2024 Generation Next winner Diya Sawhney (Q&A)

Diya Sawhney

Director of Merchandising - Bakery and Commercial Bread, Walmart Canada

Diya Sawhney has proven she’s right on the mark when it comes to addressing customer trends. Since joining Walmart’s bakery and bread division a year ago, she has dynamically expanded product options resulting in higher in-store traffic and sales.

Some of these innovative products have included a new gluten-free line, Global Foods Bakery line and Promise Bread (with whole grains and less sugar) as part of the “Better For You” brand of bread options. “Promise has actually grown the business by over 300%, and now we’re looking for the next stage of opportunity, which would be in sweet goods,” she says. “We always want to stay ahead of the curve.”

Sawhney is also helping Walmart partner with small- and medium-sized manufacturers to get more unique and localized products into stores. In turn, her leadership is providing smaller suppliers (sometimes new immigrants themselves) with direction, scale and opportunities to grow.

On top of introducing new bread innovations, Sawhney is leading the implementation of new processes and technologies that are improving bakery operations, reducing waste and maximizing production efficiency.

See the full list of Generation Next 2024 winners profiles.

Profiles were first published in the December 2024 issue of Canadian Grocer