AGP Executive Report

Agri-Food Funding: Canada announced a $1B Agri-Food Project Finance Fund to boost domestic processing and manufacturing, aiming to keep more value-added food made in Canada instead of imported. Retail & Foodservice Deals: Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days runs Oct. 6–7, with promos that explicitly include beverages and snack brands—another reminder that grocery-adjacent shopping is getting more aggressive. Snack-to-Menu Strategy: PepsiCo is pushing Doritos/Cheetos and other brands beyond the snack aisle into restaurant and QSR menu items, including recent Doritos Hot Honey Nachos at Subway. Plant-Based Brand Return: Maple Leaf Foods is bringing Yves Veggie Cuisine back to Canadian grocery shelves, reviving key deli and ground products after the brand was pulled from stores in 2025. Energy Drinks Scrutiny: India’s food regulator gave PepsiCo and other beverage giants a deadline to fix “energy drink” labeling and claims—watch this as it can ripple into global compliance expectations. Dining Expansion in Canada: Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen opened in Canada at River Cree Resort & Casino near Edmonton, adding a high-profile TV brand to the local restaurant scene.

Food Security Funding: Farm Credit Canada launched a 60-day Expression of Interest for its new $1B Agri-food Project Finance Fund, plus $150M to Velocity Agri-Capital Partners, aiming to boost construction-ready processing and manufacturing capacity to strengthen Canada’s food system. Packaging Costs & Tariffs: Canada granted a remission on part of a planned 50% tariff on U.S. corrugated cardboard, after Chatham-Kent—Leamington MP Dave Epp warned the move could raise food and beverage packaging costs. Retail Value Push: Little Caesars Canada marks its fifth annual Customer Appreciation Day with $5 Medium Classic Pizzas (cheese/pepperoni) on Sept. 16 in-restaurant only. Restaurant Menu Buzz: Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Canada rolls out limited-time pickle-flavoured items nationwide. Industry Tech: QCI expanded its metrics with next-day performance data across nearly 100,000 gaming machines, a reminder of how fast operators want to measure results. Supply Chain Pressure: Analysts warn rising diesel costs can keep pushing grocery prices higher, especially for cold-chain foods like dairy, meats and produce.

Quebec Farm Stewardship: AgriRÉCUP’s UPLM program is gearing up for fall collection of unwanted pesticides and expired livestock/equine medications, with Quebec-only added options for treated seeds; events run Sept. 21–Oct. 8 plus longer multi-week pickups in remote regions. Seafood Sustainability: A consumer guide highlights how to choose seafood more responsibly, pointing to species and sourcing details to help reduce pressure on overfished stocks. Canada Investment Push: Prime Minister Mark Carney pitches Canada to global investors at the Canada Investment Summit, aiming to draw capital north amid a U.S.-led trade fight—an indirect read-through for food and beverage supply chains. Local Italian Dining: A new Italian-style family restaurant, La Buona Cucina, opens in Alcona with scratch-made food and a locally sourced approach, adding more sit-down options for the region. Fast-Food Buzz: Wendy’s brings back its ultra-challenge T-rex burger in the U.S., a reminder of how Canadian consumers may see similar stunt promotions spill over.

Canada-US trade shock for booze: A U.S. order banning Canadian alcohol is set to hit Nova Scotia’s Glenora Distillers hard, with 33–40% of sales tied to the U.S., and producers warning they can’t “turn on a dime” to replace that demand. Food industry inflation debate: CHARLEBOIS argues Canada’s food inflation problem isn’t driven by Donald Trump, but by Canada itself—adding fuel to the grocery-cost conversation. P.E.I. oyster crisis: CBC reports disease devastation across P.E.I. oyster farms, with growers describing near-total mortality and financial ruin risk. Restaurant/community closures: After 45+ years, Montreal’s Caribbean Curry House in Côte-des-Neiges shut due to rising costs, leaving a community missing its roti and roti-making tradition. Fast-food stunts: Wendy’s’ long-banned T-rex burger (nine patties) is back in limited form, while KFC fans get “ordering requests” to level up fried chicken. Local food culture: Whistler’s Kebab on Fire highlights an all-Halal menu and growing demand for certified options in Canada. Food & travel tie-in: A Lake Erie village getaway and Ontario fall travel picks keep the focus on where to eat and drink this season.

