In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded in North Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Fardad Moayeri, Principal - Chief Esthetics Officer, Parissa Laboratories Inc., to explore a classic Canadian entrepreneurial journey—from immigrant startup to globally recognized natural beauty brand.

Parissa Laboratories, now approaching 43 years in business, began out of necessity. Moayeri’s mother, a highly educated chemical engineer, struggled to find employment after immigrating to Canada in the early 1980s. Faced with limited options, she turned to a traditional Persian sugar wax recipe, producing and packaging products at home with her family before selling them at local markets and stores.

What followed is a story of persistence, adaptability, and disciplined growth. Built literally “store by store,” Parissa scaled alongside the evolution of modern retail—transitioning from independent shops to major partners like Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart. Today, the company operates globally, with distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining a focused niche in natural hair removal products.

At the heart of Parissa’s success is an unwavering commitment to customer intimacy. From early days conducting in-store demos to today’s direct engagement through digital channels, the company has prioritized understanding real consumer pain points—often outperforming larger competitors who rely on expensive market research. This connection has fueled product innovation, education, and brand loyalty.

Moayeri also shares candid insights into the realities of scaling in retail. From supply chain readiness and category positioning to the financial pressures of onboarding major accounts, he emphasizes that success requires more than a great product—it demands operational excellence and deep alignment with retailer expectations. His advice to entrepreneurs is clear: understand your category, prepare for rapid growth, and never underestimate the complexity of retail execution.

Beyond business fundamentals, the episode highlights Parissa’s broader purpose. Rooted in values of ethics, sustainability, and community, the company continues to invest in local manufacturing, support new Canadians, and prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded live at Granville Island in Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chris Hobson, Founder of Hobbs Pickles, to explore how a creative professional transformed a personal obsession into one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands.

Chris didn’t set out to disrupt the pickle category—but after years in advertising and a deep passion for flavour, he saw a clear gap in the market. After moving to Vancouver, Hobson noticed the absence of high-quality, authentic deli-style pickles and decided to build something entirely new. What began as a concept—complete with branding boards, experiential retail design, and a “pickle tasting bar”—quickly evolved into a cult-favourite destination at Granville Island.

At the heart of Hobbs Pickles is a commitment to craft and storytelling. Working with traditional pickle-making families in New York, Hobson developed a product that delivers a classic East Coast flavour profile with a modern West Coast brand aesthetic. The result is a premium, clean-label product that stands apart in a legacy category dominated by heritage brands.

The conversation dives deep into how he built his brand from the ground up, leveraging experiential retail, word-of-mouth marketing, and a relentless focus on product quality. Hobson shares how Granville Island became his “ultimate focus group,” helping refine everything from flavour profiles to naming conventions—like the now-iconic “Big Dill.”

As the brand scaled beyond its physical roots, Hobson discusses the challenges of translating that in-person energy to grocery shelves across Canada. From packaging design to strategic retail placement and storytelling, he explains how Hobbs Pickles competes in a crowded aisle by simplifying its message and staying laser-focused on one thing: doing pickles exceptionally well.

The episode also explores broader industry dynamics, including disruption in the pickle category, the rise of Canadian brands, and evolving consumer interest in artisanal, flavour-forward foods. Hobbs reflects on working with major retailers like Loblaw, the importance of education at shelf, and the role of innovation—such as snackable pickle pouches—in driving trial and growth.

For food entrepreneurs, Hobson offers clear, actionable advice: tell your story authentically, stay focused, and build a brand with your first true fans who connect with it emotionally.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens flagship store in Toronto, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Enza Cianciotta, Founder of Solenzi Food, to explore the intersection of food innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving Canadian grocery landscape.

Enza’s journey into the food industry is anything but traditional. After spending more than 30 years building software startups across North America and the UK, she returned to Toronto with a renewed passion for food, nutrition, and ingredient transparency. Inspired by the higher-quality, cleaner-label food standards she experienced in Europe, she identified a significant gap in the North American market: convenient, gourmet meal solutions made with simple, high-quality ingredients.

That insight became the foundation of Solenzi Food—a brand focused on delivering “free-from” products that eliminate unnecessary additives, sugars, and artificial ingredients without compromising taste. From single-ingredient, high-protein lentil and chickpea pastas to innovative sauces made with coconut cream instead of dairy, Enza has built a product portfolio that aligns with modern consumer demand for both health and flavour.

A standout example of her innovation process is the development of her boscaiola sauce—created organically from a trade show demo that quickly became a consumer favourite. This hands-on, market-driven approach reflects her broader philosophy: products must first pass the “craveability test” before they earn a place on the shelf.

