The Food Professor

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois begin with their weekly conversation on the latest food and agriculture news shaping the global agri-food economy. The discussion covers geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the potential ripple effects on energy prices, transportation costs, and food inflation. The hosts explore how rising fuel prices could impact the cost of food production and distribution and how much money already strapped Canadians have to spend on food, while also discussing broader global trade implications for agriculture.  And maybe, just maybe, the upside to the w...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Robert Carter, President of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at StrattonHunter Group, for an in-depth look at Canada’s coffee and restaurant industries at a moment of significant disruption.

Carter explains why coffee remains Canada’s most consumed beverage and a cornerstone of daily life, yet the industry is under intense pressure. Record-high green bean futures, climate volatility in producing nations, commodity speculation, and persistent U.S. tariffs — notably outside CUSMA protections — are reshaping the economics of roasting and expo...

In this special “Year of the Fire Horse” episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging and unfiltered analysis of the forces reshaping Canada’s food economy — from stubborn food inflation to AI-powered grocery shopping, trade diplomacy, restaurant distress, and the surprising fall in cocoa and coffee prices.

The episode opens with a deep dive into Canada’s alarming 7.3% food inflation rate — the highest among G7 nations. Stripping out the temporary GST holiday effect, inflation still lands north of 6%, raising serious structural concerns about Canada’s food supply chain. Sylvain outlines the r...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion that spans Canadian agricultural investment, dairy transparency, food trade infrastructure, and seafood sustainability—before welcoming Jason McLinton, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada, for an in-depth conversation on the future of Canada’s wild capture seafood industry.

The episode opens with analysis of major developments shaping Canadian agri-food policy. Sylvain reflects on Canadian Ag Day  spent in Saskatoon and the newly announced $5 billion investment coalition led by Farm Credit Canada, designed to mobilize private capital into agriculture and agri...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion that connects Canadian food policy, trade risk, pricing power, and the accelerating role of AI in restaurants. The episode is anchored by a forward-looking interview with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, Global Head of Restaurants at Amazon Web Services (AWS), recorded live at the NRF Big Show in New York.

The first half of the episode focuses on the state of Canadian agriculture and food affordability. Sylvain shares firsthand insights from meetings with farmers across the Prairies, highlighting cautious optimism around renewed...

On this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack one of the most wide-ranging conversations of the season—blending major food policy, trade, and retail stories with an inspiring deep dive into the life and business philosophy of Cosimo Mammoliti, Founder & CEO of the Terroni Group.

The episode opens with fast-moving headlines shaping Canada’s food system. The hosts analyze the federal government’s decision to cut roughly 1,300 jobs at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), debating whether technology, AI, and risk-based inspection models can offset staffing losses. They then break down t...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois unpack two powerful and timely themes shaping Canada’s food system: the shifting geopolitical landscape of agri-food and the growing threat of food fraud. The episode opens with a wide-ranging news segment focused on Canada’s evolving trade relationship with China, recent developments at Davos, and new data on food inflation.

Sylvain shares insights from Manitoba Ag Days, where optimism is building among farmers following Canada’s short-term agricultural trade deal with China, particularly for canola, lobster, and beef exports. The hosts explor...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver a wide-ranging discussion on the forces reshaping food, retail, and consumer behaviour—before sitting down with one of Canada’s most dynamic food entrepreneurs, Suzie Yorke, CEO and Founder of The Little Cacao Company.

The episode opens with insights from New York City, where Michael reports from NRF Big Show, highlighting how retail continues to blend hospitality, entertainment, and commerce. From Tecovas’ in-store bar concept to Printemps’ alcohol-free champagne experience, the hosts explore how experiential retail is redefining consumer engagement. The conversation then shi...

In the first episode of 2026, The Food Professor Podcast kicks off the year with a wide-ranging discussion that blends big-picture food system insights with an inspiring founder story. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois are joined by Roxanne Joyal, Founder and CEO of &Back Coffee, for a conversation that spans food policy, restaurant industry disruption, and the future of ethical coffee.

The episode opens with the hosts unpacking several pressing food industry developments. Charlebois shares fresh analysis on supply chain volatility, including short-term disruptions in chicken and lactose-free milk, and explores how new vitamin D fortification...

The final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2025 delivers a timely, wide-ranging examination of Canada’s food system, blending macroeconomic analysis with a compelling, real-world industry case study. Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open the episode by reviewing their Top 10 Food Stories of 2025, a list that reflects a year defined less by short-term volatility and more by deep, structural challenges.

Among the key themes is the growing consensus that food inflation in Canada is structural rather than cyclical, driven by long-standing issues such as interprovincial trade barriers, fragmented labour policy, logistics inefficiencies, regulatory complexity, an...

