This Commerce Life

Off Script with Phil & Kenny: April Events PreviewJoin Phil Chang and Kenny Vannucci as they discuss upcoming food industry events and initiatives in Canada this April. The duo shares their plans for CHFA (April 26-27), where they'll run a unique connection hub using Polaroid photos to match brands with distributors, brokers, and partners. They'll also be attending Grocery Showcase West (April 14-15), supporting BC brands and connecting industry players. Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. Head to https://www.fieldagentcanada.com  to find out moreGet more details on Grocery Showcase West: https://gsfshow.com/ Sign up to head to CHFA West: https://www.chfanow.ca/vancouver/ Melanie's episode is here (aired April 1st., 2024) https://www.thiscommercelife.com/tclpodcast/episode/1f1ab546/melanie-macinnes-talks-about-being-flexible-nimble-the-irrational-fear-of-losing-the-farm

From ice cream bicycles to national distribution: Meet Melissa Leung of TransCold, the powerhouse behind Canada's frozen food logistics. Learn why small frozen brands need distribution partners, how TransCold expanded from ice cream to nationwide frozen food delivery, and why factoring in distribution costs from day one is crucial for frozen food startups. A must-listen for anyone in the frozen category or considering entering it. Get in touch with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacoughlan/Check out Transcold here: https://www.transcold.com/ Thank you to Fieldagent Canada for sponsoring this podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/  

In this episode, hosts Phil and Kenny welcome Brittany from HIVE Naturals and Jeff Doucette from Field Agent Canada to announce their groundbreaking partnership: the world's first hybrid merchandising agency.The collaboration combines Field Agent's powerful audit capabilities with HIVE's expert merchandising team to create a "find and fix" solution for brands. This innovative partnership allows brands of all sizes to efficiently identify in-store execution issues and target resources where they're needed most, making retail visibility and compliance more accessible and affordable.The conversation also explores the current state of Canadian retail amidst tariff uncertainties, discussing how retailers and brands are adapting to growing consumer demand for Canadian products, and the challenges of clearly identifying and promoting local options in stores.Join us for candid insights, practical advice, and lively discussion on navigating today's complex retail environment. Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. You can find them here: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/Check out Hive Canada here: https://www.hiveretailsolutions.com/Find Jeff Doucette here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-doucette-72b3556/Find Brittany here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-kroetsch-74248744/

Lisa Simonsen packs eggs for a living...just kidding. If you're looking for a designer's view of front of pack labels that are upcoming, this is the episode for you.  Connect with Lisa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-simonsen/Find out more at Lisa's website: https://www.simonsendesigns.com/

Tamales are an ancient dish from Mesoamerica, with about 500 variations in Mexico alone, differing by region and ingredients. Generally, almost anyone who has tried one, smiles when they reminisce about having a coffee, hot chocolate with a tamale. We're smiling ear to ear - Nadia Toledo plus talking about tamales is a win/win! Check out Nadia's tamales here: https://www.antojosysabores.com/Find Nadia here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiatoledo/ Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. You can check them out here: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/drive-trial  

She found me with one of her buttermilk biscuits in my mouth. Dawn Chapman owner and CEO of Toronto's Lazy Daisy's Café and inaugural winner of WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Food Industry Award, presented by Skip Check out Lazy Daisy's Cafe: https://lazydaisyscafe.ca/Thank you to our sponsor Fieldagent Canada: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Rochelle Minagawa, Founder of MotherLove Ferments jumps in to talk about the ending of the year, and what comes next for the business.  Check out Motherlove Ferments here: https://www.motherloveferments.com/Find Rochelle here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochelle-minagawa-7617491a5/Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/  

Brody talks production and quality issues. How to know what you don't know? Brody Hanson, CEO of Work Water talks about jumping into beverage making, starting from scratch with no industry experience.  check out work water here: https://buyworkwater.comFind Brody here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brody-hanson-2774205b/ Thank you to Field Agent Canada for being our sponsor: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/  

Taking control. We don't have a lot of it, but a chance to  take a breath, make changes and continue to push for changes. Even though we have 30 days, let's not take our foot off the gas.  In case you're interested - Kenny's Linkedin post is here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kennyvannucci_buycanadian-shopcanadian-supportcanadian-activity-7291664605431402496-goGh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHLzV0B66Ny63xfoPTffiJK3tQ6g2ZDISM  

Just us today. Things you can do in your day to day to change the conversation around tariffs. Places and resources that you can go to find local brands, Canadian brands. Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. Head to https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/ratings-and-reviews Some resources:https://buybc.gov.bc.ca/https://madeinalberta.co/https://supportontariomade.ca/https://lesproduitsduquebec.com/en Great places to ask questions and learn about brands and retailers:https://bcfb.ca/https://atlanticfood.ca/https://chfa.ca/https://foodbeveragemb.ca/https://www.afpa.com/We're sure we missed some more - send us a note and we'll amend this list!