2024 Generation Next winner Michael Peres (Q&A)

Michael Peres

Merchant, Global Foods, Floral and Bulk, Walmart Canada

When Michael Peres moved from Loblaw to Walmart in February 2022, he expanded his expertise from pasta and other dry grocery goods to global foods, floral and bulk (nuts and seeds). “The global foods category is probably my biggest,” he says. And it’s been rapidly growing, fuelled, in part, by his role in trialling scalable concepts in merchandising that serve new Canadians seeking tastes of home.

Peres is also applauded internally for his teamoriented approach and maintaining a positive attitude on both good and challenging days, which has helped him build lasting relationships in the industry. “That’s really important because the industry is super, super small,” says Peres. “When I moved into the fresh side of grocery at Walmart, I never anticipated collaborating as much as I do with many of the same people that I used to at Loblaws.” Where might he take his career next? “I enjoy dealing with our fresh vendors—the relationships aren’t strictly transactional, as the business is their livelihood. And so, I’d love to challenge myself with some bigger, higherimpact categories, like in fruits or vegetables.”

See the full list of Generation Next 2024 winners profiles.

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