FOPL Impact, Sweet Quebec Food Fraud, Kit Kat Caper (to Russia with Love?), and guest Stéphane Thuillier, CEO of SIAL Canada

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Stéphane Thuillier, CEO of SIAL Canada, for an in-depth conversation on the future of food innovation, global trade shows, and Canada’s expanding influence in the international food ecosystem.

Thuillier shares his global perspective from leading one of the world’s most important food exhibition networks, with SIAL events spanning countries including France, China, India, and Canada. He explains why Canada is emerging as a high-growth market for food innovation and how SIAL Canada is breaking attendance and exhibitor records in 2026. The discussion explores the enduring value of in-person trade shows in a post-pandemic world, highlighting the limits of digital-only engagement and the importance of physical product discovery, relationship-building, and real-time collaboration.

The conversation also dives into key food trends shaping the industry, including the rise of “buy Canadian,” demand for affordable and private label products, the growth of functional and health-focused foods, and the increasing importance of multicultural offerings reflecting Canada’s diverse population. Thuillier also provides practical advice for entrepreneurs and attendees on how to maximize their trade show experience—balancing structured meetings with open exploration to uncover unexpected opportunities.

First, the episode opens with the food and agriculture news of the week, where Michael and Sylvain analyze the ongoing geopolitical tensions impacting global food supply chains, particularly the volatility in energy markets and fertilizer access linked to the Strait of Hormuz . They discuss how uncertainty is driving cost inflation across the food system, from farming to retail.

The hosts also examine a major food fraud case involving adulterated maple syrup in Quebec, raising concerns about oversight and trust in Canada’s food system. In addition, they break down new research on Health Canada’s front-of-pack labelling, revealing early evidence that the policy is influencing consumer behaviour—particularly among Gen Z shoppers

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.