Here’s a look at just a few of the people making a difference.
Walmart Canada’s Shena Tulloch promotes inclusion through art and partnerships
Shena Tulloch at Walmart Canada has played an essential role in promoting diversity and inclusion within the company. Her initiatives range from commissioning local artists to address social issues through their art to partnering with women-led and diverse businesses.
One of Tulloch’s notable projects involves incorporating local artists’ artwork into Walmart’s product lines, such as tote bags and apparel.
She pushed herself to be her true self at work and, surrounded by a group of colleagues who were equally committed to change, started hiring nearby artists to produce works of art that addressed contemporary social challenges. Including this artwork on goods like clothing and tote bags raises awareness of social issues and gives local artists a platform.
“During Black History Month, I noticed a lack of representation in products. I wanted to change that for Walmart,” Tulloch told Grocery Business.
Beyond art, Tulloch has led presentations for colleagues on conscious bias and allyship, especially following the George Floyd incident.
“It was an opportunity for all of us to learn and engage in open conversations,” she says.
In her private life, Tulloch says she is committed to making a positive difference in her girls’ lives and is passionate about various issues.
Recently, Tulloch collaborated with Toronto-based contemporary artist Saffron Francis, who drew inspiration from her Trinidadian-Canadian heritage to design Walmart Canada’s exclusive International Women’s Day T-shirts and tote bags. Proceeds from these items are donated to the Canadian Women’s Foundation to support programs for women, girls and gender-diverse people.
Feedback from customers and associates has been positive. Tulloch noted that these products have become collector’s items, with solid sales indicating their success. More importantly, the initiative has resonated deeply with individuals, many of whom have shared personal stories about the significance of the artwork.
Tulloch’s efforts have also strengthened partnerships with women-led and diverse businesses.
“It’s not always easy, but it is crucial. When we make the effort, we can succeed both socially and financially. Seeking out small businesses, women-led businesses, and businesses run by diverse groups is so important,” Tulloch says.
Language pins program expands nationwide from Winnipeg pilot
A pilot program at the Real Canadian Superstore in Winnipeg that began in early April has been expanded to 183 stores nationwide and will continue to roll out in the coming months.
The initiative, which provides employees with pins identifying the languages they speak, aims to enhance customer service by breaking down language barriers. The first shipments of the pins were delivered to Atlantic Canada stores in July. The program currently features 122 languages.
Anne Fontaine, who piloted the program in Winnipeg, noted its positive impact.
“The day we got the pins in was super exciting. I remember everyone was putting them on, and it was neat to see all the different languages that were in the store—languages I didn’t even know existed, which was really fun. Sometimes colleagues hadn’t even realized that they spoke the same language, so I found that the connections in the lunch room even got better with the language program, before it even affected my customers,” she says.
“One customer regularly seeks out a manager from Cuba who helps her find items. Two women from Ukraine often ask a Ukrainian-speaking colleague for help locating familiar products or their Canadian equivalents.”
She also highlighted a case where a customer experienced a medical emergency and spoke only in Farsi. Fortunately, a colleague at the front end could translate for her with the EMS personnel, answering all the questions from the ambulance drivers. Fontaine says the two have since developed a friendly relationship and talk regularly when the customer visits the store. She added the shopper often seeks out this colleague to say hi and get help with any questions she has about products or the store.
“The program is truly benefiting our customers,” she says.
She added that the program has fostered stronger connections among staff as well.
“Colleagues discovered they spoke the same language, improving lunchroom interactions even before it impacted customers,” Fontaine says
More importantly, she says the initiative has resonated with Winnipeg’s diverse community outside the store.
“Winnipeg is quite diverse, much like the rest of Canada, and this program reflects that,” she says. “It’s been wonderful to see customers feel more comfortable and connected in our store.”
Ottawa Shoppers Drug Mart team saves customer’s life with AED
When a customer collapsed, suffering cardiac arrest, at the Shoppers Drug Mart Findlay Creek location in Ottawa, Mohamed Ali and his team quickly sprang into action.
The incident occurred when a customer stumbled and fell to the ground, displaying symptoms of cardiac arrest. The Shoppers Drug Mart team immediately took action, providing necessary care and contacting emergency services. Ali, along with another staff member, quickly accessed the store’s Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and began administering CPR and defibrillation until first responders arrived.
“I am incredibly proud of our team for their quick response and dedication,” he says. “Their ability to remain calm and follow the necessary procedures made all the difference.”
The presence of the AED at the Shoppers Drug Mart location was crucial in this emergency. The staff’s training allowed them to use the device effectively, applying electric charges to restore the customer’s pulse before paramedics arrived and transported the individual to the hospital.
“During our onboarding and daily routine, we always discuss how our team can be prepared in case of emergencies says Ali. “Our College of Pharmacists requires us to be updated on our CPR and first aid, which helped us be prepared to use the defibrillator effectively.” He adds that training and preparedness were key factors in the successful outcome.