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast opens with Michael and Sylvain analyzing the most pressing developments shaping Canada’s food and retail landscape. Sylvain reflects on the extraordinary national and global reach of Canada’s Food Price Report, which this year generated unprecedented media attention and continues to influence retailers, manufacturers, governments, and consumers planning for 2026. They dig into the structural issues behind Canada’s complex food-tax regime, discuss why the GST holiday changed how Canadians think about food pricing, and explore the broader economic forces influencing consumer behaviour.

The hosts then turn to one of the mo...

In this action and insight-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Hugo Magnan, President of Groupe MAG, the Quebec-based culinary innovator behind some of Canada’s most delicious mayonnaise, salad dressings, dips, and sauces. Hugo shares the company’s origin story — founded in 1989 by his father Jacques — and explains how Groupe MAG carved out a loyal following through premium ingredients, bold flavours, and a commitment to craft. Michael even reveals his own culinary experiments using MAG mayonnaise in a Texan-style potato salad, highlighting the brand’s versatility and taste advantage over mainstream...

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast takes a deep dive into one of the most powerful forces now reshaping the food industry: the rapid rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois begin with a run-through of current food and retail headlines, including controversy at Campbell Soup, conversations around AI adoption and innovation in the food sector, and early teasers from the 2026 Canada Food Price Report. These stories set the stage for this week’s feature discussion: how GLP-1 medications are altering what consumers eat, where they shop, and wh...

In this can’t-miss episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois return with Part Two of their exclusive, final official interview with Michael Medline, former President & CEO of Empire/Sobeys. Medline offers unusually candid reflections on leadership, culture, vendor relationships, and the evolution of one of Canada’s largest food retailers.

The conversation opens with a deep dive into vendor relations and the Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct. Medline explains his early shock at the combative nature of vendor–retailer dynamics and details his personal commitment to transforming the ecosystem into one built on fai...

In this first instalment of a two-part exclusive, The Food Professor Podcast sits down in person with Michael Medline, (now) former President and CEO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys, in what serendipitously became his last official interview before news broke of his transition to lead The Woodbridge Company. Michael offers a rare, deeply personal look at his eight-plus-year tenure transforming one of Canada’s largest retailers. He recounts stepping into the role in 2017, reshaping strategy, modernizing systems, and fostering a culture built on values, innovation, and operational excellence.

Michael reflects on navigating the massive disruptions of re...

Recorded live at the Coffee Association of Canada Annual Conference, this special edition of The Food Professor Podcast with Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois brews up a rich conversation on the state of Canada’s food economy, the coffee industry’s shifting landscape, and the global forces shaping what Canadians eat and drink live on the stage.

The episode opens with Michael and Sylvain diving into the latest geopolitical tensions influencing trade and agriculture. From Washington to Mexico City, Sylvain shares insights from his travels and firsthand discussions with U.S. policy insiders and Latin American prod...

In this flavorful new episode of The Food Professor Podcast—presented by Caddle—Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois serve up an inspiring conversation with Rob Sengotta, chef and co-founder of Von Slick’s Finishing Touch, the award-winning Manitoba-based producer of gourmet compound butters.

The Interview

Rob takes listeners behind the scenes of his chef-to-entrepreneur journey—from fine-dining kitchens in London and France to building a small-batch butter business on the prairies. He shares how curiosity and culinary discipline led to Von Slick’s signature push-tube packaging and eight imaginative flavours, including garlic confit, roasted red pepper...

In this dynamic episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dive into the latest headlines shaping Canada’s food and beverage sector before welcoming Kiran Mann, CEO of Brar’s, one of North America’s fastest-growing South Asian food manufacturers.

The episode opens with a timely look at the hospitality boost from the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series run, a much-needed economic shot in the arm for restaurants and bars coast-to-coast. From there, Sylvain unpacks fresh Canadian inflation data, connecting global trade policy, tariffs, and drought-driven beef shortages to conti...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open with a wide-ranging conversation on global trade tensions, the state of Canadian agriculture, and the latest policy moves shaping our food economy — before turning to the fascinating story of Stephen Mitchell, President of Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery, Ontario’s only beachfront winery on the Lake Erie North Shore.

Michael and Sylvain begin by unpacking the economic aftershocks of U.S. tariff wars, as soybean farmers in America face devastating losses and look for government bailouts amid shifting Chinese trad...

In this powerful new episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dissect the forces shaping Canada’s food and agriculture economy—from farmland bubbles and provincial politics to the latest retail coffee price increases.

The show opens with Michael’s visit to Prince Edward County, where he talks about reconnecting with past guest Dan Sullivan of Rosehall Run Vineyards and celebrates the growing influence of culinary innovator and recent guest Charlotte Langley, whose tinned-seafood brand Nice Cans is redefining Canadian bespoke tinned fish dining. Sylvain weighs in on stalle...

