Certification Programs: Are they worth it?

  By Birgit Blain Branding & Marketing, Food Safety, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 26… Myriad food certification programs have burst on the CPG scene in recent years. As a… LEARN MORE

RC Show Virtual Finds

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Trade Shows

March 2020 marked the last in-person RC Show, Canada’s premier foodservice trade show, before COVID-19 became a behemoth. A reimagined… LEARN MORE

How to Make a Splash at Virtual Trade Shows

  By Birgit Blain Branding & Marketing, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series, Trade Shows

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 25… Like it or not, virtual trade shows are the way of the future.  Having spent… LEARN MORE

Food Innovation at GIC Caters to Changing Needs

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Trade Shows, Trends

Check out three new themes related to food innovation at the Grocery Innovations trade show… LEARN MORE

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CHFA Innovation Highlights

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Product Development, Trade Shows

Diving deep into the CHFA Connect virtual trade show, these innovative foods grabbed my attention.  Unfortunately, there’s no opportunity for food… LEARN MORE

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SIAL Virtual Selections

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Trade Shows, Trends

I love the thrill of the hunt for new products and nibbling through food trade shows. This year SIAL Canada… LEARN MORE

8 Lessons from a Product Failure

  By Birgit Blain Branding & Marketing

QSR chain Harvey’s launched Build-a-Bowl, a new fast food concept, in 2017. R&D took two years, countless wo/man hours and hundreds of… LEARN MORE

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Time to say good-bye? When to exit a business

  By Birgit Blain Management, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 24… Food is a tough business. And it takes big bucks to build a sustainable brand.… LEARN MORE

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Packaging Misconceptions Unwrapped

  By Birgit Blain Packaging, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 23… In this age of plastic dependency and growing mountains of packaging waste, brand owners need… LEARN MORE

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RC Show Faves

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Product Development, Trade Shows

Toronto’s annual RC Show, Canada’s largest foodservice and hospitality event, is a treasure trove of inspiration for CPG businesses.  Edible… LEARN MORE

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Beware of Overpromising

  By Birgit Blain Branding & Marketing, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 22… Have you ever been disappointed after opening a food package, when the contents don’t look… LEARN MORE

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Minding the Money: Healthy Finance Tips

  By Birgit Blain Management, RECIPE TO RETAIL Series

RECIPE TO RETAIL: Part 21… Financial health is crucial for survival in today’s hyper-competitive market. Managing the finances of a… LEARN MORE

Nielsen Insights from Thought Leadership CEO Conference

  By Birgit Blain Management, Retail

Competition is fierce among Canada’s packaged foods brands. Arming yourself with knowledge about the challenges your customers face enables you… LEARN MORE

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7 Take-Aways from Grocery Innovations

  By Birgit Blain Branding & Marketing, Innovation, Packaging, Trade Shows

Savvy brand owners check out trade shows like Grocery Innovations Canada (GIC) to unwrap a host of business opportunities. Here… LEARN MORE

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Plant-based Takes Root at CHFA East

  By Birgit Blain Innovation, Packaging, Trade Shows, Trends

CHFA East in Toronto has evolved to become a leading food trade show and barometer for trends. As expected, “plant-based”… LEARN MORE