Nova Scotia Breakthrough, Plant-Based Egg's Moment, Buy Canadian Movement, Quebec's Nerve

Prepare for a jam-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast as hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois break down the latest food and retail industry trends shaping today's market.

🔹 Trump's Tariff Talk – How will potential U.S. tariffs impact Canadian food exports and the broader economy? The hosts discuss the uncertainty surrounding trade policies and the growing concerns of the business community.

🔹 Avian Flu & the Future of Eggs – With egg shortages driving up prices, could this be a golden opportunity for plant-based egg alternatives like Just Egg? Michael and Sylvain debate the shifting landscape of protein consumption.

🔹 The "Buy Canadian" Movement – More Canadians seek homegrown products, but will they pay the 10% premium? Loblaw's latest data reveals consumer behaviour trends, and the hosts explore whether this shift is here to stay.

🔹 Quebec's Resistance to Trade Reform – Quebec stands firm as Nova Scotia and Ontario move to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. What's behind the province's prevalence's reluctance, and how does it impact Canada's food industry?

🔹 Coca-Cola's Aluminum Crisis – The beverage giant warns of rising aluminum costs—what does this mean for packaged food and drink prices, and why are microbreweries particularly vulnerable?

🔹 Starbucks Layoffs & Streamlining Strategy – While Starbucks' flagship Roastery locations thrive, corporate layoffs signal a shift. Is this part of a more significant trend in food service?

🔹 Greenhouse Tech & Food Innovation – Oracle founder Larry Ellison's ambitious greenhouse project faces significant setbacks. The hosts analyze why food tech innovation is more complicated than it looks.

From government policies to corporate shake-ups, this episode delivers an insightful analysis of the food business. Don't miss this fast-paced discussion on the trends shaping what we eat, how we buy, and where the industry is headed.

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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.