Putting Focus on Innovation When All They Want is Lower Prices

There has been a lot of focus on the price of food and beverages. Cost increases in ingredients, labour, packaging, logistics and other inputs have forced price increases across almost every category. Consumers, retailers and even politicians are focused on the prices they see in grocery stores. Peter will share tactics and strategies to help you get customers and consumers to see the value in the innovation you bring to the market. Innovation costs money and you need to get a return on your investments.

False Messaging: How Can the Agri-Food Industry Combat Statements Made by Celebrities and Conspirators.

In today’s digital landscape, false messaging relating to the agri-food industry fueled by celebrities and conspiracy theorists is a growing challenge across sectors. This panel will explore the dangers of misinformation and its rapid spread through influential voices, particularly in social media. It will discuss practical strategies for combating misleading statements, including collaboration with fact-checkers, fostering transparency, and leveraging trusted voices to counteract harmful narratives.

Biography

Peter Chapman not only understands the food industry, he has a passion for seeing others succeed in this business. His in-depth knowledge of the retail landscape and consumers has helped many food producers and processors. His valuable insights will help you navigate the marketplace more effectively and get your items on the shelf and into the shopping cart.

Peter’s experience includes the entire supply chain and retail merchandising. Starting at store level, he learned the importance of listening to consumers and the challenges of implementing strategies at retail. He went on to Canada’s largest food retailer, Loblaw’s, for nearly twenty years, expanding his knowledge working in various departments, including merchandising, marketing and advertising.

In 2007, Peter started a company to provide customized services to producers, processors and retailers across Canada. SKUFood works directly with producers and processors to help them understand their customers, the retailers. Peter is the author of A la cart, a supplier’s guide to retailers’ priorities, and he was the national president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers in 2021. He has provided food industry insights to Canadian Grocer, The Globe & Mail, Maclean’s magazine, Canada AM and he writes a monthly column in the Grower.

SKUFood