The Food Professor
Join Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax, and host Michael LeBlanc as they explore hot topics in the food, foodservice, grocery, and restaurant industries. They discuss proprietary industry and consumer food-related research, examine fresh new ideas, and critique half-baked strategies.
Episodes
AGT Foods CEO Murad Al-Katib on Value-Added Food, Plus Record Food Bank Use and Quebec’s Maple Syrup Shock
Murad built AGT on one bet: that Prairie farmers would replace summer fallow with lentils, chickpeas, peas and beans. The company now runs 41 manufacturing facilities on five continents, with Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial as its partner. He makes the case for adding value to even a fraction of Canada’s harvest, for fixing east-west trade infrastructure from Churchill to the Atlantic Gateway, and
What Singapore Can Teach Canadian Grocers, MNP Latest Report on G20 Food Rankings plus guest Vinayak Madappa, Strategic Advisory Partner, Capgemini
Vin explains why Canada’s heavy reliance on trade with the U.S. and Mexico leaves fresh produce, seafood and imported proteins most at risk. He also looks at why 89% of Canadian organizations report raw-material scarcity, compared with 67% in the U.S., and why the nine-to-12-month stockpiles many companies built to ride out tariffs are reaching a tipping point.He makes the case for counter-seasona
Wild Fork Gets the Fork, Boycott Math, New PQ Government & AG and guests Vicky Trépanier, President, and Jean-François Théorêt, Master Distiller, WfE Distillery
WfE stands for Whisky for Everyone. Unlike most young distilleries, it makes no gin or vodka to pay the bills while its own spirit ages. Instead, the team buys aged Canadian whisky in bulk, re-ages and blends it, then finishes it in ice cider casks to create an approachable "onboarding" whisky. They also cover SAQ listings, rising bottle and cask costs, ready-to-serve cocktails, and the liquor-boa
Booze Boycott Numbers & Coffee's Canadian Contribution, with guest co-host Steve Dennis and Jason Buechel, CEO, Whole Foods Market and VP, Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores
It's an in-depth conversation with Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods Market and Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores, a pick-up of an interview from my Remarkable Retail podcast with Steve Dennis from last fall. Jason shares Amazon’s rapidly expanding grocery ambitions. Already surpassing $100 billion in gross sales, Amazon is leaning into grocery as a strategic category driven
Potash Poker, Super El Niño & Caviar Gets Busted plus Annemarie Swijtink, President & CEO, McDonald's Canada
On Season Seven, Episode Five of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Annemarie Swijtink, President & CEO of McDonald's Canada, for her very first Canadian podcast interview. Annemarie started as a 15-year-old crew member in the Netherlands, studied economics in Rotterdam, joined McDonald's as a marketing intern and went on to lead the Dutch busi
Can Canadian AG Win In Europe, plus AG Gets Some, The Worst is Over and guest Aidan Connolly, President AgriTech Capital
Is artificial intelligence about to transform agriculture more than any other industry? On Season Seven, Episode Four of The Food Professor podcast, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and Michael LeBlanc sit down with Aidan Connolly, President of AgriTech Capital and past president of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), one of the world's leading voices on agtech and the fu
Tariff Whiplash, Rudolph on the Menu, A Bigger Africa & Ag plus Vreshin Nagarajan, Chief Ghee Officer, OG Ghee
Everything you thought you knew about ghee is wrong. In this episode of The Food Professor podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Vreshin "Vresh" Nagarajan, Founder and Chief Ghee Officer of Vresh Foods, makers of OG GHEE, recorded live on the show floor at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Montreal.Vresh makes a compelling and slightly incendiary case: roughly 90% of the
Rolling Back the Counter-Tariffs, Beef Politics Redux, Retail Crime & Punishment in Vancouver and guest Dave Jones, President & CEO of Bento Sushi
Season Seven, Episode 2 of The Food Professor podcast lands its first guest interview, and it's a Canadian food business story three decades in the making. Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois are joined by Dave Jones, President and CEO of Bento Sushi, the company that turned a small 1996 takeout counter in downtown Toronto into the largest sushi business in Canada.
Dave joined Bento in 2009
Tariff Turmoil, Where's the Beef (Coming From), and Explosive Poo - We're Back with Season Seven!
