Photo from GroceryBusiness.ca
Upon assuming the CEO role, I carefully examined SIAL Canada, pondering the motivations of exhibitors and attendees at this unique event. Implementing changes, we introduced the "Best Canadian Cheesemonger" biennial competition, with the winner representing Canada at the 2025 Mondial du Fromage in France. The enthusiastic response to our return to Montreal led us to secure two floors at the Palais des Congrès, making the 2024 edition the largest SIAL Canada event ever held in Montreal. In a spirit of innovation, we revamped the conference programming to include 10 thematic forums with inspiring keynotes and expert panels exploring key industry topics. Additionally, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the SIAL network brand, with special initiatives planned to celebrate this milestone.
For grocery retailers, SIAL Canada offers must-attend events. As a comprehensive food show, it showcases innovation across all industry sectors, presenting products from Canadian provinces and 44 other countries. We rebranded the SIAL Cheese sector as SIAL Dairy to encompass a broader range of products like ice cream, butter, and yogurt. Moreover, our new SIAL To Go space provides an immersive activation focused on ready-to-eat offerings, highlighting emerging trends, innovations, and successes driving the food trade toward a multi-platform sales strategy.
Retailers are encouraged to explore the SIAL Innovation competition, featuring global trends and innovations in food and beverage less than a year old. Additionally, our highly regarded SIAL Pitch Competition provides a platform for start-ups to showcase their innovations.
