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Sylvain Charlebois

Super Bowl Drives Major Food Spending in Canada

Super Bowl weekend has become a major at-home food occasion in Canada, with millions of viewers driving spikes in wings, snacks, and delivery orders.

Canada’s Food Inflation Problem Is Getting Worse

Canada now leads the G7 with 6.2% food inflation, signaling deeper structural and policy challenges in the food system.

McDonald’s Canada Triggers a New Fast-Food Price War

McDonald’s Canada freezes value pricing for a year, forcing rivals to respond and sending ripple effects through restaurants, processors, and Canadian farms.

VIDEO: Canadian restaurants struggling, Sylvain Charlebois

Charlebois said his team’s analysis suggests Canada experienced a net loss of roughly 7,000 restaurant establishments in 2025 and is on track to lose about another 4,000 in 2026, as closures continue to outpace openings

Canada Could Lose 4,000 Restaurants in 2026

Despite growth on paper, Canada’s restaurant sector faces rising costs, shrinking margins, and accelerating closures heading into 2026.

Canada’s Food Economy Faces a Defining Shift in 2026

Canada’s food economy enters a pivotal year as trade pressures, health trends, AI pricing, and new regulations reshape the sector in 2026.

Pet Food Inflation Becomes a Cost-of-Living Crisis in Canada

Pet food inflation in Canada has surged since 2020, pushing pet ownership from a lifestyle choice into a growing cost-of-living pressure.

Grocery Code of Conduct in Canada Faces Its First Real Test

Canada’s Grocers’ Code of Conduct enters force in 2026, but its ability to curb food inflation and rebalance power remains uncertain.

Trump Pressures Canada on Dairy Supply Management Reform

Donald Trump’s trade pressure exposes the political power, opacity, and affordability challenges embedded in Canada’s dairy supply management system.

AI-Driven Pricing May Be the Next Shock to Canadian Grocery Shoppers

Dynamic pricing powered by AI is moving into grocery aisles, putting fairness, trust, and food affordability in Canada at risk, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois. 

Canada’s Top Food Stories of 2025 Reveal Structural Shifts

Dalhousie’s Top 10 Food Stories of 2025 highlight structural forces shaping food prices, trust, regulation, and affordability across Canada.

Canada’s Food Inflation Crisis Is Not About Grocers

Canada’s food inflation is rising faster than overall inflation, driven by structural costs, policy constraints, and supply chain pressures rather than grocery profits.

Why Canada Should End the GST and HST on All Food

Removing GST and HST on all food could ease rising costs, reduce tax distortions, and support economic growth across Canada, says Sylvain Charlebois. 

Food Inflation in Canada Has Become a Structural Crisis

Canada’s 2026 Food Price Report shows costs rising again as long-standing structural weaknesses continue to drive sustained food inflation across the country.

Canada’s Food Price Report 2026 predicts Canadian families will spend up to $994 more on food next year

Food prices are 27% higher than they were five years ago. Annual food price increases are currently within the range predicted in the 2025 report (4%), however meat increased at a faster rate than predicted (5% to 7%).

The Self-Checkout Experiment Is Failing in Canada

Self-checkouts are frustrating Canadians, driving up shrink and eroding trust, prompting retailers to rethink the model as the experiment falters, says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois.

Fall 2025 Food Index Shows Deepening Strain for Canadians

Canadians face rising food stress as the Fall 2025 Food Index reveals worsening affordability, shifting habits, and declining trust in the national food system.

Ottawa’s Beef Import System May Be Keeping Prices High

Canada’s opaque beef import permit system faces scrutiny as denied permits, concentrated processor power, and outdated oversight keep prices elevated.

Best Before Dates Confuse Canadians, Study Finds

New Canadian research shows confusion over best before dates fuels waste and household costs, with younger consumers most impacted.

Canada’s GLP-1 Shift Is Reshaping the Food Economy

Canada’s growing GLP-1 use is driving major shifts in food spending, grocery habits, and restaurant demand, reshaping the nation’s food economy.

U.S. Tariff Reversal Expected to Ease Food Costs for Canada

Canada stands to benefit as the U.S. rolls back food-related tariffs, lowering input costs for retailers and easing pressure on the supply chain.

Chicken Shortages Push Canadian Retail Prices Higher

Canada’s chicken supply crisis is driving record retail prices, exposing flaws in the country’s supply-management system.

Ottawa’s Budget Misses the Mark on Grocery Prices

Ottawa’s 2025 budget falls short on food affordability, offering little direct grocery relief while relying on trade and infrastructure to ease costs.

Why Food Prices Spike Every October and February in Canada

Seasonal food inflation in Canada stems from supplier–grocer contract cycles, not just global forces. The Grocery Code could bring stability says Sylvain Charlebois.

Health Canada’s Quiet Move on Cloned Meat Could Shake Retail Trust

Health Canada plans to deregulate cloned meat, allowing it into Canada’s food supply without labels — a move that could unsettle retailers and consumers alike.
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