Canadian Grocery in Focus: Leadership, AI, and Resilience at RCCSTORE26

The grocery sector is navigating one of its most complex moments in recent memory. Tariff pressures, shifting consumer behaviour, generational diversity in the customer base, and the accelerating pace of AI adoption are all meeting at once. This June, RCCSTORE26 brings Canada’s retail community to Toronto for two days of focused conversation and networking.

Intelligent Tools, Confident Customers
One of the conference’s most anticipated mainstage sessions examines how artificial intelligence is reshaping the customer journey. Loblaws Senior Vice President of Ecommerce Rohit Sriram joins Groupe Dynamite Chief Technology Officer Dave Stevens to explore how retailers are building intelligent, customer-facing tools that elevate product discovery, support confident purchase decisions, and drive meaningful engagement. Expect practical insight into what effective AI implementation looks like, alongside the steps teams are taking to make it work.

Leading Through the Pressure
That focus on real-world execution carries into the leadership track. Loblaws Vice President and GM of Digital Loyalty Noah Goldberg sits down with Saje Natural Wellness Chief People Officer Phil Higdon for a candid discussion on what effective leadership requires in an environment defined by relentless change. From building resilient teams to maintaining momentum under pressure and shaping cultures that perform in uncertain conditions, the conversation will reflect challenges facing organizations across the sector.

Supply Chain and the Generational Customer
Two concurrent sessions extend the discussion to critical operational pressures.

• Canada’s retail supply chain is at a turning point, as tariffs, geopolitical uncertainty, and demand volatility reshape how goods move across borders and within the country. A panel featuring leaders from Port Saint John, DP World Canada, and CPKC Rail examines how closer alignment across ports, carriers, and retailers is building a more resilient ecosystem. 
• In parallel, a session with Environics Analytics will tackle the challenges of multigenerational strategy and how to prioritize assortment, format, and experience when no two customer cohorts want the same thing.

Celebrating the Best in Product Innovation
RCCSTORE26 closes on June 3rd with the 33rd Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards Gala, recognizing excellence in private label and national brand innovation. This year’s gala will also honour two of the Canadian grocery industry’s most distinguished leaders, Cara Keating, CEO PepsiCo Canada and Sandra Sanderson, CMO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., with Lifetime Achievement Awards. It’s a fitting close to two days focused on the industry’s future, grounded in recognition of those who have helped shape it.

RCCSTORE26 runs June 2–3 in Toronto. Full agenda and tickets at www.storeconference.ca.