P.E.I. Oyster Crisis: Disease is wiping out P.E.I. oyster farms, with growers reporting up to 90%–100% dead loss and fears they’ll lose everything after taking on big loans for upgrades. Drug Safety Watch: Canadian experts warn that common “drug cocktails” can raise the risk of lethal complications, including organ damage, with older women flagged as more likely to be prescribed risky combinations. Tourism + Food in Ontario: Erieau, a quiet Lake Erie village, is being pitched as a weekend escape with craft brews and local eats—plus easy drives from major Ontario and U.S. hubs. Restaurant Spotlight (Halal): Whistler’s Kebab on Fire is drawing attention for its all-Halal menu and growing demand from Muslim customers and immigrants. Farm-to-Table Events: St. Jacobs’ Harvest Hoedown returns Sept. 18 with local food, fall drinks, live music, and country fun. Trade War Ripple Effects: Coverage continues on how U.S.–Canada trade tensions and bans on dairy and alcohol could hit Canadian producers and cross-border supply chains.

Canada–U.S. Trade War: The U.S. is escalating its dispute with Canada, with Trump citing tariffs and import bans tied to auto, dairy and alcoholic beverages—while Canada retaliates with its own measures that could hit Canadian food and drink exports. Restaurant & QSR Watch: Denny’s is pushing a comeback with a new menu and renovations after franchise closures, following its shift to private ownership earlier this year. Beverage Business: Bourbon faces tariff uncertainty and shifting Gen Z tastes, even as Kentucky reports record barrel inventories and industry leaders debate what comes next. Food Culture in Quebec: Quebec’s election campaign is leaning into poutine stops, with party leaders using restaurant visits to connect with voters. Local Food Events: St. Jacobs Market District’s Harvest Hoedown returns with fall drinks, live music and market-season food. Tech Meets Food: McDonald’s supply chain relies on a mix of frozen/refrigerated national suppliers and vetted local growers to keep menu items consistent across locations.

Tourism & Hospitality: Ontario is pushing a massive Niagara Falls tourism plan, aiming to double annual visitors to 25 million with new attractions that could include a bigger airport, luxury casinos and a Disney-like all-season theme park, with the Toronto Power Station being restored into a five-star boutique hotel opening in 2030. Quebec Campaign Culture: Quebec’s election trail is leaning into food optics, with politicians stopping for poutine at local spots as a casual way to connect with voters. Wine & Trade Tensions: B.C. wineries say the U.S. booze ban may hit less directly than beer/spirits, but bottle costs and lost U.S. retailer relationships could still threaten jobs for some producers. New Product on Shelf: Beck’s Broth is launching a Made-in-Canada Protein Chai Latte, positioning it as a spiced, collagen-rich, low-calorie drink with 15 grams of protein. Local Food Business: Lantic’s Taber sugar factory is highlighted as Canada’s only sugar beet processing plant, underscoring how the sweetener industry ripples through Alberta’s farm economy. Hospitality Openings: Niagara-on-the-Lake’s The Clayfield boutique hotel is set to open Sept. 17 with a rooftop bar, restaurant and spa.

Trade & Retail Moves: TSNN’s trade-show roundup highlights Clarion Events’ Lauren Ocoma promoted to Senior VP, Events & Brand Strategy for FDIC International’s Fire & Rescue Group. Hospitality & Dining: Fairmont expands its global “Special Happens…” guest experiences with eight new activations, including a Beyond the Slopes adventure at Fairmont Tremblant and curated drinks/music at Fairmont Tokyo. Food Media: Rainmaker Content acquired international sales rights to Crave’s Canadian restaurant drama “Crash Course” (first two seasons). Canadian Consumer Push: Ikea Canada marks its 50th with a $1 Traditional Breakfast (Ikea Family members) and Breakfast Club of Canada donations. Industry Finance: Keurig Dr Pepper agrees to sell its Chobani stake for $800M and transfer a facility for about $125M, generating roughly $925M in proceeds as it prepares a corporate split. Trade War Watch: Reporting continues on US-Canada trade fallout hitting dairy and drinks, with Canadian whisky reportedly finding a loophole via larger shipping containers. Local Food Business: Truckin’ BBQ says it’s closing its Hillcrest Village location, with final service Sept. 13 and continued catering/food trucks.

