Grocery & Specialty Food West kicks-off 30th year – April 1 and 2, 2019

On April 1 and 2, 2019, Western Canada’s premier B2B trade-only conference and exhibition, Grocery & Specialty Food West (GSFW), returns to Vancouver Convention Centre EAST Building (999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC) to lead discussions on trends, new products, and technology in the grocery arena.

“The grocery industry in Canada is valued at $122-billion and continues to grow, especially with new expansion announcements in city urban centres and beyond,” explains Tom Shurrie, President and CEO, Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). “In order to stay relevant, it is vital for our industry to continue to innovate, predict trends, and be the source for all things that pertain to grocery. There is a focus this year on the future of food in Canada, the emerging importance of product offerings in health, local, specialty, and e-commerce growth.”

New pavilions this year include an increased regional focus with: Buy BC, Canada Connect and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Quebec.

GSFW offers members of the industry a unique platform for collaboration, networking, and educational experiences, which include an onsite showcase featuring 300 booths of leading grocery and specialty food suppliers, workshops, and keynotes by leaders in the grocery field. In addition, there is a special Top 10 in Grocery Contest chosen from the numerous entries in the New Product Showcase to highlight some of the year’s best creations.

“As a trusted leader in the grocery market and with this being our 30th year, we have further enhanced our programs to provide even more networking opportunities, business development, and professional development for our conference attendees and exhibitors,” adds Shurrie.

2019 GSFW conference sessions include:

Offline to Online: The Key Areas to be Investing in Your Business
Robin Sherk, Kantar Consulting
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How Independents Can Differentiate Themselves & Future Trends
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Generational Change and the Future of Food in Canada
David Coletto, Market Research Expert

What’s Next Is Now: Canada’s dynamic retail landscape has challenged many manufacturers and retailers to evaluate their future growth opportunities
Carman Allison of Nielsen Canada

HR/Staffing: Talent & the Future of Work
Sooky Lee, ADP Canada

From Grocerants, to QSRs, and UberEats, What Grocers Need to do to Compete
Katie Martin, Progressive Grocer magazine

Going Healthy on Fast Foods
Suzanne DiMichele and Gina Lipton of Mclean Meats

Learn more about the full panel of speakers, conference details, Top 10 Products In Grocery for 2019 and more at www.gsfshow.com.

Manufacturers, Food Makers, Service, Tech and More:
With thousands of attendees expected, this is the only grocery and specialty food show to comprehensively connect you with like-minded grocery professionals while learning about the latest industry insights that support your business. Remember, GSF is all things grocery and specialty food retailing. If it can be utilized in the day-to-day operations of the grocery store, you can find it all right here, under one roof. Exhibit now. Limited space remaining to enter your product in the New Product Showcase for a chance to be named in the Top 10 in Grocery for 2019.