Olivier Caron

From $80K to $1M per year (case study): The Incredible Journey with Longo's 38 stores... In our initial days with Longos, Mid-Day Squares were hidden away in a quiet corner... With sales far from our expectations. Performing average at best. Then we met Daniel Baldin and Mimmo Franzone. Their belief in a true partnership sparked a transformation. Through real friendship, open communication, data, strategy sessions, and trust. We moved and merchandised our products to a prime spot in the store. This simple change, powered by collaboration and data, Took our sales from $80,000 a year to close to a million dollars per year. The key drivers of this success were: 1) Building Real Friendships: Daniel and Mimmo became more than business partners. Their unwavering support and belief in our product made all the difference. It became a two way road. 2) Proper Strategic Merchandising: Their dedication to creating a visually appealing and functional display turned our section into a customer destination for this new set. They were pioneers. 3) Easy Accessibility: We made it simple for customers to find us, enhancing their shopping experience. No longer a scavenger hunt for our fans to find our bars. 4) Selling Different Forms: We worked hard with the Longos team to list different options of form of MDS. 4 packs, caddies and single serve. This gave our fans optionality and proper pricing. Longos, thank you for believing in us. Daniel and Mimmo, you are the GOATs of retail. This journey proves that when you invest in relationships, you achieve greatness. Take a look at the incredible new setup they've crafted – it’s more than just a display; it’s an experience and a destination for functional snacks. #retail #grocery #cpg #sales #chocolate #foodandbeverage #entrepreneurship

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Perhaps a dumb question: Given it’s fairly common for sub-scale Canadian CPG brands to go public on the Canadian stock exchange… Could a sub-scale U.S. CPG brand IPO on the Canadian market? And if so, why don’t more brands doing, say, $25-75M in revenue do this? (considering alternative exit paths have been close to nil since Jan, 2022) Mike Fata - any ideas? #canada #canadianstockexchange

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For many of us in CPG – there is a reason we wake up every day and commit to the “impossible”. And so the question is asked: Is anything possible? There are many people who will doubt, call you crazy, say it is not possible or say they could never do “that”. For 15 years I have heard this about the pursuit of completing Ironman triathlons. But it cannot and will not stop the fire that burns inside. Last weekend I put my fitness to the test at Ironman Texas. It was 5 years ago that I last swam 2.4 miles, rode 112 and ran a full marathon, much less doing it all in one day. It was 11 years ago that I qualified for the Ironman World Championships. It was 15 years ago that I made a bet of beating 10 hours for a full Ironman. Last weekend it was a goal to qualify once again for the Ironman World Championships and finally crush that 10 hour race on a “fast” course. My fitness was dialed in and I felt confident the goals were attainable. But what a humbling experience it was! Whether it was the 20mph headwinds on the bike for 40 miles, the humidity sucking the energy right out of you or the worldclass competition – reality set in quickly once off my bike that goal 1 was unlikely and by mile 15 on the run, the 10-hour mark was out of reach. The race was executed perfectly – pacing, fuel, mindset – yet still goals were missed. And so it begins again, putting doubts aside, retooling, recommitting and finding the path to success. 3 months until Ironman Lake Placid and another opportunity to accomplish what some deem impossible. Whether it is personal or business, Ironman has it right – Anything IS possible! Back to accomplishing the impossible! Looking at you cleaning aisle…

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Agree with Ben on two out of the three, but not sure about RTDs...not sure if 22% growth is dollars, units, SKUs, or what. There's a market for them, absolutely, and we'll probably continue to see dollar and unit sales increase, but as with many new categories and innovation, there's a lot of new entrants into the market so not all the brands you love will survive. Brands with big names behind them (either established alcbev brands or deep pocketed investors) likely have the best chance to thrive, IMHO.

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The Battle of the Flyers - How the founder of Quebec's Glouton app helps grocery shoppers find great deals It’s always interesting to see how unique regional habits can shape an entire industry. Here’s a compelling insight—Quebeckers are more likely to do their grocery shopping on Thursdays and Fridays compared to other Canadians, according to data from Nielsen. Why is this significant? It shows a distinct consumer pattern that businesses can leverage. And speaking of leveraging, here's how technology is transforming the way Quebeckers shop. Glouton, founded by Jean-François Gagné Bérubé, has not only revolutionized the shopping experience but also provided invaluable insights with its application. Before heading out, many are turning to "Le combat des circulaires" on the Glouton app. This feature offers a robust analysis of weekly specials, available for free in the "Circulaires" section, helping consumers spot the best grocery deals and even find recipes to maximize their savings. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eh5r2rv9 From an initial project born out of pandemic-induced boredom to a thriving platform, Glouton marries Jean-François’s passion for food with AI, providing a tailored shopping guide that prioritizes quality and cost-effectiveness. Glouton uses AI to analyze deals, ensuring that consumers get the best value for seasonal products, especially local ones. Jean-François Gagné Bérubé also appears weekly on TV on LCN and TVA and writes a weekly column in the Journal de Montreal.