Trade & Alcohol: A U.S. ban tied to the Canada–U.S. trade fight is set to start Sept. 29, but Canadian whiskies may dodge it if shipped in large containers—Crown Royal is reportedly using that workaround. Retail & Food Deals: Ikea Canada marks its 50th anniversary with a $1 Traditional Breakfast in Ontario (Sept. 12–13), with proceeds going to the Breakfast Club of Canada. Foodservice Tech: Pilot is rolling out digital ordering at travel centers, including self-order kiosks at Wendy’s locations, aiming to make QSR ordering faster and more seamless for road-trippers. Packaging & Hot Food: ProAmpac is supporting Circle K’s Flamin’ Hot Boneless Chicken Wings launch with a fiber-based tray designed to better hold heat, moisture and grease. Local Openings: KFC opened in Shelburne, Ont., adding self-serve kiosks and coupon promos at its new location. Canadian Business & Drinks: Prime Drink Group received a management cease trade order extension tied to filing annual financials, while continuing bi-weekly default status reports. Tourism + Food Culture: Regina’s hotel industry is touting the Foo Fighters show at Mosaic Stadium (Sept. 15) as a major tourism driver.

Canada–U.S. Trade War: The U.S. escalated its dispute with Canada by moving to ban imports of several Canadian whey products, while Ottawa hit back with counter-tariffs on U.S. dairy ingredients, with the latest measures set to reshape pricing and supply for protein-heavy food makers. Food Retail & Community: Alberta food banks say demand keeps rising as donations and volunteer numbers slide, with Grande Prairie’s Salvation Army food drive needing support. Organic Drinks Growth: GURU Organic Energy announced a leadership transition, with Carl Goyette stepping down as CEO and a search underway as the brand reports strong momentum. Restaurant/Brand Watch: Jersey Mike’s detailed continued same-store sales growth and unit expansion, including that its international footprint is still heavily Canada-led. Local Food Culture: A Toronto-area Netflix production spotlighted a Canadian-made cast and crew, while separate coverage highlighted Canadian food creators and school-season food allergy advocacy. Health Tech: Loblaw launched PC Chat, a Canada-built AI health question tool using Canadian clinical sources.

Trade War Fallout (Food & Drink): The U.S. escalated its Canada dispute by banning imports of some Canadian dairy, most alcohol, and motorcycles, with the alcohol and dairy restrictions set to start Sept. 29 and a wider 50% tariff list expanding Sept. 15—another hit for Canadian producers and cross-border shoppers. Retail & Dining Growth: Toronto Pearson is rolling out 30+ new retail, dining and lounge options in 2026, including Canadian favourites like Mary Brown’s and KINTON RAMEN, as the airport leans into a more local passenger experience. Restaurant Openings: Shake Shack is opening a new Toronto location at 765 Yonge St. on Sept. 24 with free burgers from noon to 4 p.m. Local Business Closures: After 75 years, Ray’s Seafood Market and Restaurant in Essex is shutting down Sept. 12, marking the end of a family-run seafood staple. Food Culture Spotlight: Three Vancouver home cooks are set for Season 9 of MasterChef Canada (premieres Sept. 22), competing for a $100,000 prize. Tech in Food Ops: Nulogy appointed Mark Pinson as Senior VP of Engineering, saying it will expand AI use across food and beverage operations software. Industry Expansion (US/Canada Footprint): Sapporo says it will move some production of non-alcoholic beer from Canada to the U.S. by mid-2027 due to the new U.S. beer tariff.

Canada–U.S. Trade War Hits Food & Drink: The U.S. is banning Canadian dairy products, most alcoholic beverages, and motorcycles/mopeds starting Sept. 29, while also tightening Canadian goods’ access to major U.S. government contracts—moves tied to Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on $20B of U.S. imports. Counter-Tariffs Pressure Grocery Supply Chains: Analysts say the first pain will land upstream with importers, processors, and packaging makers (milk proteins, cheeses, honey/molasses, plus plastic film, boxes, bottles/jars, foil), before it shows up at the till. Beef Market Watch: CME cattle futures rebounded on short covering, with traders pointing to shifting tariff expectations and steady demand as retailers prep for fall roasts. Tea Trend Watch: New research flags tea as a fast-growing ingredient across hard tea, spirits, and no/low-alcohol drinks—driven by flavour complexity and wellness angles. On-the-Ground Canada Food Business: Loblaw is set to update investors Sept. 9 on its “Retail and Beyond” strategy, including food and drug retail priorities and supply chain/data growth plans.

