The Food Professor

Michael LeBlanc, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Food Inflation

Food Safety

Caddle

Ungraded Mexican Beef

Cannabis Edibles

California Fast Food Wage Laws

Shrinkflation

Food Science

Loblaws

US Beef Processing Policies

Canada's Food Safety Regulations

Glp-1

Food Supply Chain

Crosby Foods

Grocery Competition

Uncle Bob's Popcorn

Boycotts

Plastics Pollution

SIAL Food Innovation Show

Canada's Supply Chain

Join Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax with host Michael LeBlanc as they look at the hot issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries. We'll discuss proprietary industry and consumer food related research, check out fresh new ideas and talk about half baked strategies. © 2020-2026 M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. Al... more

145 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	254	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	NewsBusinessBusiness NewsManagement

Listen to this Podcast

Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Government Grocers, Mega-Mergers, Cash & Carry Battles, Alberta Whisky and guest Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group

What does it really take to run one of Canada's largest western grocery enterprises — and what does the future of food retail actually look like from the inside? This week on the Food Professor Podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Professor Sylvain Cha... more

2 Apr 2026 • 44 min

Manitoba Skips The Food Tax, DoorDash Tops Up, Big CPG Investment in Canada and guest Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois lead with a fascinating interview featuring Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer at IKEA Canada. Kelly, a 35-year veteran of the company, explains how IKEA—best ... more

26 Mar 2026 • 58 min

YouTube

Carbon Tax Debate Clap Back, Grading the Carney Government 1 Year Later, Butter on the Run and guest Brent Cator, President & Owner of Cardinal Meats

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois tackle the biggest forces shaping Canada’s food economy—from rising grocery prices and global conflict to policy debates and shifting consumer behaviour.

The e... more

19 Mar 2026 • 56 min

YouTube

Canada’s Looming Ag Crisis, RC Show Redux, Toronto Pizza Crawl, a Visit to the Golden Arches, plus guest Cooper Sleeman, John Sleeman & Son’s Spring Mill Distillery

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Cooper Sleeman, from John Sleeman & Sons Company’s Spring Mill Distillery, to explore how one of Canada’s most recognizable brewing families is re... more

12 Mar 2026 • 57 min

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Recent Guests

Jamie Nelson

President of Pattison Food Group

Pattison Food Group

Episode: Government Grocers, Mega-Mergers, Cash & Carry Battles, Alberta Whisky and guest Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group

Rob Kelly

Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada

IKEA Canada

Episode: Manitoba Skips The Food Tax, DoorDash Tops Up, Big CPG Investment in Canada and guest Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada

Brent Cator

President & Owner of Cardinal Meats

Cardinal Meats

Episode: Carbon Tax Debate Clap Back, Grading the Carney Government 1 Year Later, Butter on the Run and guest Brent Cator, President & Owner of Cardinal Meats

Cooper Sleeman

Representative of Spring Mill Distillery, Sleeman lineage

Spring Mill Distillery

Episode: Canada’s Looming Ag Crisis, RC Show Redux, Toronto Pizza Crawl, a Visit to the Golden Arches, plus guest Cooper Sleeman, John Sleeman & Son’s Spring Mill Distillery

Gavin Schneider

CEO and Co-Founder of Maia Farms

Maia Farms

Episode: Epic Fury & Carbon Tax Cost Shocks, Canada–India-Australia Trade Bump, Elbows Up Alcohol Anniversary and guest Gavin Schneider, CEO & Co-Founder of Maia Farms

Robert Carter

President of the Coffee Association of Canada; Managing Partner at StrattonHunter Group

Coffee Association of Canada; StrattonHunter

Episode: Grocery Density, L.A.’s Eggslut in Canada, Nice Cans Scores with NYT and guest Robert Carter, president of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at The StratonHunter Group

Jason McLinton

President of the Fisheries Council of Canada

Fisheries Council of Canada

Episode: Elbows Up Bridge Trouble, Montreal Bagel Heated Rivarly, Dairy Skimming & guest Jason McLinton, President of the Fisheries Council of Canada

Deborah Matteliano Simeoni

Global Head Restaurants at Amazon AWS, previously with Uber where she launched Uber Eats in the US and Canada.

Amazon AWS

Episode: Trade Talk on the Prairies, Canada's new U.S. Ambassador & Supply Management and How AI Is Rewiring Foodservice with Deborah Matteliano Simeoni, Global Head of Restaurants at Amazon AWS

Cosimo Mammoliti

Founder & CEO of the Terroni Group, operating restaurants in Toronto and Los Angeles.