The Food Professor podcast returns for Season Seven with a no-guest, all-catch-up season premiere. Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois are back on the mic after a summer of live interviews from SIAL, and there is a serious backlog of Canadian and international food industry news to work through.
Sylvain opens with the summer he actually had: 25 to 30 media interviews a week, including live
Bacon Bites and Big Wins: Cloé Helmond, Co-Founder of Les Brutes du Soya, on Quebec's Soy Opportunity: SIAL Summer Bonus Episode
Recorded live on the show floor at SIAL Canada 2026 in Montreal, this Food Professor summer bonus episode features Cloé Helmond, Co-Founder of Les Brutes du Soya, fresh off a first-place win in the Start-up Scale CPG category of SIAL Canada's seventh annual Startup Pitch Competition. Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois catch her still holding the hardware — and still slightly stunned, since
From NASA to Your Lasagna: Inside Maia Farms' Award Winning Mushroom Protein with Jason Mackay and Asha Wheeldon: SIAL Summer Bonus Episode
Recorded live on the show floor at SIAL Canada in Montreal, this Summer Bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast marks a first: an ingredient company winning the show's startup pitch competition. Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Asha Wheeldon, Founder and CEO of Kula Foods and a member of the Maia Farms team, and Jason Mackay, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Maia Fa
Zero Proof, Full Flavour: Victoire Guglieri, Founder of Nasdrow, First Prize Seed CPG Category Winner: SIAL Summer Bonus Episode
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down live at the SIAL food innovation show in Montreal with Victoire Guglieri, Founder of Nasdrow, fresh off her win at the startup pitch competition. Energetic, candid, and armed with samples, Victoire takes Michael and Sylvain on a guided tasting tour of her premium non-alc
Carlo Stocco, Managing Director North America, and Naïla Bassin, Marketing Leader Canada, Andriani S.p.A., on Bringing Felicia Pasta From Italy to Canadian Shelves: Summer Bonus Episode
In this summer bonus episode of The Food Professor podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois broadcast live from the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Montreal for a conversation with Naïla Bassin, Marketing Leader Canada, and Carlo Stocco, Managing Director, North America, both of Andriani S.p.A., the Italian company behind Felicia, Italy's fastest-growing pasta brand.
Felicia means "happy"
Martin Lavoie, CEO of Groupe Export Agroalimentaire Québec-Canada: SIAL Summer Bonus Episode
Editorial note: This conversation was recorded live at SIAL Canada in late April — well before the July CUSMA review deadline and the most recent U.S. tariff actions targeting Canada. Some of the optimism expressed here about a smooth CUSMA outcome should be heard in that context.
It's become a Food Professor tradition: every year at SIAL Canada, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois si
Jacques Duhaime, Owner of Duhaime Gourmet, on Building a Global Jam Business from a Quebec Family Orchard: SIAL Summer Bonus Episode
Recorded live on the final day of SIAL Canada, this bonus episode of The Food Professor brings hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois face to face with Jacques Duhaime, owner of Duhaime Gourmet — a Quebec fruit-spread and jam company that Sylvain has wanted on the show for years. The conversation traces four generations of agricultural evolution in Saint-Germain, near Drummondville, Queb
Pete Hoekstra, United States Ambassador to Canada, on Trade, Food Security & the Future of Canada-U.S. Trade Relations
In the Season 6 regular season finale of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome Pete Hoekstra, United States Ambassador to Canada, for an exclusive and wide-ranging conversation about the future of Canada-U.S. food trade, agriculture, supply chains and North American economic cooperation.
While The Food Professor Podcast isn't a political show, few rel
Canada Top of The Table in Food Inflation, Vancouver Screams at Ice Cream Prices, Meat Delays Costing Consumers, and Vincent Breton, Président chez DuBreton
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Vincent Breton, President & CEO of duBreton, Canada's leading organic pork producer, for a fascinating live interview recorded at SIAL Canada in Montreal.