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Over the weekend two trailblazers in the Canadian CPG scene held a meetup in Toronto, Mike Fata and Jake Karls. Although I was only able to make a small portion of the event, what these two and guests like Karen Danudjaja spoke on is relevant for every other founder out there, both CPG and in other industries. Here are the takeaways I had from the small time I was present: Building a brand is hard, especially in such a crowded space like CPG. Whether you're a brilliant small brand, a giants that's making even greater waves, or a new brand trying to get off the ground, this is a challenge all of us face. So what build's a brand? You may hear from the vast majority of people that it's about the product, mission, vision, etc. In reality however, its your customers. The people who are out there purchasing your products, those are the people who can make or break you. If you don't hit the points the resonate with your customers, than even a company with a $100M marketing budget will inevitably fail. So what's the lesson here? Just because you have the most amazing packaging, the healthiest snack, or the most innovative skin-care product, doesn't mean you will automatically win over customers. You must understand them but also you must relate to your audience through the power of storytelling. People don't buy products but rather how they make them feel. This is an art that takes a long time to master and as many founders might be biased towards their products, you have to adapt and piviot to foster growth. So now what are my thoughts? Storytelling is one of the most effective tools any founder can learn, one I am no where close to mastering but am working on. Now what if I said you could compliment this with insights into what your audience wants? To full understand how to effectively reach your audience you must talk to them. Take your audiences feedback and pivot how you communicate with them. Want to chat more about this? Want to understand how market research is helping us at Taza Snacks grow? Let's continue the conversation. #MarketResearch #CPGFounders #TorontoFounders

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"𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁!" When I came to Canada, everyone told me that 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 were the keys to success. I didn’t fully understand what that meant at first. Like an amateur attendee at a networking event, I began randomly connecting with people on LinkedIn, much like collecting business cards without a real purpose. My thinking was simple: “If I connect with enough people in my field, someone will notice me and offer me a job.” Within six months, I had over 1,000 LinkedIn connections. But guess what? It still took me 2.5 years to land a job in my field. This experience taught me an invaluable lesson: 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀; 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀. It’s about 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴—people who know you, trust you, and can vouch for you. So now, I always share this mantra: 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁. How do you approach LinkedIn connections? Let’s discuss! #Networking #LinkedInTips #PersonalBranding #Mehran

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Follow the money...Good lens to understand where investments are flowing in categories & attributes. Overall deal volume down 50% in 2023. Top investments in Food, Pet, Beverage and Beauty...all with innovative attributes in emerging segments. Also, noteworthy - what's not on the list...consumer healthcare & household products.

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Technology in retail is an incumbent giant strength. It is going to be very hard to displace Amazon, Walmart, and a few others. Although... someone once said their margin is our opportunity... so maybe disruptors to come. What's happening - well Sobeys is the latest retailer to slow down their rollout of Ocado powered warehouse. That's after Kroger did the same. Kroger has the financial capability of pivoting, abandoning, doing whatever they want. Ocado market cap keeps sinking, making access to $ harder. They don't look to be in terrible shape, but, what happens if they crumble? How does a retailer Sobeys size (big, but not with billions in free cash flow) adapt and adjust? Placing good bets on winners, and/or small scale bets is the game for everyone but the 10(?) biggest retailers in the world. Some of them will get it right. But the risks are bigger. Action for sales teams: no change. E-com continues to be the individual most important store for all retailers that have a web presence. Lean in.

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Quick benchmark stats from Profitero on companies who are integrating ecommerce in their KPIs and JBPs - a good touch point of how we're all continuing to learn how to grow in an omnichannel retail environment: https://lnkd.in/gWRVD4_h

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As we navigate the 2024 holiday season, our latest research at Angus Reid Group, in collaboration with David Ian Gray, reveals a significant shift in Canadian consumer behavior. Economic uncertainties are prompting shoppers to prioritize value and exercise caution in their spending. https://lnkd.in/gaf_cc8t

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Just out, the 2023 ESG Report is now available on Loblaw.ca ! This is the 17th year Loblaw Companies Limited is reporting on these extremely important priorities and the action our organization is taking to fight climate change and advance social equity with the support of our 220,000+ colleagues and employees, as well as our many customers and all the communities we serve across Canada. There are so many incredible achievements outlined in this report. As a finance leader, I believe numbers speak volumes and there are a few highlights I want to mention: *Carbon reduction capital spend of almost $44 million went towards 490 carbon reduction projects – this resulted in an 11% reduction of our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions compared to our 2020 baseline. *Over 78,000 metric tonnes of food waste was diverted by the end of 2023, which is 20% more than previous year. This is a significant measure and I’m extremely proud that 100% of our food retail stores and DCs, and eligible Shoppers Drug Mart®/Pharmaprix® associate-owned locations achieved food waste reduction and actively donated to a food recovery partner. *A record $180 million was raised and donated (including donations in-kind) to research, charities and non-profit organizations across Canada, helping to support those in our communities that need it the most. *We invested $400,000 in financial assistance scholarships to 200 colleagues across the organization *Purchased over $1 billion in produce from Canadian owned and/or operated businesses in 2023. By purchasing locally grown produce, we can deliver fresher products and reduce our carbon footprint, all while investing in Canada’s farming communities. These are just some of the stats that stood out to me, but there is so much more that we accomplished ! See the full report on our Loblaw.ca website here https://lnkd.in/g8Ng9jwF