The conversation also dives into the realities of scaling a food brand in Canada. Enza shares how Loblaw’s small supplier program enabled her to transition from distributor-led retail to a direct relationship with one of the country’s largest grocers, accelerating her growth and providing critical market access.

At the same time, she candidly addresses the challenges facing emerging Canadian brands, including tariff disruptions that forced her to pivot away from U.S. expansion and refocus on domestic growth. Her experience highlights both the opportunities and the friction within Canada’s grocery ecosystem, particularly as consumers increasingly seek local, high-quality alternatives.

Ultimately, this episode is a masterclass in modern food entrepreneurship—blending global insight, product innovation, and retail strategy. Enza’s story underscores a powerful shift in consumer expectations: today’s shoppers want food that is not only convenient, but clean, transparent, and genuinely delicious.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc explores the remarkable entrepreneurial journey behind The Handpie Company, one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands, with founder Sarah Bennetto O’Brien.

Recorded at the historic Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens store in Toronto, the conversation explores how a classically trained chef from Sudbury, Ontario, built a thriving frozen-food company rooted in local agriculture, culinary craftsmanship, and comfort-food innovation in PEI.

Sarah’s journey started with a passion for cooking and formal culinary training. After earning her Red Seal certification at just 20, she worked across Canada before settling in Prince Edward Island, where a pivotal culinary discovery occurred. While experimenting with recipes from an Outlander-inspired cookbook, Sarah recreated a traditional Scottish hand pie using ingredients from the local PEI farmers’ market. Tasting her creation with her husband, Sarah instantly recognized its uniqueness.

What began as a small restaurant and takeout operation soon evolved into a larger entrepreneurial vision. Through a $10,000 Kickstarter campaign and a tiny 580-square-foot kitchen, Bennetto O’Brien launched the first version of The Handpie Company. The product quickly developed a loyal following thanks to its buttery pastry, creative fillings and strong commitment to local sourcing.

Today, The Handpie Company produces hundreds to thousands of hand pies per day, offering a wide range of flavours. The lineup includes classics such as chicken pot pie alongside inventive creations like bacon cheeseburger, curry chickpea and beet, corn and goat cheese — all built around a buttery pastry made with PEI butter and locally milled heritage grain flour.

A key achievement for the business came when Bennetto O’Brien decided to pursue and successfully obtained federal CFIA licensing, permitting the company to distribute products beyond Prince Edward Island. Achieving certification for meat, dairy, and egg production required two years of construction and investment in a new production facility, ultimately enabling entry into national retail markets.

Her efforts paid off when, through Loblaw’s Small Supplier Program—designed to help emerging Canadian food entrepreneurs—Bennetto O’Brien secured distribution for The Handpie Company across Atlantic Canada after a successful pitch in Toronto. This achievement expanded reach through Loblaw’s Moncton distribution centre.

Throughout the conversation, Bennetto O’Brien shares candid insights and advice about the realities of scaling a food brand — from balancing culinary creativity with operational discipline to navigating retail portals and grocery supply chains.

At its core, The Handpie Company remains deeply rooted in its founding values: supporting local farmers, maintaining ingredient quality and giving back through the company’s “Pie It Forward” program, which provides food donations to shelters and food banks.

Looking ahead, Bennetto O’Brien has an ambitious goal — bringing hand pies to a much larger Canadian audience, starting with expansion into Ontario. 

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

Recorded live inside a Real Canadian Superstore in Port Coquitlam, this episode of The FEED Powered by Loblaw features an in-depth conversation with Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD. Together, we explore the future of grocery retail, AI-driven commerce, hypermarket reinvention, and the evolving expectations of Canadian shoppers.

Stewart leads IGD’s global insights and foresight work, tracking retail signals and innovations that will shape the next five to seven years. He outlines IGD’s “Store of the Future” framework — built on four pillars: enhanced experience, optimized operations, value delivery, and positive impact (including health and sustainability). This very store ranks among IGD’s global Top 25 must-see stores — and Stewart explains why.

We examine how Loblaw’s hypermarket model is evolving amid global pressure on large-format retail. From elevated beauty and health services to clear value messaging, loyalty integration, and improved sightlines, the modern store blends experience with efficiency. Stewart highlights how omnichannel fulfillment — especially in-store picking and third-party partnerships — has become foundational post-COVID, reflecting a structural shift in grocery e-commerce penetration.