Vincent shares the remarkable story behind duBreton's evolution from a traditional pork producer into one of the world's fastest-growing organic po
National Food Strategy(ish), Global Issue Alignment from Ireland, Foodtastic(er) and guest Jean-François Archambault, Founder and General Manager of La Tablée des Chefs
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome Jean-François Archambault, Founder and General Manager of La Tablée des Chefs, for an inspiring conversation about food recovery, food security, and the power of community action. Recorded live at SIAL Montreal, this episode showcases one of Canada's most remarkable social entrepreneurs and the national mov
Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons Canada & U.S., and Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer of Restaurant Brands International, on Defending Canada's Coffee Crown
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two special guests for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred interview: Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons Canada & U.S., and Duncan Fulton, Chief Corporate Officer of Restaurant Brands International (RBI). With Dunkin' Donuts announcing its return to Canada and Canadians passionately debating the fut
Recession, What Recession, Kingston Baby Formula Factory revelations, Tomato logic & guest Don Hill, Chairman of Sucro
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Don Hill, Chairman of Sucro, for a rare inside look at one of the most significant investments in Canada's food manufacturing sector in decades.
Sucro has quickly become one of North America's fastest-growing sugar companies, and its newly built Ontario refinery marks the first major new sugar-refinin
American Chicken Invasion, Poultry Supply Management Glitches Prices, Canadian Beef Worries and guest Karen Proud, President & Adjudicator, Canada Grocery Code
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at SIAL Canada 2026 in Montreal, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome back Karen Proud, President & Adjudicator of the Canada Grocery Code, for an important conversation about one of the most closely watched structural reforms in the Canadian grocery industry.
Only months after the official launch of the Canada Grocery Code, Prou
Who needs 6% Milk, the Tierany of Best Before, U.S. Mushroom Trade Trouble, a world awash in Bourbon and Live from SIAL, Jessica C. Adelman, SVP, Mars Snacking North America
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, our interview is recorded live at SIAL Canada 2026 in Montreal. Michael LeBlanc welcomes one of the most influential executives in global consumer packaged goods: Jessica C. Adelman, Mars Snacking North America.
Fresh off Mars’ massive $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, Adelman offers a rare inside look at the strategic thinking behind one of the largest
Dunkin' Returns, Dairy Dumping No More, Climate Change Recalibration, and guest Kim Furlong, CEO, Retail Council of Canada
This week on The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live from the West Coast, Syvain in Chilliwack, Michael in L.A., begin with a fast-moving roundup of the biggest food, grocery, and agriculture headlines shaping Canada.
First, the hosts unpack Dunkin's return to Canada and debate where the iconic brand could fit in a market dominated by Tim Hortons and McDonald's. They also explore major developme
Restaurant & Dairy Farmer Risks, AI Drive-Thrus & Isabelle Marquis, Co-President of the SIAL Innovation Jury & Gold Award Winner Santiago Stacey, Chief Banana Officer, Ku Na Na!
On this latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live inside the podcast fishbowl at SIAL Canada 2026 in Montreal, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome one of the most exciting entrepreneurs in Canadian food innovation: Santiago Stacey.
Fresh off winning SIAL’s prestigious Gold Innovation Award, Santiago shares the remarkable story behind Ku Na Na, creator of Canada’s first
Live from SIAL in Montreal: Sovereign Ag, from Uncertain to UnKibble with our guest Dylan Munro of Spot & Tango
Broadcasting live from the vibrant show floor of the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Montreal, this episode of The Food Professor Podcast delivers a dynamic blend of industry insight, macroeconomic analysis, and a compelling first-ever deep dive into the fast-growing pet food sector.
Our guest on this episode is Dylan Munro, Canadian-born COO and Co-Founder of Spot & Tango. Munro unpacks how the comp
Carney’s Trade Avenger Squad, U.S. Beef with Beef & Cracking the Code for Localizing Global QSR Food Trends with Trinh Tham, CEO of the Kevito Group, operator of Chatime and Bake Code
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Trinh Tham, CEO of the Kevito Group, operator of Chatime and Bake Code—two of Canada’s fastest-growing quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands. Tham shares a compelling leadership journey spanning grocery retail, luxury fashion, and now high-growth foodservice, offering a masterclass in bran
Carney’s Majority Moves, the Weight of Grocery Operations and a superstar NFL baker debuts in Montreal, plus guest Michael Graydon, CEO of FHCP
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome back to the mic Michael Graydon, CEO of Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP), for a timely and wide-ranging conversation on the state of Canada’s food manufacturing sector, regulatory pressures, and the future of food policy.