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Alain Bouchard, founder and Executive Chairman of Alimentation Couche-Tard has recently stepped into the global spotlight due to the company’s ambitious bid for Seven & i Holdings the parent company of 7-Eleven seeking to further disrupt the fast-growing convenience market. While long a key figure in the convenience store industry, Alain has suddenly gained heightened attention as Couche-Tard attempts to acquire the world’s largest convenience store chain, following a rejected $39bn offer. Alain founded Couche-Tard in 1980, growing it from a single Quebec-based store into a $53bn international giant with over 16,700 locations across North America, Europe, and Asia under brands like Circle K and Statoil’s service stations in Europe. His growth strategy, characterised by mergers and acquisitions, has been the driving force behind Couche-Tard’s rapid expansion. Although he retired as CEO a decade ago, he remains deeply involved in strategic decisions, particularly when it comes to major acquisitions, positioning Couche-Tard to achieve $10bn in EBITDA by 2028. Bouchard’s rise, from humble beginnings, highlights his entrepreneurial journey and his relentless drive to keep Couche-Tard at the forefront of the global convenience industry and to reshape global retail. Fascinating. [I’m hoping that a big bit of Couche-Tard customer service and store experience rubs off on North America (from my limited experience)] 😉🦉 Couche-Tard’s Alain Bouchard, ‘pathological entrepreneur’ swooping on 7-Eleven https://on.ft.com/4eFKsLx #FMCG #ConsumerGoods #Retail #RethinkRetail #RethinkRetailTopExpert #TheCPGGeek

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Build Something That Stands Tall Through Time When the CN Tower was built, it was more than just a radio tower. It was a statement. A beacon of innovation that transformed a practical necessity into a symbol of Toronto’s identity. What if we built our companies and brands with the same vision? Not just to solve today’s problems like ‘give me MORE PROTEIN’ … but to become timeless icons. To take what’s functional and turn it into something that is timeless. To inspire pride and identity. All of the world class brands do this. Just like the CN Tower wasn’t merely a structure but a revitalization for a city, our businesses can be more than products or services—they can redefine what it means to stand tall through time. So my question going into the weekend for all of us is … How will you build your legacy? #cultureFIRSTleadership 🎥 … running & exploring Toronto this morning. 👇🏼

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Are you a CPG Brand or Retailer??? Check this out.....Field Agent in the news.... Field Agent Canada Shelfgram #cpg #storevisits #storecheck #insights #retailvisibility #priceaudits #onshelfavailability #data

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What do you do when it’s almost breakfast time and you are out of your usual Dempster’s bread 🍞? Unless you want hangry kids in the morning, you order it on #Instcart 🛒 of course. Checkout Instcart Canada’s latest commercial featuring Dempster’s. Warning:you might find the tune 🎶 stuck in your head all day. Big thanks to the teams at Instacart and Bimbo Canada for making this happen. #marketing #eCommerce #Retail

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Richard Rodgers <> The CPG View Out Now, "Mastering CPG Marketing: Strategies, Trends, and Innovations for Digital Leaders," on The CPG View featuring Richard Rodgers, Marketing Director at Keurig Dr Pepper Canada. Richard covers the following key points: 🎯 Integrated Omnichannel Marketing: Richard discusses the integration of omnichannel marketing, digital shelf, and brand marketing under one team to ensure seamless planning and execution. 🎯 Adapting to Consumer Behavior and Technological Advances: He highlightes the importance of understanding consumer behavior, particularly how they research and make purchasing decisions. 🎯 Balancing Short-term Wins with Long-term Growth: Richard emphasizes the need for brands to balance immediate sales goals with long-term sustainable growth. Tune in to discover integrated marketing, consumer behavior, and long-term growth in the CPG industry on The CPG View. 🚀🌟 Full Podcast Link (Apple, Spotify, Google, etc): 🎧 https://lnkd.in/ekY9w23v #ecommerce #digital #omnichannel #strategy #success #cro #ceo #leadership #cmo #cdo #retailecommerceclub #cpg #privateequity #playtowin #thecpgview

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Electronic Shelf Labelling will soon be the norm for US and UK shoppers and here I share my thoughts about its rapid adoption in the market. With the flexbility to change prices more regularly, will we see significant changes in pricing/promo strategies by brands and retailers. 💰 Also ESLs offer more than just prices, we will soon be talking about optimising the In-Store Electronic Shelf. 💡 🥫

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