A major theme of the episode: AI’s accelerating role in grocery. From demand forecasting and pricing optimization to generative AI and emerging “agentic AI,” Stewart shares why he believes non-food retail will see transformation first, while grocery follows at a more deliberate pace. We discuss AI agents making autonomous purchase decisions, the future of personalization, and the implications for retail media and digital monetization.

Stewart also predicts that even by 2040, grocery e-commerce will likely remain under 20% of total sales — reinforcing that physical stores remain central. However, they will become increasingly “hyper-connected,” powered by data that enhances workforce productivity, operational efficiency, and customer engagement.

Finally, we explore trust as retail’s emerging superpower in an AI-driven world. As consumers navigate misinformation and digital complexity, trusted grocery brands may hold a distinct competitive advantage.

If you want to understand where grocery retail is headed — from format innovation to AI, omnichannel, loyalty ecosystems, and the future of store operations — this conversation delivers clarity, strategy, and foresight.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

Some of the most remarkable food stories in Canada do not begin in corporate boardrooms—they begin on farms, with families deeply committed to quality. In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with John Miller and Marie Miller, co-owners of Miller’s Dairy, recorded live at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws flagship store.

Miller’s Dairy is a multi-generational Ontario dairy whose history stretches back to the late 1800s, including a family legacy tied to the earliest use of glass milk bottles in Canada. Today, that heritage lives on through a fully integrated, family-run operation where the Millers grow feed, milk Jersey cows, process their dairy products on-site, and deliver directly to stores—often within the same regional communities.

A key differentiator is their exclusive use of Jersey cows, prized for milk with higher butterfat, protein, and natural sweetness. John explains how Jersey milk delivers richer flavour with a lower carbon footprint, while Marie highlights how those qualities reduce the need for added sugar in products like chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and eggnog. The result is dairy that tastes noticeably different on the shelf.

The conversation dives deep into craftsmanship and sustainability, including Miller’s commitment to reusable glass bottles with a deposit-return system, animal welfare practices focused on cow comfort, and a processing model designed to preserve freshness and quality. From mattresses and rotating brushes in the barn to meticulous bottle inspection, the Millers describe a philosophy rooted in respect—for animals, customers, and the product itself.

Listeners also hear the origin story behind some of Miller’s most beloved products, including their seasonal eggnog—custom-formulated after months of stove-top experimentation—and small-batch ice cream made using a restored vintage ice-cream machine from the 1950s. These products have helped the brand stand out in a competitive dairy category.

Finally, John and Marie share how persistence, strong relationships with store managers, and Loblaw’s support for small suppliers helped Miller’s Dairy expand thoughtfully while protecting quality. This episode is a powerful reminder that in an era of scale and speed, authenticity, patience, and pride of ownership still matter—and consumers can taste the difference.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chad Jakeman, Chief Executive Officer of Jakeman’s Maple Syrup Products, to explore how one of Canada’s most iconic food products is being scaled for modern retail—without losing its heritage.

Jakeman’s is a 150-year-old, family-owned Ontario business that now funnels more than half of the province’s maple syrup through its operation. Chad shares the remarkable evolution of the company, from his ancestors selling syrup roadside in rural Ontario to becoming a nationally recognized grocery brand found on shelves across Canada. The discussion offers a masterclass in how heritage brands can modernize while remaining deeply authentic.

The episode also dives into the realities of producing a climate-dependent product. Chad outlines how inconsistent winters, shifting freeze-thaw cycles, and regional weather differences across Ontario directly impact maple syrup yields. He explains the role of strategic maple syrup reserves in Quebec and why supply management is critical to ensuring industry stability during poor harvest years.

From a production standpoint, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at the science of consistency. Chad describes how Jakeman’s blends traditional maple-making methods with modern processes—using filtration, charcoal, spectrometers, and precise density controls—to ensure every bottle delivers the same taste, colour, and quality.

Innovation and brand storytelling are recurring themes. Chad discusses the importance of a bold 2019 rebrand to stand out on crowded grocery shelves, how tourism and retailer feedback influence product extensions like maple cookies and maple cotton candy, and why authenticity consistently outperforms flashy marketing for growing Canadian food brands.

The conversation concludes with a forward-looking discussion on growth, including Western Canadian expansion, increased European exports, and the importance of diversification. Chad’s reflections on risk, resilience, and loving the work provide valuable insights for food entrepreneurs, retailers, and brand builders alike.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

Greetings and welcome to season two of The FEED, powered by Loblaw podcast!   

We conceived of The FEED as an opportunity to showcase thought leaders, taste makers, innovative brands and leaders, who are making a difference in the grocery and health industries and helping Canadians Live Life Well.

