2025 Generation Next winner Alicia Rhyno

“It was kind of a fluke,” says Alicia Rhyno of how she began her career in grocery. Trained as a respiratory therapist, she took a part-time job at a Food Basics in Hamilton, Ont. to stay close to family and pay the bills.

What started as a temporary cash-office role quickly turned into a decade-long path. Always willing to help “with whatever I could get
my hands on,” Rhyno’s enthusiasm caught her manager’s attention, leading to promotions to assistant store manager and, just before COVID-19 hit, front-end specialist. “A whirlwind start,” she recalls.

She navigated that period with resilience. Today, she oversees 25 stores in Southwestern Ontario, supporting staff, managing front-end operations and maintaining standards. “I try to put myself in other people’s shoes,” she says. “Being patient and relatable helps my team feel supported, not judged.”

Rhyno also played a key role in rolling out Metro’s Moi Rewards program and its click & collect service. She also sits on Metro’s Women’s Network events committee, acting as a bridge between managers and employees to foster an inclusive culture. “I even presented at the Manager’s Conference for the Women’s Committee,” she says.

See the full list of Generation Next 2025 winner profiles.

Profiles were published in the December 2025/January 2026 issue of Canadian Grocer.