Shows / The Food Professor
The Food Professor
Join Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax with host Michael LeBlanc as they look at the hot issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries. We'll discuss proprietary industry and consumer food related research, check out fresh new ideas and talk about half baked strategies. © 2020-2026 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Episodes
The Food ProfessorHigh Liner Sold, B.C.’s Coming ALR Shake-Up, the Food Science of Time Change plus Tyler Groeneveld, CEO, Protein Industries Canada
Tyler has 31 years of experience and sat on PIC’s board before becoming CEO. PIC is one of Canada’s five global innovation clusters, and Sylvain calls it the…
The Food ProfessorAGT 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…
The Food ProfessorWhat 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…
The Food ProfessorWild 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…
The Food ProfessorBooze 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…
The Food ProfessorPotash 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…
The Food ProfessorCan 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…
The Food ProfessorTariff 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…
The Food ProfessorRolling 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…
The Food ProfessorTariff 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…
The Food ProfessorBacon 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…
The Food ProfessorFrom 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…
The Food ProfessorZero 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…
The Food ProfessorCarlo 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…
The Food ProfessorMartin 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…
The Food ProfessorJacques 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…
The Food ProfessorPete 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…
The Food ProfessorCanada 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…
The Food ProfessorNational 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…
The Food ProfessorAxel 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…
The Food ProfessorRecession, 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 Food ProfessorAmerican 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…
The Food ProfessorWho 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…
The Food ProfessorDunkin' 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…
The Food ProfessorRestaurant & 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…
The Food ProfessorLive 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…
The Food ProfessorCarney’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…
The Food ProfessorCarney’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 &…
The Food ProfessorFOPL 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…
The Food ProfessorGovernment 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…
The Food ProfessorManitoba 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…
The Food ProfessorCarbon 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…
The Food ProfessorCanada’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…
The Food ProfessorEpic 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…
The Food ProfessorGrocery 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…
The Food ProfessorFood 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…
The Food ProfessorElbows 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…
The Food ProfessorTrade 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…
The Food ProfessorCFIA 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…
The Food ProfessorSino 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…
The Food ProfessorChocolate, 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…
The Food Professor2026 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…
The Food ProfessorTop 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…
The Food ProfessorChicken 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…
The Food ProfessorCanada’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…
The Food ProfessorCanada'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…
The Food ProfessorClone 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…
The Food ProfessorLeading 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…
The Food ProfessorLive 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…
The Food ProfessorCloned 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…
The Food ProfessorBlue 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…
The Food ProfessorCanada 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…
The Food ProfessorWild 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…
The Food ProfessorThanksgiving 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…
The Food ProfessorSolo 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…
The Food ProfessorFood 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…
The Food ProfessorHelp 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…
The Food ProfessorKraft 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…
The Food ProfessorSeason 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…
The Food ProfessorBrian 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…