The FEED powered by Loblaw

How Fardad Moayeri & Family Built Parissa Laboratories into a Global Retail Brand

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded in North Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Fardad Moayeri, Principal - Chief Esthetics Officer, Parissa Laboratories Inc., to explore a classic Canadian entrepreneurial journey—from immigrant startup to globally recognized natural beauty brand. Parissa Laboratories, now approaching 43 years in business, began out of necessity. Moayeri’s mother, a highly educated chemical engineer, struggled to find employment after immigrating to Canada in the early 1980s. Faced with limited options, she turned to a traditional Persian sugar wax recipe, producing and packaging products at home with her family before selling them at local markets and stores. What followed is a story of persistence, adaptability, and disciplined growth. Built literally “store by store,” Parissa scaled alongside the evolution of modern retail—transitioning from independent shops to major partners like Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart. Today, the company operates globally, with distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia, while maintaining a focused niche in natural hair removal products. At the heart of Parissa’s success is an unwavering commitment to customer intimacy. From early days conducting in-store demos to today’s direct engagement through digital channels, the company has prioritized understanding real consumer pain points—often outperforming larger competitors who rely on expensive market research. This connection has fueled product innovation, education, and brand loyalty. Moayeri also shares candid insights into the realities of scaling in retail. From supply chain readiness and category positioning to the financial pressures of onboarding major accounts, he emphasizes that success requires more than a great product—it demands operational excellence and deep alignment with retailer expectations. His advice to entrepreneurs is clear: understand your category, prepare for rapid growth, and never underestimate the complexity of retail execution. Beyond business fundamentals, the episode highlights Parissa’s broader purpose. Rooted in values of ethics, sustainability, and community, the company continues to invest in local manufacturing, support new Canadians, and prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains. About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Craft, Crunch & Culture: Chris Hobson, Founder & CEO of Hobbs Pickles, on Reinventing Pickles for Modern Retail

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded live at Granville Island in Vancouver, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chris Hobson, Founder of Hobbs Pickles, to explore how a creative professional transformed a personal obsession into one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands. Chris didn’t set out to disrupt the pickle category—but after years in advertising and a deep passion for flavour, he saw a clear gap in the market. After moving to Vancouver, Hobson noticed the absence of high-quality, authentic deli-style pickles and decided to build something entirely new. What began as a concept—complete with branding boards, experiential retail design, and a “pickle tasting bar”—quickly evolved into a cult-favourite destination at Granville Island. At the heart of Hobbs Pickles is a commitment to craft and storytelling. Working with traditional pickle-making families in New York, Hobson developed a product that delivers a classic East Coast flavour profile with a modern West Coast brand aesthetic. The result is a premium, clean-label product that stands apart in a legacy category dominated by heritage brands. The conversation dives deep into how he built his brand from the ground up, leveraging experiential retail, word-of-mouth marketing, and a relentless focus on product quality. Hobson shares how Granville Island became his “ultimate focus group,” helping refine everything from flavour profiles to naming conventions—like the now-iconic “Big Dill.” As the brand scaled beyond its physical roots, Hobson discusses the challenges of translating that in-person energy to grocery shelves across Canada. From packaging design to strategic retail placement and storytelling, he explains how Hobbs Pickles competes in a crowded aisle by simplifying its message and staying laser-focused on one thing: doing pickles exceptionally well. The episode also explores broader industry dynamics, including disruption in the pickle category, the rise of Canadian brands, and evolving consumer interest in artisanal, flavour-forward foods. Hobbs reflects on working with major retailers like Loblaw, the importance of education at shelf, and the role of innovation—such as snackable pickle pouches—in driving trial and growth. For food entrepreneurs, Hobson offers clear, actionable advice: tell your story authentically, stay focused, and build a brand with your first true fans who connect with it emotionally. About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

The Future is “Free-From” and Delicious: Enza Cianciotta, Founder of Solenzi

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, recorded at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens flagship store in Toronto, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Enza Cianciotta, Founder of Solenzi Food, to explore the intersection of food innovation, entrepreneurship, and the evolving Canadian grocery landscape. Enza’s journey into the food industry is anything but traditional. After spending more than 30 years building software startups across North America and the UK, she returned to Toronto with a renewed passion for food, nutrition, and ingredient transparency. Inspired by the higher-quality, cleaner-label food standards she experienced in Europe, she identified a significant gap in the North American market: convenient, gourmet meal solutions made with simple, high-quality ingredients. That insight became the foundation of Solenzi Food—a brand focused on delivering “free-from” products that eliminate unnecessary additives, sugars, and artificial ingredients without compromising taste. From single-ingredient, high-protein lentil and chickpea pastas to innovative sauces made with coconut cream instead of dairy, Enza has built a product portfolio that aligns with modern consumer demand for both health and flavour. A standout example of her innovation process is the development of her boscaiola sauce—created organically from a trade show demo that quickly became a consumer favourite. This hands-on, market-driven approach reflects her broader philosophy: products must first pass the “craveability test” before they earn a place on the shelf. The conversation also dives into the realities of scaling a food brand in Canada. Enza shares how Loblaw’s small supplier program enabled her to transition from distributor-led retail to a direct relationship with one of the country’s largest grocers, accelerating her growth and providing critical market access. At the same time, she candidly addresses the challenges facing emerging Canadian brands, including tariff disruptions that forced her to pivot away from U.S. expansion and refocus on domestic growth. Her experience highlights both the opportunities and the friction within Canada’s grocery ecosystem, particularly as consumers increasingly seek local, high-quality alternatives. Ultimately, this episode is a masterclass in modern food entrepreneurship—blending global insight, product innovation, and retail strategy. Enza’s story underscores a powerful shift in consumer expectations: today’s shoppers want food that is not only convenient, but clean, transparent, and genuinely delicious. About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

