Shining bright! Introducing Canadian Grocer’s 2026 Star Women in Grocery winners
For 15 years, Canadian Grocer’s Star Women in Grocery Awards have recognized the outstanding women shaping the country’s grocery industry. This year is no different.
The 60 women honoured in 2026 reflect the breadth and diversity of the industry, representing every corner of the country and a wide range of disciplines—from marketing and communications to research and development, in-store operations, sales, HR and more.
Selected by our editorial team from nominations by colleagues, peers and mentors, these leaders have distinguished themselves through hard work, dedication and tenacity.
Notably, this year marks the second presentation of the Star Women in Grocery Icon Award, a special distinction recognizing one exceptional leader whose influence, achievements and contributions have left a lasting mark on the Canadian grocery industry.
Click the names below to learn more about the winners of the 2026 Star Women in Grocery Awards. These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Senior-Level Stars
Amanda Chan, Maple Leaf Foods
Mylène Dupéré, Agropur
Erin Higdon, Atlantic Grocery Distributors Ltd.
Rishma Hudda, General Mills Canada
Pam Kellogg, Burnbrae Farms
Meghan Martens, P&H Foods
Cori Norman, Sobeys Inc.
Lori Pounder, Askew's Foods
Annie St-Laurent, Metro Inc.
Ellen Thompson, Mars Snacking Canada
Laure Velten-Jameson, Sobeys Inc.
Aliki Zacharia, GS1 Canada
Shining-Level Stars
Liz Anderson, Farm Boy
Brianne Arnott, UNFI Canada
Chantal Azevedo, Metro Inc.
Sophie Bélanger, Keurig Dr Pepper Canada
Julie Bélanger, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Kelsey Best, Bimbo Canada
Geneviève Bolduc, Danone Canada
Manon Bouffard, Kruger Products
Sarah Boyles, Kraft Heinz Canada
Angela Bridge, PepsiCo Canada
Tamsin Carling, Stong's Market
Sarah Dawson, Sobeys Inc.
Cindy DeSousa, Longo's
Friyana Engineer, McCormick Canada
Charlene Glennson, The North West Company
Danielle Jacobs, Whole Foods Market
Jincy John Varghese, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Siobhan Juniku, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
Kayley Krupica, Kenvue Canada
Nicole LaRush, The Campbell Company
Rebecca Lu, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Avery MacKinnon-Barry, formerly Arterra Wines Canada (currently Farm Boy)
Trish Mallaci, Clorox Company of Canada
Audrey Marcotte, Unilever Canada
Leah Milne, The J.M. Smucker Co.
Lindsay Moore, Mondelēz
Virginie Perreault, Metro Inc.
Crystal Pontone, Henkel Consumer Brands
Robin Poulain, Conagra Brands Canada
Shahzil Qidwai, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Katie Ryan, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee
Penny Savoie, WK Kellogg Co
Candice Schalit, Ferrero Canada
Irene Shone, Lactalis Canada
Lauren Sittler, Yoplait Liberté Canada
Anita Soesilo, Loblaw Companies Ltd.
Kari-Lynn Solonik, Tree of Life Canada
Lily Wen, Nestlé Canada
Store-Level Stars
Esther Azgomi, Farm Boy
Lindsey Beaulac, Quality Foods (Pattison Food Group)
Andrea Bezanson, Sobeys Inc.
Toulla Colomvakos, Metro Inc.
Lyne Pilon, Super C (Metro Inc.)
Amber Skelton, Calgary Co-op
Evelyn Tumanon, Fresh St. Market
Diane Vallecorsa, Longo's
Heather West, FreshCo (Sobeys Inc.)
Allison Wormell, Nature's Fare Markets (Pattison Food Group)