Graydon delivers a candid assessment of an industry at a
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 exhib
Government Grocers, Mega-Mergers, Cash & Carry Battles, Alberta Whisky and guest Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group
What does it really take to run one of Canada's largest western grocery enterprises — and what does the future of food retail actually look like from the inside? This week on the Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Professor Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on grocery economics, consumer behaviour
Manitoba Skips The Food Tax, DoorDash Tops Up, Big CPG Investment in Canada and guest Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois lead with a fascinating interview featuring Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer at IKEA Canada. Kelly, a 35-year veteran of the company, explains how IKEA—best known as the world’s largest furniture retailer—has become a powerful force in food culture and consumer insight.
IKEA’s newly released global food ha
Carbon Tax Debate Clap Back, Grading the Carney Government 1 Year Later, Butter on the Run and guest Brent Cator, President & Owner of Cardinal Meats
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois tackle the biggest forces shaping Canada’s food economy—from rising grocery prices and global conflict to policy debates and shifting consumer behaviour.
The episode opens with a deep dive into the latest food and agriculture news. The hosts unpack the escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran and their
Canada’s Looming Ag Crisis, RC Show Redux, Toronto Pizza Crawl, a Visit to the Golden Arches, plus guest Cooper Sleeman, John Sleeman & Son’s Spring Mill Distillery
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Cooper Sleeman, from John Sleeman & Sons Company’s Spring Mill Distillery, to explore how one of Canada’s most recognizable brewing families is redefining the country’s craft spirits landscape.
Cooper shares the remarkable story behind Spring Mill Distillery and how the Sleeman family’s brewing
Epic Fury & Carbon Tax Cost Shocks, Canada–India-Australia Trade Bump, Elbows Up Alcohol Anniversary and guest Gavin Schneider, CEO & Co-Founder of Maia Farms
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois begin with their weekly conversation on the latest food and agriculture news shaping the global agri-food economy. The discussion covers geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the potential ripple effects on energy prices, transportation costs, and food inflation. The hosts explore how rising fuel
Grocery Density, L.A.’s Eggslut in Canada, Nice Cans Scores with NYT and guest Robert Carter, president of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at The StratonHunter Group
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Robert Carter, President of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at StrattonHunter Group, for an in-depth look at Canada’s coffee and restaurant industries at a moment of significant disruption.
Carter explains why coffee remains Canada’s most consumed beverage and a cornerstone of
Food Inflation Nation, AI Goes Grocery, Cocoa Crash & Coffee Correction & The Abomination That Is Boneless Chicken Wings
In this special “Year of the Fire Horse” episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging and unfiltered analysis of the forces reshaping Canada’s food economy — from stubborn food inflation to AI-powered grocery shopping, trade diplomacy, restaurant distress, and the surprising fall in cocoa and coffee prices.The episode opens with a deep di
Elbows Up Bridge Trouble, Montreal Bagel Heated Rivarly, Dairy Skimming & guest Jason McLinton, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion that spans Canadian agricultural investment, dairy transparency, food trade infrastructure, and seafood sustainability—before welcoming Jason McLinton, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada, for an in-depth conversation on the future of Canada’s wild capture seafood in
Trade Talk on the Prairies, Canada's new U.S. Ambassador & Supply Management and How AI Is Rewiring Foodservice with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, Global Head of Restaurants at Amazon AWS
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion that connects Canadian food policy, trade risk, pricing power, and the accelerating role of AI in restaurants. The episode is anchored by a forward-looking interview with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, Global Head of Restaurants at Amazon Web Services (AWS), recorded live at the NRF
CFIA Cuts, GST Grocery Rebate, Gene-Edited Pork, Amazon’s Grocery Reset and guest Cosimo Mammoliti, Founder & CEO of the Terroni Group
On this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack one of the most wide-ranging conversations of the season—blending major food policy, trade, and retail stories with an inspiring deep dive into the life and business philosophy of Cosimo Mammoliti, Founder & CEO of the Terroni Group.The episode opens with fast-moving headlines shaping Canada’s food sys