In this lively new episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois dive into the latest food, retail, and agriculture headlines before sitting down with a fascinating guest: Bryce Lobreau, Co-Founder of 8 Acres, one of Canada’s most innovative organic and grass-fed beef brands.

The episode begins with a timely look at Canadians’ Thanksgiving dinner costs for 2025. Sylvain shares the results of his annual food price survey, which shows some rare good news: overall holiday meal costs are essentially flat compared to last year, with turkey and fresh produce slightly cheaper. However, canned item...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring their trademark mix of food industry news analysis and an in-depth conversation with a leading Canadian food entrepreneur.

The episode opens with a wide-ranging look at the Canadian retail and restaurant landscape. Sylvain shares highlights from his keynote in Brampton, Ontario, where the city is building momentum as a potential logistics hub for food and agriculture. Michael and Sylvain discuss strong retail sales numbers, resilience in consumer spending, and a new Restaurants Canada report. The report highlights shifting...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver their trademark mix of hard-hitting food industry analysis and an insightful conversation with a top Canadian food leader.

The episode kicks off with a wide-ranging news segment. Michael and Sylvain debate Canada’s “Big Five” fast-tracked federal projects and why agri-food continues to be sidelined in national infrastructure planning. They highlight the missed opportunities for boosting food supply chain efficiency, from beef processing facilities to critical ports like Vancouver, which remain among the world’s least efficient. The hosts al...

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois tackle the latest headlines shaping Canada’s food and retail landscape before welcoming back a dynamic entrepreneur reshaping the seafood category.

The conversation begins with a heated national debate: should Canada eliminate the Temporary Foreign Worker Program? Sylvain outlines the program’s critical role in agriculture, agri-food processing, and restaurants, weighing the Conservative proposal to phase it out against industry concerns. He highlights the tension between labour shortages in rural communities and youth unemployment, noting how food service has become “addicted” to low-wage...

Season Six, Episode Two of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, blends sharp industry commentary with a fascinating guest interview. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a rapid-fire news roundup before diving deep into the global lobster story with award-winning journalist and author Greg Mercer.

The news segment sets the tone with big changes in consumer packaged goods. Kraft Heinz’s decision to split operations sparks debate on the future of “bigger is better” corporate strategies, recalling the infamous ketchup wars and highlighting how local plants may be impacted. The hosts also explor...

Season Six of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, kicks off with hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois diving into a whirlwind of summer news, trade turbulence, and big-picture food industry shifts. This debut episode sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking season.

Michael and Sylvain begin with personal updates from a busy summer, including travels to Quebec City, Sylvain’s new role as Visiting Scholar at McGill University, and Michael’s experiences covering retail in New York. They also announce that full video episodes of The Food Professor are now...

In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Brian Choi, CEO of The Food Institute, for a candid conversation recorded live at the SIAL Canada show. Born in Calgary and now based in New York, Brian brings a unique global perspective on food, trade, and the evolution of consumer behavior.

Brian shares the remarkable story of how he acquired the Food Institute in January 2020—mere weeks before the pandemic upended the world. At that time, the Food Institute was a dated print publication struggling to remain relevant. Within two we...

In this flavour-packed episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada Food Innovation Show, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome Dieter Heidegger of Moosbrugger, for an in-depth conversation about the art, tradition, and innovation behind Austria’s award-winning cheeses.

Dieter shares the fascinating story of Moosbrugger’s humble beginnings, tracing its roots back to the owner’s father-in-law, a master cheesemaker who started selling cheese from the back of a car. Through passion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to quality, the company has grown into an internationally recognized brand—most recently winning a gold med...

In this flavourful episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Shruti Priya Agarwal and Akshay Kalekar, the co-founders of Whipdd, a rising Canadian food startup transforming the humble butter into a flavour-packed experience. Born from a spark in a home kitchen in India, their story is one of culinary creativity, entrepreneurial hustle, and cross-continental ambition.

Shruti, a trained chef with over a decade of experience in the pastry world, first started crafting flavoured garlic butter for friends and family. The rave reviews led to the idea for a scalable product. Upon moving to Canada...

In this deliciously inspiring episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down live in person in Toronto at the SIAL Food Innovation show with Tamara Al Dip and Yazeed Yasin, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind NanaShake, a frozen treat brand making waves with their vegan-friendly, upcycled banana-based pops.

Fresh off their win at the SIAL Canada pitch competition, Tamara and Yazeed share their entrepreneurial journey, rooted in a desire to find a healthy, asthma-friendly dessert for their son. What started as a scoop shop in Toronto has since evolved into...

In this sizzling episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada food innovation show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael and Sylvain welcome Pierre-Olivier Drouin, Co-Founder of Firebarns, the fast-growing Quebec-based condiment company that brings flavour-first hot sauces to shelves across North America.

