Canadian Grocer’s November issue is here!

The final stretch of 2020 is upon us and as the pandemic drags on with no end in sight, it’s tempting to think longingly about the “before times” and when we’ll get back to them.

But what if we never quite get back to the lives we led in the good old days of 10 or so months ago? Many grocery industry observers are examining this very question—looking at what long-term consumer behaviour shifts may linger long after the threat of COVID-19 retreats. Lockdowns, isolation and economic uncertainty, it seems, are changing us in profound ways. We tackle this and more in our November issue.

In “Grocery’s great consumer shifts” writer Rebecca Harris delves into the topic and finds that contrary to the expression, old habits don’t always die hard but, in fact, die pretty quickly when confronted with an extraordinary disruptor like COVID-19. Harris talks to the experts who identify five consumer shifts that are expected to endure, as well as the opportunities for retailers that accompany these shifts.

In his column, Nielsen’s Carman Allison also looks at consumers’ changing ways and how their behaviours are being defined by an economic reset as they rethink how they shop and what they buy. And in “Private label ramps up,” Danny Kucharsky reports on how private label is having a bit of a moment as value-seeking consumers embrace these brands and retailers step up their game with products that rival the national brands.

Finally, we are delighted to feature the recipients of this year’s Golden Pencil Award on the cover of this issue. See for yourself why Burnbrae Farms’ Margaret Hudson and Farm Boy’s Jean-Louis Bellemare and Jeff York are so deserving of this honour—the Canadian grocery industry’s most prestigious award.

All this and much more in the November issue of Canadian Grocer. Happy reading!