PHOTOS: Star Women in Grocery 2026
The grocery industry convened in Toronto last week to celebrate the winners of Canadian Grocer’s 2026 Star Women in Grocery Awards.
More than 700 industry leaders turned out Sept. 24 for the sold-out event at The International Centre.
This year, Canadian Grocer recognized 60 outstanding women shaping the country’s grocery industry—from marketing and communications to research and development, in-store operations, sales, HR and more.
Attendees heard from keynote speaker Deb Craven, president of Longo’s and Sandra Sanderson, former chief marketing officer of Empire Company Ltd. and this year’s Star Women in Grocery Icon Award winner.
The event also included a panel discussion with 2026 winners Sarah Boyles, director of customer sales planning, Kraft Heinz Canada; Rishma Hudda, head of human resources, General Mills; Rebecca Lu, senior director, capital and merchandise planning, Loblaw Companies Ltd.; and Annie St-Laurent, vice-president, private label, Metro Inc.
Following the awards breakfast was the second annual invite-only Star Women in Grocery Networking lunch, with speakers including Catherine O’Brien, SVP, corporate affairs, Nestlé Canada, and Stacey Kravitz, president of UNFI Canada.
Swipe through the gallery below to see some highlights from the day. Photography by John Goldstein
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It was a full house for the 2026 Star Women in Grocery Awards -
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Lavazza baristas serve up drinks for attendees -
L-R: Naniss Gadel-Rab (Mondelēz Canada), Sandra Parente (Canadian Grocer) and Pierre St-Laurent (Empire Company Ltd. and Sobeys Inc.) -
Joe Fusco (Metro Inc.), Tom Gunter (T.A.G Marketplace.), Shaun McKenna (Encore Market Engagement) and Sandra Parente -
Lyne Jetté (Metro Inc.), Vincent Nadeau (Kraft Heinz) and Sandra Parente -
Maria Triggiani (Longo’s), Deb Craven (Longo’s), Nicole Salloum (Farm Boy) -
John Bayliss (Metro Inc.), Martin Payant (Unilever), Paul Bravi (Metro), Steeve Lamontagne (Kruger Products) and Annie St-Laurent (Metro Inc.) -
Karen White-Boswell (Sobeys) and Amanda Labuckas (FreshCo) -
Sonia Weglowski and Alessandra Bisaillon of Farm Boy -
Roberta Thomson and Julia Sokolova of Canadian Grocer -
Stacey Kravitz (UNFI), Joe Fusco (Metro Inc.), Gabriella Nobrega (The Grocery Foundation) and Sandra Parente -
Deb Craven and Sandra Parente -
Loblaw Companies team supporting 2026 Star Women in Grocery winner and panelist Rebecca Lu -
Brigitte Brandt-Welzel (Brandt Meat Packers Ltd.) and Joey Longo (Longo’s) -
Roberta Thomson and Stacey Kravitz -
Brenda Kirk and Jamie Nelson (Pattison Food Group) -
2026 Star Women in Grocery winners (group 1) -
2026 Star Women in Grocery winners (group 2) -
2026 Star Women in Grocery panel featuring Sarah Boyles (Kraft Heinz), Rishma Hudda (Rishma Hudda), Rebecca Lu and Annie St-Laurent -
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Deb Craven delivers keynote address -
Sandra Sanderson, former chief marketing officer of Empire Company Ltd. and 2026 Star Women in Grocery Icon Award winner -
Catherine O’Brien, SVP, corporate affairs, Nestlé Canada -
Susan Irving, chief marketing officer, Kruger Products -
Stacey Kravitz, president of UNFI Canada -
Tim Lute, Conagra Brands -
Sheana Pylypowich, head of customer development, Kraft Heinz -
Naniss Gadel-Rab, president, Mondelēz Canada -
Diane Brisebois, acting CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association (former president and CEO, Retail Council of Canada) -
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