2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Kelsey Best (Q&A)

Kelsey Best

Director, Procurement Operations
Bimbo Canada  

You’ve been with Bimbo Canada for 15 years. How did your journey there begin, and how did it lead to your current role?

I started my journey at Bimbo Canada in a supply management, execution-focused role and grew by consistently saying yes to stretch opportunities—even before I felt fully ready. What’s kept me here is the culture: a team environment that supports you, challenges you and genuinely puts people first. I’ve had the opportunity to work across different areas of procurement, which has shaped how I approach problems with a broader, end-to-end perspective. That combination of people, purpose and continuous growth has led me to the role I’m in today.

What’s your proudest moment?

It’s hard to point to a single moment, but what stands out most is seeing lasting, sustainable change from the transformation work we lead. In our Procure-to-Pay journey, we had to shift behaviours across a large and diverse group of stakeholders—many of whom were unsure it would work in their environment. Over time, by staying consistent and bringing people along, that resistance turned into real adoption. The pride comes from seeing those changes hold and become part of how we operate every day.

If you had to pick one strength or “superpower” that’s helped you most, what would it be?

For me, it’s the ability to bring clarity and structure in complex situations. When things feel uncertain or fragmented, I focus on simplifying the path forward—what matters most, what decisions need to be made and how we move ahead together. That clarity helps teams gain confidence and build momentum in the work. It’s something I’ve developed over time, and it’s only possible because of the strong teams I’ve worked alongside and continue to learn from.

What’s been one of the bigger challenges you’ve had to work through in your career, and how did you handle it?

One of the biggest challenges has been changing deeply rooted behaviours during our transformation work. Many of those habits had been built over years, so it wasn’t about enforcing a new process. It was about understanding concerns, addressing pain points and bringing people along in the change. You quickly realize change is emotional, not just operational, which requires leading through influence rather than authority. It’s about staying consistent, even when progress isn’t immediate or easy. Over time, that consistency is what helps turn change into something that lasts.

What do you think about mentorship—both in terms of learning from others and supporting people coming up behind you?

Mentorship has played a critical role in my development, particularly leaders who gave me trust, space and honest perspective when I needed it most. That’s shaped how I support my team today—through regular check-ins, but more importantly, by giving people real ownership and exposure early on. I believe confidence is built through doing, not just observing. My focus is creating an environment where individuals can grow in their own way, not by following a single path.

What are you passionate about outside work? 

Outside of work, my biggest focus is my family and close friendships—they’re what keep me grounded and give me perspective. Spending time with my kids, travelling and being outdoors are how I recharge—especially time near the water where I can fully disconnect. Those moments remind me what matters most and help me show up more present in both my work and leadership. They’ve also reinforced the importance of patience, which I carry with me every day.

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