Pierre-Olivier shares his unexpected journey from banking at RBC to launching Firebarns after a revelatory encounter with spicy wings during a hockey game in Florida. Inspired by that moment, he partnered with longtime friend Frank to build what they dreamed would be the next Tabasco—made in Canada. Their goal? A bold br...

In this live episode from the SIAL Canada show floor in Toronto, we welcome a very special guest: Laura Brehaut, Food Reporter at the National Post. With a thoughtful blend of experience in anthropology, media production, culinary training, and a deep journalistic instinct, Laura offers a compelling perspective on Canada's evolving food landscape and how stories around food intersect with culture, politics, health, and economics.

Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois flip the script by interviewing Laura, who is usually the one asking the questions. Laura shares how her journey began in anthropology and linguistics before...

In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-Michael interviews Ed Madronich, President of Flat Rock Cellars, recorded live at the Ontario Craft Wineries Conference in Niagara Falls.

As part of the podcast's summer series highlighting thought leaders in the Canadian food and beverage industry, this episode delves into Ed's personal and professional journey through the wine industry and the evolution of one of Ontario's most celebrated wineries.

Ed shares how a chance trip to France at age 19 sparked his lifelong love for wine—an encounter that led to a career built on...

In this insightful summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Keith Currie, President at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, live from the floor of SIAL Toronto. Representing more than 190,000 farmers and ranchers across the country and an eighth-generation farmer himself, Currie provides a candid, wide-ranging view on the future of Canadian agriculture—and why it's time for policymakers to pay closer attention.

Currie highlights that agriculture contributes more than $150 billion to Canada's GDP and employs 2.5 million Canadians, surpassing the combined total of the auto, forestry, oil an...

In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois welcome two exceptional guests: Joanne McArthur, President of Nourish Food Marketing and co-chair of the SIAL Innovation jury, and Chantal Van Winden, CEO of Olimega and this year’s SIAL Innovation Gold Medal winner. The episode dives deep into Chantal’s award-winning product—Camelina oil with a buttery flavour—unpacking its health benefits, sustainable production, and commercial potential.

Chantal shares the remarkable 18-year journey behind the development of camelina oil, a u...

In this special summer bonus episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc brings listeners straight to the SIAL Food Innovation Show floor for a flavorful conversation with Chef Jonathan Maters, co-founder of Smokin Jon’s BBQ & Company. Born in Newfoundland and based in New Brunswick, Jonathan shares how a pandemic-era pivot turned his passion for barbecue into a growing food enterprise capturing the attention of retailers and food lovers alike.

Jonathan walks us through his culinary roots, detailing how he started with a single signature sauce—Smoky Maple—bottled and sold from his backyard deck. With d...

The Food Professor Podcast closes out its fifth season (sort of) with a sizzling, two-guest double feature and a feast of food industry insights.

Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick things off with a robust news round-up, starting with the Competition Bureau’s lawsuit against DoorDash. The case alleges deceptive pricing practices that could set a major precedent in Canada’s rapidly evolving food delivery sector. Next up is a conversation about GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, and their surprising ripple effects across the food and restaurant industries. With major players like McDonald’s flagging GLP-1’s impact...

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Food Innovation Show in Toronto, opens with co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois breaking down the week’s top food and retail stories.

First, they tackle the evolving Canadian political stance on supply management. Prime Minister Carney’s reversal in support of Bill C-282 suggests renewed government protectionism in agricultural trade, potentially complicating future international deals. Sylvain, who testified against the bill, argues for a smarter, more competitive dairy sector rather than entrenching status quo inefficiencies.

Next, they examine the return of Trum...

This episode of The Food Professor Podcast is steeped in insights, storytelling, and smoky Texas flavour. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a deep dive into the state of Canadian agri-food policy, tariffs, and food inflation before welcoming a very special guest: Tonia Jahshan, Founder and CEO of Sipology.

Broadcasting remotely from Texas, Sylvain shares updates from his new role as head of the prestigious Masters in Agribusiness program at Texas A&M University—ranked #1 in the U.S. and #3 globally. He offers behind-the-scenes insights into the world of American ag education, donor-funded in...

This episode opens with alarming news about Canada's food inflation reaching crisis levels. Charlebois reveals that Canada now has the highest food inflation rate among G7 countries, primarily driven by countervailing tariffs that have backfired on Canadian consumers. The hosts explain how Prime Minister Carney quietly eliminated most food-related tariffs on May 7th, though this decision received little public attention during the election. The discussion highlights how these tariffs made alternatives to American products more expensive, creating a perfect storm for Canadian grocery shoppers.

The conversation shifts to emerging issues like "maple washing," where Charlebois shares specific...