2025 Generation Next winner Casey Spencer

Casey Spencer started her grocery career in 2011, working as a bakery clerk and cashier at Longo’s before moving into a Starbucks department
manager role. Since 2015, she has held various head office roles and is now general manager at Longo’s central kitchen, overseeing production for items distributed across all 42 stores. “What I’m most proud of in my career, so far, is making the transition from category management to the central kitchen,” she says. 

“Moving from strategic production selection to being more operations- and people- based was a big shift, but I was able to apply my experience in different roles to how I lead today.”

Spencer’s impact spans improving efficiencies on production lines, optimizing product sourcing and reducing labour costs. A highlight was the launch of Longo’s Power Bowl, where she played a role in everything from product development to supplying stores. She’s also proud of her involvement with community initiatives such as The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer. 

“At Longo’s, our purpose is to fuel happier and healthier lives, and the work that we do to accomplish that purpose inspires me every day,” Spencer says.

See the full list of Generation Next 2025 winner profiles.

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