2026 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Laure Velten-Jameson (Q&A)
Laure Velten-Jameson
Vice-President, National Grocery Replenishment
Sobeys Inc.
How did you get your start in the grocery business?
With a leap of faith! Carrefour, France’s leading grocery retailer, launched a graduate program the year I graduated from business school. I was attracted by the program, but I fell in love with grocery retail.
What keeps you passionate about your work?
The ever-changing nature of the industry. Product trends, customer demographics, technology developments, macroeconomic environment—there isn’t one year that looks like the one before, which keeps me curious, motivated and eager for the next adventure.
What is a career challenge you've faced and how did you overcome it?
A few years into my career, it was suddenly put to a full stop due to a combination of events: my husband was relocated from France to Sweden, where Carrefour had no operations. As soon as I arrived in Sweden, I became pregnant. This, coupled with the fact I didn’t speak the language, put a stop to my plan of finding a job. But, I turned this into an opportunity to go back to school. I applied to an MBA program in France, was admitted and started when my son was just six weeks old. A crazy adventure, but one that eventually opened the door to Canada and gave me a very rewarding second career start!
Best career advice you've received?
Have a plan, but keep it flexible. It’s important to think long term, to have aspirations, but you also have to be ready for the unexpected opportunities, life events, encounters or challenges that can and will happen along the way and have an impact on your trajectory. A career is a long journey; be ready for the turns, the green lights, the speedbumps and have fun on the ride!
How would you describe your leadership style?
Positive and collaborative—this is my personality. And we can’t succeed without being authentic.
Your best day on the job?
When I was a category manager at Carrefour in France in the 2000s, I was in charge of the high growth and highly strategic category of organic and wellness. I led a full revamp of the category and was [tasked] with bringing to life a full shop-in-shop organic concept. After months of planning and preparation, I worked overnight in our pilot store near Lyon to set up the very first Carrefour Organic shop in shop—such a proud moment! At the end of the day, all that we do only matters once it is executed in stores and open for customers.Seeing the result of the hard work in our stores, and the reactions of our customers at store opening time was absolutely priceless, I will remember that moment all my life.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
Skiing or paddleboarding on the lake with my three kids and husband,hosting my husband’s family who live in Montreal for a good Sunday lunch. And if I can squeeze in a piano session, then that is a day well spent.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I am a “soft Swiftie,” which is something my team has to painfully live with: occasional GIFs, obscure references, the full-blast playlist while driving my team on a Nova Scotia store tour (“I drive, I pick the music!”). I am not giving up on showing them the light!
Click here for the full list of 2026 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.