Canada's Food Inflation Crisis, Ag Minister an Animal Farm Fan, Selena Gomez Oreos, and Craft Wine Innovation, Resilience and Opportunity with Dan Sullivan from Rosehall Run Vineyards

This episode opens with alarming news about Canada's food inflation reaching crisis levels. Charlebois reveals that Canada now has the highest food inflation rate among G7 countries, primarily driven by countervailing tariffs that have backfired on Canadian consumers. The hosts explain how Prime Minister Carney quietly eliminated most food-related tariffs on May 7th, though this decision received little public attention during the election. The discussion highlights how these tariffs made alternatives to American products more expensive, creating a perfect storm for Canadian grocery shoppers.

The conversation shifts to emerging issues like "maple washing," where Charlebois shares specific examples of pricing discrepancies between products marketed as Canadian on the shelves versus imported products, urging grocers to exercise greater caution in their merchandising practices.

A significant business development takes center stage as Quebec's Excel chicken processing cooperative faces a potential acquisition by Saputo subsidiary Sofina. This $6 billion deal could reshape Eastern Canada's supply chain under supply management systems, potentially leading to higher chicken prices and operational challenges.

The interview segment features Dan Sullivan from Rosehall Run Vineyards, one of Prince Edward County's premier wine producers. Sullivan shares his 25-year journey transforming a 150-acre farm into one of Ontario's largest family-owned wineries in the region, producing 9,000-14,000 cases annually. He discusses how Prince Edward County evolved from a drive-through destination to a four-season wine tourism hotspot, emphasizing the region's focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals.

Sullivan explains how social media marketing has revolutionized wine sales, moving away from traditional critic-driven recommendations toward peer influence and community building. He describes their dual distribution strategy, selling premium estate wines directly while maintaining LCBO presence with entry-level products that serve as consumer introductions to the brand.

The episode explores recent Ontario government support for the wine industry, including Premier Doug Ford's $35 million funding commitment over five years. Sullivan expresses optimism about current market opportunities, particularly given recent trade disruptions that have created space for Ontario wines on retail shelves.

We also discuss innovative celebrity food collaborations, highlighting Selena Gomez's partnership with Oreo to create a horchata-flavored cookie. They note Gomez's remarkable success as one of the youngest self-made billionaires at 32, worth $1.3 billion, mainly through her Rare Beauty brand and strategic collaborations. The discussion extends to other celebrity food ventures, including Ryan Reynolds' successful breakfast collaboration with Tim Hortons, which generated impressive lineups and sales.

These segments underscore broader themes of food security, consumer choice, and the complex interplay between government policy and market dynamics affecting Canadian food producers and consumers.

Premier Doug Ford photo credit: Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Toronto Sun

About Us

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. 

He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. 

Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues.

 Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast.  He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.