We’re wrapping up Season 2 of What’s Sizzlin’ with host Sarah Stern (Director, Community Involvement) in conversation with Adam Grogan, President and Chief Operating Officer.

Adam shares his journey from the first Leadership Track Program cohort to helping lead Maple Leaf Foods today. He reflects on the difference that every team member can make towards our Purpose and our business, reveals his favourite product from our family of brands, and much more. 

This episode's guest is Geoff Roach, Site Leader of Seattle, our Field Roast manufacturing site. 

Geoff first joined Maple Leaf Foods as a teenager in 1999 at our Winnipeg pork processing facility and has grown through various roles across the company, moving from Canada and down into the U.S. Tune in as Geoff explores what's sizzlin' in Seattle, and shares what a day in the life looks like as the plant manager of a dedicated plant protein production site. 

In this episode, host Sarah Stern sits down with David Alexander, VP of Snacks and Meal Solutions, to talk about his 14‑year journey at Maple Leaf Foods. From being recruited into our Leadership Track (LT) program to rotating throughout different teams across the business, today, David is leading one of our most dynamic portfolios on the Marketing team.

David shares what it’s like working across eight different categories, the versatility and innovation behind Snacks and Meal Solutions, and how collaborating cross‑functionally brings new launches to life. 

This week, host Sarah Stern sits down with Debbie Slater, Plant Manager at Walker Drive, to talk leadership, lean operations, and why the people make the difference at every site across the company. From fast, efficient poultry lines to reducing waste, Debbie shares what she’s learned across five plants — and why she’s proud to be back where it all started.

Chantal Goeree, Manager of Animal Care, has always felt a strong calling to work with animals. Her journey began in school, where she specialized in poultry, and about seven years ago, Chantal joined Maple Leaf Foods as an Animal Health and Welfare Technician.

Today, Chantal still admires Maple Leaf Foods’ dedication to animal care, noting that the company’s commitment shines through significant investments made in animal care, like the new London Poultry facility. Chantal's story is as unique as they come — and she has the privilege to work on the frontlines of animal welfare every single day!

Kathleen Sullivan, Vice President of Government and Industry Relations, brings energy and passion to Maple Leaf Foods. Her days are always full of surprises, and she’s involved with just about every department in the organization. As a key connector between the company and government officials, Kathleen helps us understand all the rules and policies that affect our business — and makes sure we have a say in shaping them. 

Beyond her day-to-day role, Kathleen is a foodie at heart! In this episode, she gushes over a love for bacon, and shares why team members producing food across our sites play such a vital role in living and representing our Purpose, to Raise the Good in Food.

This week’s guest is Jen Hawn, Director of Strategic Execution, who’s been with Maple Leaf Foods for almost 25 years. Originally joining the Poultry team back in the early 2000s, today Jen leads vital projects across the company, and was a key player in the strategic split of Canada Packers. 

Tune in as Jen shares her insights on leadership, the evolution of our Purpose, and a childhood love for fried bologna sandwiches. 

The newest episode of Season 2 of the ‘What’s Sizzlin’ podcast is live! Host Sarah Stern welcomes Violet Baker, Vice President of Product Development, whose inspiring journey began years ago as an intern with Maple Leaf Foods and evolved into a key role leading the development team.

Violet reflects on her unique experience joining MLF during the Listeriosis crisis of 2008, and the very quick learnings and technical knowledge she picked up along the way. She also shares how her expertise in food science helps shape innovative food systems, and explains the fascinating contrast between tempeh and tofu.

In this first episode of Season 2, host Sarah Stern (Director, Community Involvement), chats with Rebecca Smith, Director of Strategic Growth Channels in the U.S. 

Rebecca brings a wealth of experience throughout her journey in the food industry, having joined the plant-based division (formerly Greenleaf Foods) in 2019. Today, her expanded focus includes both plant and animal protein, delivered to a diverse set of customer channels and focusing on a wide array of sales growth capabilities. Her team is focused on growing and marketing Maple Leaf as the sustainable protein partner of choice. No two days are ever the same: let’s find out what’s sizzlin’ with Rebecca!

In our final What's Sizzlin' podcast episode for 2025, we take a deep dive into the Investor Relations side of our business as host Sarah Stern (Director, Community Involvement) chats with Omar Javed, Vice President of Finance - Investor Relations. As he wraps up his first year at Maple Leaf Foods, Omar shares how our culture of high performance and commitment to transparency inspired him to join our organization. 

Leading the Investor Relations team means that Omar is dedicated to nurturing meaningful relationships with a diverse group of investors by communicating results openly and honestly each quarter, ensuring trust with our stakeholders. While the finance and numbers are an important part of our business, so too is the food. Omar fulfills our Purpose by honing a passion and love for food — because if there's one thing he can count on, it's that a hot dog always hits the spot!