From PEI Farmers’ Markets to Grocery Shelves: Founder & CEO Sarah Bennetto O’Brien of The Handpie Company

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc explores the remarkable entrepreneurial journey behind The Handpie Company, one of Canada’s most distinctive emerging food brands, with founder Sarah Bennetto O’Brien. Recorded at the historic Loblaws Maple Leaf Gardens store in Toronto, the conversation explores how a classically trained chef from Sudbury, Ontario, built a thriving frozen-food company rooted in local agriculture, culinary craftsmanship, and comfort-food innovation in PEI. Sarah’s journey started with a passion for cooking and formal culinary training. After earning her Red Seal certification at just 20, she worked across Canada before settling in Prince Edward Island, where a pivotal culinary discovery occurred. While experimenting with recipes from an Outlander-inspired cookbook, Sarah recreated a traditional Scottish hand pie using ingredients from the local PEI farmers’ market. Tasting her creation with her husband, Sarah instantly recognized its uniqueness. What began as a small restaurant and takeout operation soon evolved into a larger entrepreneurial vision. Through a $10,000 Kickstarter campaign and a tiny 580-square-foot kitchen, Bennetto O’Brien launched the first version of The Handpie Company. The product quickly developed a loyal following thanks to its buttery pastry, creative fillings and strong commitment to local sourcing. Today, The Handpie Company produces hundreds to thousands of hand pies per day, offering a wide range of flavours. The lineup includes classics such as chicken pot pie alongside inventive creations like bacon cheeseburger, curry chickpea and beet, corn and goat cheese — all built around a buttery pastry made with PEI butter and locally milled heritage grain flour. A key achievement for the business came when Bennetto O’Brien decided to pursue and successfully obtained federal CFIA licensing, permitting the company to distribute products beyond Prince Edward Island. Achieving certification for meat, dairy, and egg production required two years of construction and investment in a new production facility, ultimately enabling entry into national retail markets. Her efforts paid off when, through Loblaw’s Small Supplier Program—designed to help emerging Canadian food entrepreneurs—Bennetto O’Brien secured distribution for The Handpie Company across Atlantic Canada after a successful pitch in Toronto. This achievement expanded reach through Loblaw’s Moncton distribution centre. Throughout the conversation, Bennetto O’Brien shares candid insights and advice about the realities of scaling a food brand — from balancing culinary creativity with operational discipline to navigating retail portals and grocery supply chains. At its core, The Handpie Company remains deeply rooted in its founding values: supporting local farmers, maintaining ingredient quality and giving back through the company’s “Pie It Forward” program, which provides food donations to shelters and food banks. Looking ahead, Bennetto O’Brien has an ambitious goal — bringing hand pies to a much larger Canadian audience, starting with expansion into Ontario.    About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD, on Global Grocery Retail Best Practices & What Retail Looks Like in Ten Years

Recorded live inside a Real Canadian Superstore in Port Coquitlam, this episode of The FEED Powered by Loblaw features an in-depth conversation with Stewart Samuel, Director of Retail Futures at IGD. Together, we explore the future of grocery retail, AI-driven commerce, hypermarket reinvention, and the evolving expectations of Canadian shoppers. Stewart leads IGD’s global insights and foresight work, tracking retail signals and innovations that will shape the next five to seven years. He outlines IGD’s “Store of the Future” framework — built on four pillars: enhanced experience, optimized operations, value delivery, and positive impact (including health and sustainability). This very store ranks among IGD’s global Top 25 must-see stores — and Stewart explains why. We examine how Loblaw’s hypermarket model is evolving amid global pressure on large-format retail. From elevated beauty and health services to clear value messaging, loyalty integration, and improved sightlines, the modern store blends experience with efficiency. Stewart highlights how omnichannel fulfillment — especially in-store picking and third-party partnerships — has become foundational post-COVID, reflecting a structural shift in grocery e-commerce penetration. A major theme of the episode: AI’s accelerating role in grocery. From demand forecasting and pricing optimization to generative AI and emerging “agentic AI,” Stewart shares why he believes non-food retail will see transformation first, while grocery follows at a more deliberate pace. We discuss AI agents making autonomous purchase decisions, the future of personalization, and the implications for retail media and digital monetization. Stewart also predicts that even by 2040, grocery e-commerce will likely remain under 20% of total sales — reinforcing that physical stores remain central. However, they will become increasingly “hyper-connected,” powered by data that enhances workforce productivity, operational efficiency, and customer engagement. Finally, we explore trust as retail’s emerging superpower in an AI-driven world. As consumers navigate misinformation and digital complexity, trusted grocery brands may hold a distinct competitive advantage. If you want to understand where grocery retail is headed — from format innovation to AI, omnichannel, loyalty ecosystems, and the future of store operations — this conversation delivers clarity, strategy, and foresight. About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur.  He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.  Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail.   If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.