Sino Export West Win, What Comes Next for Canadian Ag & Fighting Food Fraud with guest Deleo de Leonardis, CEO Purity-IQ
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack two powerful and timely themes shaping Canada’s food system: the shifting geopolitical landscape of agri-food and the growing threat of food fraud. The episode opens with a wide-ranging news segment focused on Canada’s evolving trade relationship with China, recent developments at Davos, and new
Chocolate, China, Canola, Climate & Consumer Change and guest Suzie Yorke of The Little Cacao Company
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion on the forces reshaping food, retail, and consumer behaviour—before sitting down with one of Canada’s most dynamic food entrepreneurs, Suzie Yorke, CEO and Founder of The Little Cacao Company.The episode opens with insights from New York City, where Michael reports from NRF B
2026 Restaurant Predictions, D is for Dairy, U.S. Flips the Food Pyramid, and Brewing Change at Scale: Roxanne Joyal, Founder & CEO of &BackCoffee
In the first episode of 2026, The Food Professor Podcast kicks off the year with a wide-ranging discussion that blends big-picture food system insights with an inspiring founder story. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois are joined by Roxanne Joyal, Founder and CEO of &Back Coffee, for a conversation that spans food policy, restaurant industry disruption, and the future of ethical cof
Top 10 Food Stories of 2025 and guests Ryan Koeslag & Janet Krayden, Mushrooms Canada
The final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2025 delivers a timely, wide-ranging examination of Canada’s food system, blending macroeconomic analysis with a compelling, real-world industry case study. Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open the episode by reviewing their Top 10 Food Stories of 2025, a list that reflects a year defined less by short-term volatility and more
Chicken Supply Turmoil, GST off Food Movement and guest Carman Allison, Vice President NIQ Canada
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast opens with Michael and Sylvain analyzing the most pressing developments shaping Canada’s food and retail landscape. Sylvain reflects on the extraordinary national and global reach of Canada’s Food Price Report, which this year generated unprecedented media attention and continues to influence retailers, manufacturers, governments, and consumers planning f
Canada’s Food Price Report 2026 Revealed + Hugo Magnan, President of Groupe MAG, on the Art of Great Canadian Mayo
In this action and insight-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Hugo Magnan, President of Groupe MAG, the Quebec-based culinary innovator behind some of Canada’s most delicious mayonnaise, salad dressings, dips, and sauces. Hugo shares the company’s origin story — founded in 1989 by his father Jacques — and explains how Groupe MAG carve
Canada's Food Price Report Sneak Peek, Lefty Farmers, Campbell's Chicken Soup Traitor & guest Ransom Hawley, CEO of Caddle, on How GLP-1 Drugs Are Reshaping Canadians
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast takes a deep dive into one of the most powerful forces now reshaping the food industry: the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois begin with a run-through of current food and retail headlines, including controversy at Campbell Soup, conversations around AI adoption and innovation
Clone Wars, latest insights from the Canadian Food Sentiment Index and Part 2 of our interview with Michael Medline, Former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys, on Leadership & Legacy
In this can’t-miss episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois return with Part Two of their exclusive, final official interview with Michael Medline, former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys. Medline offers unusually candid reflections on leadership, culture, vendor relationships, and the evolution of one of Canada’s largest food retailers.The conversation opens w
Leading Through Disruption: Michael Medline, (now) former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys, on Culture, Strategy & Retail Transformation
In this first instalment of a two-part exclusive, The Food Professor Podcast sits down in person with Michael Medline, (now) former President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys, in what serendipitously became his last official interview before news broke of his transition to lead The Woodbridge Company. Michael offers a rare, deeply personal look at his eight-plus-year tenure transformin
Live from the Coffee Association of Canada Conference with Doug Porter, Chief Economist at BMO
Recorded live at the Coffee Association of Canada Annual Conference, this special edition of The Food Professor Podcast with Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois brews up a rich conversation on the state of Canada’s food economy, the coffee industry’s shifting landscape, and the global forces shaping what Canadians eat and drink live on the stage.The episode opens with Michael and Sylvain di
