Where are they now? Catching up with 2024 Generation Next winner Mariline Mailhot
Canadian Grocer’s Generation Next Awards celebrate emerging leaders (under 40) who are shaping Canada’s grocery industry. Ahead of this year’s nomination deadline (Sept. 11), we checked in with 2024 winner Mariline Mailhot, vice-president of marketing and innovation, Fresh Products at Agropur, to find out what's new in her career.
How has your career evolved since winning the Generation Next Award?
"When I received the Generation Next Award in 2024, I was director, marketing, innovation and product development, Ice Cream. Since then, my role has continued to evolve in ways that have broadened both my perspective and my leadership.
"In 2025, my responsibilities expanded to include New Business Partnerships. This gave me the opportunity to strengthen my commercial and strategic capabilities by leading partnership development with key customers, negotiating agreements, facilitating strategic innovation workshops, and ensuring flawless execution as we brought new ice cream innovations to market with our B2B partners. Then, in May 2026, I was appointed vice president, marketing and innovation for our Fresh Products business. It is a privilege to lead such an important category at a time when consumer needs are evolving rapidly. We’re seeing strong momentum behind premium dairy, high-protein products and nutrient-dense foods as consumers increasingly seek products that deliver both value and wellness. I’m excited to help shape the future of the category by building brands consumers love and bringing meaningful innovation to the market."
How do you measure success today versus when you won the award?
"Today, more than ever, I believe that sustainable success is driven by people, engagement, and alignment. Earlier in my career, I thought that having a strong strategy and clear KPIs was the primary driver of business performance. While those remain essential, I’ve learned that engagement and alignment are what ultimately determines whether a strategy reaches its full potential. You can have the best strategy on paper, but without an engaged team that feels empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace change, and continuously improve, results will eventually plateau. As a leader, I now measure success not only by business outcomes, but by the environment we create, one where people feel inspired, accountable, and excited to build what’s next. When you get this right, exceptional results follow."
How do you stay motivated and inspired?
"Curiosity has always been one of my greatest sources of motivation. I’m fascinated by consumer behavior and the 'why' behind people’s decisions. I enjoy exploring emerging food trends, business strategies, changing consumption habits and new technologies that are shaping the future of our industry. Even with a busy schedule, I intentionally carve out time to read trend reports, attend webinars and stay connected to what’s happening beyond my day-to-day responsibilities. Continuous learning fuels my energy, challenges my thinking and helps me bring fresh perspectives to my team and to the business."
What career advice would you give your younger self?
"Stay true to yourself. Don’t try to fit into someone else’s definition of what a leader should look like. Everyone has unique strengths, and your greatest impact comes from leaning into them rather than trying to fit a mould that wasn’t designed for you. Authenticity builds trust, and confidence comes from knowing who you are, not from trying to be someone else. When you embrace your own leadership style and focus on your strengths, you unlock your full potential."