Trade Shock for Food & Drink: Canada’s counter-tariffs (up to 50%) kick in Sept. 8 after the U.S. slapped 50% duties on a broad set of Canadian goods, with experts warning costs could flow through to Canadian prices—especially in dairy, alcohol and food-related categories. Tourism Fallout: As the tariff fight drags on, Canadian travel to the U.S. is down, and Washington wine retailers say they’re feeling it as Canadians shift travel behavior across the border. Retail & Grocery Strategy: Loblaw is set to update investors Sept. 9 at its “Retail and Beyond” Investor Day, including plans across food retail, Shoppers Drug Mart, retail media/data, and T&T’s U.S. expansion. Local Café Scene (Victoria): A downtown Victoria café is aiming to become a community hub under new ownership, while another Victoria tea room spotlights fine-tea culture and its Sri Lanka-to-Canada story. Food Safety Watch (India): India’s regulators are intensifying restaurant closures and pushing front-of-pack warning labels, keeping packaged-food and restaurant hygiene in the spotlight.

Food Safety at Home: A Toronto cleaning expert says most households can deep-clean fridges every four to six months, as long as spills and expired items are handled routinely. School Allergy Policy: Food Allergy Canada is urging provinces to legislate stock epinephrine in all schools, pointing to Alberta’s 2020 law after a Grade 1 student’s severe reaction at recess. Alcohol Rules in Quebec: Quebec is lagging behind other provinces on removing interprovincial barriers for direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, with industry players saying they’re shut out of decision-making. Packaging Leadership: Tetra Pak appointed Michael Wu as managing director for Oceania, focusing on food-safety and sustainability solutions for Australia and New Zealand. Health Alert on Sweetener: A German study presented at the European Society of Cardiology links high xylitol blood levels to higher long-term cardiovascular event risk, including Canadian cohort data. Wine Marketing: Wine comms should be tailored by audience, not one-size-fits-all, with messaging depth and language adjusted for consumers, trade and media. Restaurant/Brand Moves: A new Robson Street cafe and tapas concept is set to open, while CoCo Bubble Tea will be at Toronto’s National Franchise Show to discuss Canadian expansion.

KFC Brand Push: KFC named Amy Ellis Durini as its first-ever global chief brand officer, tasking her with global brand strategy, loyalty, retail and new concept development as the fried-chicken chain battles tougher competition. Canada–U.S. Trade Fallout: A renewed tariff fight is hitting cross-border travel and even Canada’s wine sector, with Canadian shoppers shifting away from U.S. bottles and Washington state producers feeling the squeeze. Alcohol Industry Watch: Brown–Forman flagged that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and health-and-wellness trends may be changing alcohol consumption patterns, with Canada still a major headwind due to U.S. tariff-driven shelf removals. Franchise Growth in Canada: CoCo Bubble Tea will exhibit at Toronto’s National Franchise Show, pitching flexible partnership models as it expands—adding new stores across Canada and exploring more markets. Food Safety Back-to-School: Food Allergy Canada says 600,000+ children under 18 live with food allergies, urging families to plan for September exposures and classroom precautions. Hospitality Staffing Pressure: Canmore employers are urging Alberta to opt into a federal temporary foreign worker increase, saying tourism and hospitality can’t fill roles locally. Wine Country Resilience: British Columbia wineries are leaning into recovery after a 2024 frost that wiped out about 40% of harvests, using the reset to recruit and re-enter the UK market.

U.S.-Canada Tourism Push Amid Trade Tensions: American tourism groups are trying to win Canadians back with promotions and discounts, even as a renewed trade fight and Trump’s tariff moves keep the relationship tense. Alcohol Industry Watch: Brown–Forman says GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may be shifting alcohol consumption patterns, and flags Canada as a major headwind tied to U.S. tariffs and provincial shelf changes. Tea in the Mix: New research points to tea’s momentum across hard tea, spirits, RTDs and low/no drinks, with Canada among markets seeing growing interest. Packaging Leadership: Tetra Pak appointed Michael Wu as Managing Director for Oceania, tasking him with helping food and beverage makers improve safety and cut environmental impact. Local Food Culture: Regina-style pizza gets a spotlight for its thick, square, topping-heavy “rules of its own,” rooted in a 1970 Greek immigrant origin story. Retail Redevelopment: Central Walk plans to unveil redevelopment concepts for former Hudson’s Bay spaces at Mayfair and Woodgrove, including a food-and-culture marketplace direction. Labour Day Basics (Food Retail): In Ontario, many big stores and banks close on Labour Day, while select convenience stores, pharmacies and some grocery locations may stay open.