Cloned Meat, Coffee & Compound Butter with guest Rob Sengotta, Co-Founder of Von Slick’s Finishing Touch
In this flavorful new episode of The Food Professor Podcast—presented by Caddle—Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois serve up an inspiring conversation with Rob Sengotta, chef and co-founder of Von Slick’s Finishing Touch, the award-winning Manitoba-based producer of gourmet compound butters.The InterviewRob takes listeners behind the scenes of his chef-to-entrepreneur journey—from fine-dini
Blue Jays Boost, Food Inflation Blues, Dangerous Doggie Snacks & guest Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar's
In this dynamic episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dive into the latest headlines shaping Canada’s food and beverage sector before welcoming Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar’s, one of North America’s fastest-growing South Asian food manufacturers.The episode opens with a timely look at the hospitality boost from the Toronto Blue J
Canada Climbs in MNP’s new Global Agri-Food Report this World Food Day, China offers up an exit strategy, India back on the export menu, and guest Stephen Mitchell of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open with a wide-ranging conversation on global trade tensions, the state of Canadian agriculture, and the latest policy moves shaping our food economy — before turning to the fascinating story of Stephen Mitchell, President of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Ontario’s only beac
Wild Blueberry Crisis, Doug Ford's Give & Take, TFWP Ag Sins & The Next Farmland Value Correction with guest Trent Klarenbach
In this powerful new episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dissect the forces shaping Canada’s food and agriculture economy—from farmland bubbles and provincial politics to the latest retail coffee price increases.The show opens with Michael’s visit to Prince Edward County, where he talks about reconnecting with past guest D
Thanksgiving Prices, Iranian Pistachio Recalls, and the Future of "Story" Beef with guest Bryce Lobreau of 8 Acres
In this lively new episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dive into the latest food, retail, and agriculture headlines before sitting down with a fascinating guest: Bryce Lobreau, Co-Founder of 8 Acres, one of Canada’s most innovative organic and grass-fed beef brands.The episode begins with a timely look at Canadians’ Thanksgiving dinner costs for 2025.
Solo Dining, Trade Diversification, and Snack Innovation with Kirk Homenick, President of Naturally Homegrown Foods
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring their trademark mix of food industry news analysis and an in-depth conversation with a leading Canadian food entrepreneur.The episode opens with a wide-ranging look at the Canadian retail and restaurant landscape. Sylvain shares highlights from his keynote in Brampton, Ontar
Food Innovation, Tariffs & TikTok Moments and guest James Maitland, CEO of Les Aliments Dainty Foods Inc.
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver their trademark mix of hard-hitting food industry analysis and an insightful conversation with a top Canadian food leader.The episode kicks off with a wide-ranging news segment. Michael and Sylvain debate Canada’s “Big Five” fast-tracked federal projects and why agri-food co
Help Wanted? Temporary Foreign Worker Debate & Boldly Delicious Seafood with Charlotte Langley, Founder of Nice Cans
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois tackle the latest headlines shaping Canada’s food and retail landscape before welcoming back a dynamic entrepreneur reshaping the seafood category.The conversation begins with a heated national debate: should Canada eliminate the Temporary Foreign Worker Program? Sylvain outlines the program’s critical
Kraft Heinz Shake-Up, Meal Kit Growth, Crown Royal tears & guest Greg Mercer, Investigative Reporter & Author, The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for A Seafood on the Brink
Season Six, Episode Two of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, blends sharp industry commentary with a fascinating guest interview. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a rapid-fire news roundup before diving deep into the global lobster story with award-winning journalist and author Greg Mercer.The news segment sets the tone with big changes in consumer pack
Season Six Debut: Elbows Down on Tariffs, the China Conundrum, and Canada’s De Minimis Decisions
Season Six of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, kicks off with hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois diving into a whirlwind of summer news, trade turbulence, and big-picture food industry shifts. This debut episode sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking season.Michael and Sylvain begin with personal updates from a busy summer, including tra
Brian Choi, CEO of The Food Institute, on Tariffs, Trade & the Future of Food Innovation
