The Greenlid, the first fully compostable compost bin.

There’s some innovative products in key categories such as health and wellness, such as Sesame cream by Darvazeh Tejarat Diar, available in plain, coffee and sugar-free, or U-Be-Livin-Smart’s Pocket Treats Healthy protein packed Candy.

During the two day trade show, there’s the inaugural Supermarket Chef Showdown featuring top chefs from Longo’s, Pusateri’s, Galleria Supermarket, and Summerhill Market. They’ll be challenged to create a HMR dish with a secret ingredient. With Recipe to Riches’ TV judge, Tony Chapman as host of the event, attendees will come away with some ideas for the ever crucial home-meal replacement category, a category that is worth a whopping $2.4 billion in Canada.

Also, new products from the Innovative New Products Showcase will be chosen to pitch to key grocery buyers, live on the trade floor at GIC’s “Pitch to Win” contest.

Operators will discover grocery is going gourmet too, with companies launching more restaurant-like offerings. Take Old El Paso Restaurante’s restaurant-inspired soft taco kits that come in flavours such as Chicken Tinga, or Campbell’s new Everyday Gourmet soups such as Thai Tomato Coconut.

Grocery Innovations Canada is the grocery show for new products to exhibit at to get in front of Canada's top retailers, whether corporate, franchise or independent. GIC has nearly 60,000 square feet of exhibit space, with more than 350 exhibiting companies.

There are still some great last minute exhibitor rates available. For exhibitor info, email: Rolster Taylor at [email protected] Go to www.groceryinnovations.com for more information.