Terroni Group

Episode: CFIA Cuts, GST Grocery Rebate, Gene-Edited Pork, Amazon’s Grocery Reset and guest Cosimo Mammoliti, Founder & CEO of the Terroni Group

Hosts

Michael LeBlanc

Host of The Food Professor Podcast, a media entrepreneur with a focus on the food industry.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

The Food Professor, Senior Director at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.

Reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars from 145 ratings

Volume
Please increase recording volume. Have issue hearing on iPhone.
Apple Podcasts
3
LetSrok
Canada23 days ago
Loser Behavior
I cannot begin to describe how pathetic this person and podcast are. @FoodProfessor on twitter is an account I would NEVER want associated with any production of mine, but these guys are pround of being insufferable "i ThInk My OpInIoN sHoUlD bE yOuR oPiNiOn" type people. Please consider hitting yourselves on the heads with hammers in hopes of reversing the brain damage you've clearly suffered
Apple Podcasts
1
joeysnyder
United Statesa month ago
Great Podcast
Always enjoy listening to the Food Professor’s point of view of current events. Very informative!
Apple Podcasts
5
Mac N’ Tosh
Canadaa year ago
Breath of fresh air
Finally we have somone who actually has an understanding of what’s going on behind the scenes and not afraid to talk about it. Seems like all the “educated elite” who teach our kids all speak from the same handbook - I really enjoy listening to Sylvian and his perspective. While I don’t always agree with him I enjoy his in depth reasoning.
Apple Podcasts
5
KDP125
Canadaa year ago
Per Bank
The interview with Per was epic.
Apple Podcasts
5
Foodie in the zone
Canadaa year ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, feedback suggests that those interested in food policy, sustainability, and market trends find this podcast valuable and informative.

Some reviews mention skepticism towards the hosts' independence, with critical remarks about potential biases related to corporate influence in the food industry.

Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions on current food industry trends and challenges, often highlighting the hosts' expertise and engaging dialogue.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#4	Canada/Business/Management
Apple Podcasts	#56	Canada/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Government Grocers, Mega-Mergers, Cash & Carry Battles, Alberta Whisky and guest Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group

Q: How do you see generational shifts in consumer behavior affecting grocery retail?

The guest noted that consumers are increasingly taking control, valuing transparency and the origin of products, and expecting smarter, more relevant product assortments rather than being dictated by shelf placement alone.

Government Grocers, Mega-Mergers, Cash & Carry Battles, Alberta Whisky and guest Jamie Nelson, President of Pattison Food Group

Q: What are your thoughts on the merger and its impact on consumers?

The guest expressed that while scale can be beneficial for addressing headwinds and efficiency, there is concern about reduced competition and potential higher prices for consumers, emphasizing the need to balance consolidation with consumer access and value.

Carbon Tax Debate Clap Back, Grading the Carney Government 1 Year Later, Butter on the Run and guest Brent Cator, President & Owner of Cardinal Meats

Q: You've built Cardinal Meats into Canada's largest burger producer. What keeps you focused on innovation while maintaining core values?

Our philosophy rests on integrity, serving customers, and teamwork across departments; innovation is driven by real customer needs and a long-standing commitment to food safety, which we see as a platform for trust and growth rather than a marketing statement.

Manitoba Skips The Food Tax, DoorDash Tops Up, Big CPG Investment in Canada and guest Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada

Q: How can listeners find out more about IKEA Canada?

Rob points listeners to www.ikea.ca for press releases and the Life at Home and Food reports.

Manitoba Skips The Food Tax, DoorDash Tops Up, Big CPG Investment in Canada and guest Rob Kelly, Chief Commercial Officer, IKEA Canada

Q: How many meatballs a year do you sell in Canada?

Rob notes that IKEA Canada sells over 70 million meatballs annually, highlighting the scale of their core offering.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Food Professor

What is The Food Professor about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The discussions center around contemporary issues in the food, grocery, and restaurant industries, incorporating insights from consumer research and industry analysis. Key topics include food inflation, technological advancements in food service, and the challenges faced by various sectors, such as seafood and agriculture. Notably, this podcast features in-depth analyses with industry experts, reflecting on market trends and policies while also touching upon lighter discussions related to consumer preferences and food culture. Its unique blend of serious examination and approachable dialogue sets it apart, appealing to both industry professionals and food enthusiasts alike.

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How many listeners does The Food Professor get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Food Professor?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Food Professor:

1. Hub Podcasts
2. The Loonie Hour
3. The Herle Burly
4. Full Comment
5. The Decibel

How many episodes of The Food Professor are there?

The Food Professor launched 6 years ago and published 254 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Food Professor?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Food Professor?

Recent guests on The Food Professor include:

1. Jamie Nelson
2. Rob Kelly
3. Brent Cator
4. Cooper Sleeman
5. Gavin Schneider
6. Robert Carter
7. Jason McLinton
8. Deborah Matteliano Simeoni

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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