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Brian Choi, CEO of The Food Institute, for a candid conversation recorded live at the SIAL Canada show. Born in Calgary and now based in New York, Brian brings a unique global perspective on food, trade, and the evolution of consumer behavior.Brian shares the remarkable story of how he acquired the F
Pine-Covered Perfection: Moosbrugger’s Dieter Heidegger on Global Austrian Award-Winning Cheese
In this flavour-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada Food Innovation Show, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome Dieter Heidegger of Moosbrugger, for an in-depth conversation about the art, tradition, and innovation behind Austria’s award-winning cheeses.Dieter shares the fascinating story of Moosbrugger’s humble beginnings, tracing its roots back
Butter Believe It: Shruti Priya Agarwal & Akshay Kalekar Stir Up the Market with Whipdd
In this flavourful episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Shruti Priya Agarwal and Akshay Kalekar, the co-founders of Whipdd, a rising Canadian food startup transforming the humble butter into a flavour-packed experience. Born from a spark in a home kitchen in India, their story is one of culinary creativity, entrepreneurial hustle, and cross-continental ambition.Shru
Bananas, Business & A Better World: Meet Tamara Al Dip & Yazeed Yasin, Co-Founders of NanaShake, winners of the SIAL Canada CPG pitch competition in Toronto
In this deliciously inspiring episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down live in person in Toronto at the SIAL Food Innovation show with Tamara Al Dip and Yazeed Yasin, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind NanaShake, a frozen treat brand making waves with their vegan-friendly, upcycled banana-based pops.Fresh off their win at the SIAL Can
The Bulldog Behind the Brand: Sauce Boss Pierre-Olivier Drouin on Building Quebec's Firebarns
In this sizzling episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada food innovation show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael and Sylvain welcome Pierre-Olivier Drouin, Co-Founder of Firebarns, the fast-growing Quebec-based condiment company that brings flavour-first hot sauces to shelves across North America.Pierre-Olivier shares his unexpected journey from banking at RBC to launchin
Decoding Canada's Culinary Culture with Laura Brehaut, National Post Food Reporter: SIAL Summer Bonus
In this live episode from the SIAL Canada show floor in Toronto, we welcome a very special guest: Laura Brehaut, Food Reporter at the National Post. With a thoughtful blend of experience in anthropology, media production, culinary training, and a deep journalistic instinct, Laura offers a compelling perspective on Canada's evolving food landscape and how stories around food intersect with culture,
Retail, Riesling, and Relationships: Ed Madronich, President of Flat Rock Cellars on Building a Brand That Lasts
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-Michael interviews Ed Madronich, President of Flat Rock Cellars, recorded live at the Ontario Craft Wineries Conference in Niagara Falls.As part of the podcast's summer series highlighting thought leaders in the Canadian food and beverage industry, this episode delves into Ed's personal and professional journey through the wine
Seeds of Change: Keith Currie, President at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, on the Future of Farming: SIAL Summer Bonus
In this insightful summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Keith Currie, President at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, live from the floor of SIAL Toronto. Representing more than 190,000 farmers and ranchers across the country and an eighth-generation farmer himself, Currie provides a candid, wide-ranging view on
From Farm to Gold: Chantal Van Winden’s Camelina Oil Wins SIAL Innovation 2025: Summer Bonus Episode
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two exceptional guests: Joanne McArthur, President of Nourish Food Marketing and co-chair of the SIAL Innovation jury, and Chantal Van Winden, CEO of Olimega and this year’s SIAL Innovation Gold Medal winner. The
Smokin Jon's BBQ: Summer SIAL Food Innovation Show Bonus Episode
In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc brings listeners straight to the SIAL Food Innovation Show floor for a flavorful conversation with Chef Jonathan Maters, co-founder of Smokin Jon’s BBQ & Company. Born in Newfoundland and based in New Brunswick, Jonathan shares how a pandemic-era pivot turned his passion for barbecue into a growing food enterp
BBQ Legends, Bureaucracy & Back-to-School with guests Texas Monthly's Daniel Vaughn & Ransom Hawley, CEO of Caddle in the Hot Seat
The Food Professor Podcast closes out its fifth season (sort of) with a sizzling, two-guest double feature and a feast of food industry insights.Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick things off with a robust news round-up, starting with the Competition Bureau’s lawsuit against DoorDash. The case alleges deceptive pricing practices that could set a major precedent in Canada’s rap
Vince Sgabellone from Circana Dishes on Dining Trends, Pepper Predicament, and Aluminium, America & Grocery Shopping Trends
