2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Avery MacKinnon-Barry (Q&A)

Avery MacKinnon-Barry

Formerly Senior Retail Operations Manager, Arterra Wines Canada 
Currently Lead, Product Development, Farm Boy

When did you realize the grocery sector could be part of your career path?

If I’m being candid, grocery was not part of the original plan—I would have said veterinarian as a child. That path ended once I realized I wasn’t built for an operating room environment. I then took a “gap year” as a store manager of a Wine Rack location, which became an unexpected entry point into the broader grocery and beverage alcohol ecosystem that I’d stay in for more than a decade.

Over time, I progressed into roles within Arterra Wines Canada’s national wholesale division across Canada and the United States, which exposed me to the scale and complexity of the industry. That was the inflection point where I recognized grocery as far more than retail—it is an interconnected system of strategy, supply chain, partnerships and commercialization. Many of those career paths are not visible when you’re younger, yet they offer significant opportunities for impact and growth. 

What’s your proudest moment from your time at Arterra Wines?

My proudest moment was navigating Ontario’s Alcohol Retail Modernization beginning in June 2024, which fundamentally reshaped the competitive and regulatory landscape. I led efforts to modernize the Wine Rack retail chain model by integrating standalone wine stores into grocery environments—an initiative requiring complex operations, regulatory and partnership execution across many cross functions.

Within months, the team and I established new partnerships across Empire banners, expanded with Metro and opened our first Loblaws-integrated location in just 16 days—the first of its kind since 2018. What stands out most is the contrast: 10 years earlier, I was managing a single store. At that moment, I was working alongside both our and the grocers’ executive leadership with 164-locations to navigate the long-term strategy of. That progression—and the ability to contribute meaningfully at that level—is something I’m incredibly proud of.

You’ve started a new role at Farm Boy. How will you apply your skills to the new role? 

My transition into product development at Farm Boy feels like a natural evolution of my career across retail operations, commercialization, partnerships and beverage alcohol. Throughout those roles, the common thread has been connecting customer needs with strategic execution. I’ll be bringing experience in supplier partnerships, category growth, project management and cross-functional collaboration into the role. Much of my recent work involved navigating complex environments and aligning multiple stakeholders toward common objectives. Product development brings those disciplines together by balancing customer insight, innovation, sourcing, operational feasibility and execution. I’m excited to apply that experience to help shape products and experiences that resonate with customers. 

What excites you about working in grocery retail? 

What excites me most about grocery retail is its impact on everyday life, as few industries influence people, families and communities in the same way. Grocery touches everything from health and convenience to culture, discovery and shared experiences around food. I also love that the industry is constantly evolving as consumer preferences, trends and innovation continue to shift. Farm Boy has created a differentiated experience through fresh food, private label innovation, local storytelling and strong customer connection. After spending years working alongside grocery partners from the supplier and commercialization side, stepping into product development offers a new perspective. It is an opportunity to move from enabling products and partnerships to helping shape them directly. Contributing to what reaches customers and lands in their baskets is incredibly exciting to me.

Best advice you've received?

One of the most impactful pieces of advice I received came from Will Meijer (now president, sales at Molson Coors), who described me as a “Swiss Army knife”—highly adaptable in any situation, but at risk of trying to do everything myself. His guidance was to focus on my strengths, be aware of my gaps and build teams that complement them, rather than attempting to master everything.

How has your non-profit and volunteer work shaped your leadership style?

My work in the non-profit sector has been instrumental in shaping my leadership philosophy, reinforcing the importance of authenticity, empathy and accountability. It has also influenced how I think about team culture—prioritizing environments where individuals feel safe, supported and valued.

I strongly believe leadership extends beyond outcomes; it includes the responsibility to leave people and environments better than you found them. That includes creating inclusive spaces, supporting growth and elevating others when the opportunity arises. 

A fun fact about you?

While most people think it is a “cool flex” at a winery, retail or other hospitality setting, I rarely disclose my wine education or professional background and often pretend I’m clueless when it comes to the wine. I prefer to experience interactions as any customer would, which allows me to hear the authentic sales approach or product knowledge without bias, which has consistently provided unfiltered insights and more genuine conversations. On occasion, my cover gets blown when someone overhears me say the bottle has “evolved aromatics of forest floor, leather and stewed strawberry, indicating tertiary development” or that “the Alpine influence and high diurnal range help preserve the acidity you’re tasting on the sides of your tongue, giving the wine its freshness.”

Click here for the full list of 2026 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.