Trump Immigration & Ag, the Hidden Secret Behind those CPI Numbers, celebrating the launch of Call Her Daddy's Unwell & guest Nicolas Mulroney, Co-Founder & CEO of Bond Bakery Brands

This episode of The Food Professor podcast features Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois in conversation with Nicholas Mulroney, co-founder and CEO of Bond Bakery Brands. The discussion begins with Mulroney's transition from a finance background to the food industry, inspired by his acquisition of Portofino Bakery in 2019. His company invests in family-run bakeries to preserve their legacy and foster innovation. 

Presented by Caddle. 

Mulroney shares insights into Bond Bakery Brands' mission of integrating family values into business operations while embracing sustainability and innovation. The conversation highlights the challenges of managing bakeries during the pandemic and the company's efforts to scale operations. Mulroney explains their emphasis on customer-focused innovation, particularly their ability to adapt quickly to market demands and trends, such as their success with cake pops at Coco Bakery.

A notable segment highlights Alex Cooper, host of the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, and her launch of the recovery beverage Unwell. This move represents the growing trend of media personalities extending their brands into consumer products

The hosts explore the rise of podcasters and influencers in the food and beverage space, drawing comparisons to other successful ventures like Prime Hydration by YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI, which has reached a $1.2 billion valuation. They reflect on the potential for Unwell to disrupt the beverage market, leveraging Cooper's massive audience and savvy branding. The product, aimed at recovery for fast-paced lifestyles, taps into health-conscious and millennial consumer trends, making it an intriguing addition to major retailers like Target in the U.S.

 

Additional topics include the demise of Hershey Canada's iconic Cherry Blossoms candy, salmonella outbreaks, and emerging consumer trends. The hosts wrap up with reflections on the role of podcasts and influencers in marketing, congratulating Walmart Canada's new CEO, Vanessa Yates, and celebrating industry innovation. This engaging episode combines practical business insights with commentary on pressing food industry issues.

About Nicolas

Nicolas Mulroney co-founded Bond Bakery Brands in 2020, bringing together his passion for food, his interest in growing companies, and his vision to build a better bakery company.

The journey into the bakery industry happened by chance, with the investment in Portofino Bakery. Envisioning the company as Canada’s next premier commercial artisan bakery, Nicolas, his co-founders, and a group of supportive investors acquired the company in 2019. Since then, Nicolas and his team have made five strategic investments across Canada, exclusively targeting family- and founder-run bakery companies.

When the pandemic disrupted the world in March 2020, Nicolas saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Responding to the immediate need for food in local shelters, pallets of bakery products were delivered overnight to communities in need. This became the genesis for Bond Bakery Brands and the vision for an impact-driven bakery company.

Prior to his role as Chairman & CEO of Bond Bakery Brands, Nicolas ran a private investment company, Northern Waters Capital Ltd. From 2017-2019, Nicolas was a Vice President, Corporate Development, and Strategic Initiatives for a publicly traded cemetery and funeral home company. It was in this role that Nicolas came to understand the power of an acquisition platform in traditional industries. Nicolas’ journey also included roles within a Canadian investment bank, where serendipitously, he met his co-founders, Cameron and Matthew.

Residing in Toronto, ON, with his wife Katy and four children, Nicolas finds joy outside of work in a familiar place. When not immersed in bakery-related matters at work, he's crafting pizzas in his backyard or perfecting his chocolate chip cookie recipe. Beyond the food industry, Nicolas indulges in his passion for running and golf, rounding out a blend of professional and personal pursuits.

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.