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, opens with co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois breaking down the week’s top food and retail stories.First, they tackle the evolving Canadian political stance on supply management. Prime Minister Carney’s reversal in support of Bill C-282 suggests renewed government protectionism i
Brisket, Buc-ee’s & Big Ideas plus Spilling the Tea Tariff & guest Tonia Jahshan of Sipology Steeps Up Global Growth
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast is steeped in insights, storytelling, and smoky Texas flavour. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a deep dive into the state of Canadian agri-food policy, tariffs, and food inflation before welcoming a very special guest: Tonia Jahshan, Founder and CEO of Sipology.Broadcasting remotely from Texas, Sylvain shares updates from hi
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
New Liberal Cabinet & Ag Minister, Newfoundland Sugar Tax Fail, Cricket Bankruptcy Bugs Sylvain, and guest Adam Grogan, President & COO, Maple Leaf Foods
In this insightful episode of The Food Professor podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois explore Canadian food politics and industry developments before sitting down with Adam Grogan, President and COO of Maple Leaf Foods, for a revealing conversation about the company's evolution and future.The episode begins with a discussion of Canada's new Liberal cabinet, focusing on Heath MacDo
Sylvain says "Howdy" to Texas A&M, Canadian Food Sentiment Index No. 2, and from Farm to Global Table: Gilles Froment, International Dairy Federation President and Lactalis Canada SVP
In Season 5, Episode 35 of The Food Professor podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois deliver an information-packed episode with significant developments in both personal and industry news.Sylvain Charlebois opens with a major announcement about joining Texas A&M University on August 1st to lead their #1-ranked Masters in Agribusiness program while maintaining his position at Dalh
Live from SIAL Show in Toronto: Canada’s Post-Election Food Policy, Trade Barriers & Exports and guest Martin Lavoie, President & CEO of Groupe Export Agroalimentaire Québec
n Season 5 of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois take listeners inside the bustling SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, bringing fresh insights on global food trends and the shifting dynamics of agri-food trade. The episode kicks off with their live reflections on the show floor, surrounded by global exhibitors from Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, and Italy. They note
Canada's Missing Agri-Food Election Agenda, RoundUp for Roundup and Jake Karls, Co-Founder & Chief Rainmaker, Mid-Day Squares
In Season 5, Episode 33 of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a dynamic episode split between urgent food policy news and an in-depth interview with Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Chief Rainmaker of the powerhouse better-for-you brand Mid-Day Squares.Kicking off with the news segment, Sylvain and Michael break down Canada's approaching election and the
Canada’s Food Inflation Spikes, Investors & Innovators with Elysabeth Alfano, CEO of VegTech™ Invest
The episode kicks off with breaking economic news: while Canada’s overall inflation slowed to 2.3% in March, food inflation surged to a staggering 3.2%—a monthly jump not seen since 1983. Sylvain attributes the spike to Ottawa’s counter-tariffs, rising ingredient costs, and shifting sourcing strategies as Canadian grocers de-Americanize their supply chains. This backdrop leads into a discussion on
North American Trade Lawyer Mark Warner on Tariffs, Trade & Trump: A Global Food Fight Begins
In this power-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring listeners up to speed on one of the most complex and fast-moving stories in the global food and agriculture sector: the unfolding international tariff war. Appropriately titled “The Global Tariff War Edition,” this episode features a timely and incisive interview with Mark Warner, Man
Tariffs, Trade, and Terroir: Trump's Liberation Day global earthquake, guest Michelle Wasylyshen, President & CEO, Ontario Craft Wineries
This episode of The Food Professor Podcast brings together global trade drama and local wine opportunity. In the opening news segment, Michael and Sylvain react to the latest trade bombshell from Donald Trump: sweeping new tariffs aimed at dozens of countries, with Canada & Mexico left off—for now. They dig into how this could reshape the Canadian food sector, focusing on dairy and the persistent
10 Years of Liberal Ag Policy, Body Cams & guest Chef Tuệ Nguyễn
In the latest episode of The Food Professor Podcast, we dive into a wide range of topics, from international trade tensions to the evolving role of social media in the culinary world. We kick off the episode with the announcement that Canada will be the country of honour at the SIAL Food Innovation Show, reflecting on the importance of celebrating Canadian food and innovation during shifting globa