We’re off to a great start, wrapping Season one and 2025 with a powerful interview with Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist from CIBC.

In this, our second season, we’re talking with amazing entrepreneurs and thought leaders from coast-to-coast - from The Handpie Company out of PEI to celebrating 42 years of innovation and natural beauty with Parissa in Vancouver - and plenty more in between! 

So be sure and follow us on your favourite podcasting platform and our YouTube channel, and stay tuned for another season of The FEED, powered by Loblaw!

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

In this wide-ranging and insightful conversation, Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist at CIBC, joins Michael LeBlanc to close out Season One of The FEED powered by Loblaw with a clear assessment of where Canada’s economy truly stands—and where it is headed.

Tal opens by reframing the post-pandemic narrative. While Canada avoided a formal recession, he characterizes the economy as “resilient, not strong.” Growth has been uneven, investment remains negative, housing markets in Ontario and British Columbia are in recessionary territory, and recent GDP strength was driven more by falling imports than genuine momentum. Consumers and exports are holding up—for now—but the foundation is fragile.

One of Tal’s strongest warnings centers on youth unemployment, now hovering around 15%. Drawing parallels to the 1990s jobless recovery, he explains that entering the labour market during a downturn can permanently damage earnings and career trajectories. This, he argues, is one of the most underappreciated risks facing Canada today and should be a priority for policymakers.

The conversation then turns to global forces shaping food inflation and affordability. Tal is blunt: U.S. political volatility—particularly trade policy and tariffs—remains the single biggest external risk. While tariffs are unlikely to disappear, Tal believes political realities will force compromise, leading to narrower, sector-specific impacts. Industries such as lumber, steel, aluminum, and energy face real exposure, while Canada’s auto sector may structurally shrink over time.

On immigration, Tal offers a nuanced and data-driven perspective. He acknowledges Canada overcorrected in 2023 but explains why the current shift toward converting non-permanent residents already in Canada into permanent residents could improve productivity outcomes. These newcomers tend to be younger, unattached, and already integrated into the workforce—delivering a stronger economic multiplier.

AI emerges as a defining structural force. Tal argues that with margins under pressure from deglobalization, labour shortages, and sustainability costs, AI is no longer optional.

The episode closes on cautious optimism. Tal believes stable interest rates, infrastructure spending, and diminishing policy uncertainty could make 2026 a transitional year—weak in the first half, stronger in the second—setting the stage for a much better 2027, provided geopolitical shocks do not derail progress.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world. 

Autonomous vehicles have long been promised as the future of logistics, but in this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, that future arrives decisively in Canada. Host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Rich Steiner, Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs at Gatik, to explore how Loblaw and Gatik are launching Canada’s first fully autonomous, commercial middle-mile delivery operation, moving goods between facilities across Ontario—safely, legally, and at scale.

Steiner outlines Gatik’s evolution from a Silicon Valley garage startup to a North American autonomous trucking leader, now operating hundreds of vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. Unlike long-haul autonomous trucking or last-mile consumer delivery, Gatik specializes in regional, middle-mile logistics—the critical but often invisible segment that connects distribution centres, micro-fulfillment hubs, and retail stores. This is where retailers feel the greatest operational strain, particularly in an era defined by on-demand consumer expectations, labour shortages, and supply-chain volatility.

A central theme of the conversation is safety by design. Steiner explains how Gatik’s autonomous driving system integrates LiDAR, radar, cameras, and GNSS to create 360-degree visibility—day or night, in snow, fog, or dust storms. The trucks operate with no blind spots, prioritize defensive driving strategies, and even reroute to avoid unprotected left turns when safer alternatives exist. This safety-first philosophy extends beyond the vehicle itself, encompassing rigorous simulation testing, phased deployment, and extensive collaboration with Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation.

The episode also dives into regulatory leadership, positioning Ontario as Canada’s most advanced jurisdiction for autonomous commercial vehicles. Under a new provincial framework launched in 2025, Gatik is deploying 50 autonomous trucks for Loblaw, representing the largest single autonomous trucking deployment in North America. Steiner discusses why harmonized regulations across provinces—and eventually across borders—will be essential to unlocking the next phase of scale.

From a retail perspective, the implications are profound. Autonomous middle-mile delivery improves reliability, reduces costs, enhances supply-chain resilience, and supports store-level inventory precision—especially during peak periods like the holiday season. Importantly, Steiner emphasizes that autonomy is not about replacing workers, but augmenting existing transportation networks to meet rising consumer demand.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. 

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.