Ali says that statistically, less than eight per cent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients survive to hospital discharge. For every minute that CPR and defibrillation are delayed, the chances of survival decrease by 10 per cent.
Following the incident, Ali received positive feedback from the customer’s family, who expressed gratitude for the life-saving intervention.
“We got so many recognitions from our counselor and the community. The best reward for me was hearing that the customer was getting out of the ICU and doing fine,” Ali says.
He has since used the experience to encourage other businesses to equip themselves with defibrillators and ensure their staff are trained in emergency procedures.
“I used this experience to make a LinkedIn post encouraging businesses to have defibrillators and ensure their teams are trained. It received over 50,000 impressions and led to many people reconsidering their emergency preparedness. This incident opened our eyes to the importance of having emergency equipment and the right training. We care a lot about our customers, and this experience made us feel that we made a significant difference in someone’s life. It made me very proud of my team,” Ali says.
Covered Bridge resumes potato chip production after fire
Covered Bridge has resumed production of its signature potato chips a month after a fire destroyed its Waterville, N.B., facility. The company has been working with co-packers and has made significant progress toward rebuilding its operations.
In an exclusive interview with Grocery Business, Covered Bridge president Ryan Albright discussed the company’s recent efforts.
“Although the fire destroyed our production facility, we were fortunate to have our raw materials and finished goods stored off-site. This allowed us to continue operations with our existing inventory. Two weeks after the fire, we began working with our first co-packer. We are now collaborating with about 10 co-packers to maintain our supply chain,” he says.
“Additionally, we purchased a 37,000 sq. ft. warehouse adjacent to our old site, which we are currently retrofitting with seasoning lines. Our goal is to have this temporary facility fully operational by Feb. 1, 2025. The setup will allow us to resume full-scale production, including seasoning, bagging, and boxing, while we work on rebuilding our permanent facility.”
The fire, which broke out on March 4, 2024, prompted a police investigation and significant community support. New Brunswick RCMP Sgt. Dan Sharpe confirmed that all 20 to 30factory employees were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the RCMP and the New Brunswick Fire Marshal.
“I had just left the office and was halfway to Bangor, Maine, where my wife works as a nurse, when I received the call about the fire. I immediately turned around and tried to manage the situation from my phone,” Albright says. “As an entrepreneur, you have many fears, but this was my biggest one. Our building was made of wood because we started with nothing, so watching it burn down was incredibly hard. My brother was already on-site, and when I told him I was close, he advised me to take a different exit to avoid seeing the devastation. That night was tough, but the next morning, my inbox was flooded with messages of support, which was overwhelming but encouraging.”
Covered Bridge had invested millions of dollars to increase capacity and add automation before the fire.
At that time, Covered Bridge had nearly 195 employees but has since gone down to between 85 and 90, Albright says. He adds that the company has done its best to help affected employees find jobs and has been donating to community initiatives to help people get situated.
“We lost around half of the company due to the fire, but we are actively working to bring them back as we ramp up production,” he says. Albright adds that the company has also been overwhelmed by support from customers and retailers, who have been eager to see Covered Bridge products back on shelves.
Looking ahead, Albright is optimistic about the future while still waiting for a decision from the insurance company.
“We are positioning ourselves to become a much bigger, better, and more efficient company. We’re implementing six or seven new internal systems to streamline our operations and are equipping our temporary facility with the best technology available. This process will catapult us into the future.”
Pattison Food Group steps up for B.C. in crisis
Pattison Food Group has taken significant measures to support communities in B.C. affected by last year’s devastating wildfires and the previous year’s record-breaking floods.
During last summer’s wildfire season, Kelowna was among the hardest-hit areas. In mid-August, wildfires ravaged the city, leading to widespread evacuations and destruction. Pattison Food Group pivoted from their regular summer operations to a critical support mission, ensuring community members and emergency workers had access to essential supplies.
A Pattison Food Group spokesman says their team worked tirelessly to navigate highway closures and fill emergency orders, maintaining product integrity throughout the crisis. Local stores like Save-On-Foods in Kelowna became vital hubs, providing water and supplies to wildfire crews, emergency workers, food banks, and organizations like the Red Cross.
Nature’s Fare in West Kelowna also contributed, donating pizza to evacuees, firefighters and the Lake Country food bank.
On August 22, the Pattison Food Group launched a Disaster Relief Fund in partnership with the Red Cross, accepting donations at tills across British Columbia. The company matched these donations dollar for dollar, and customers could redeem 1,000 More Rewards points as a $4 donation. These efforts raised over $64,000 to support wildfire victims.
In November 2021, Southern B.C. and Vancouver Island faced record rainfall and flooding due to an atmospheric river. The river rendered 35 major roads impassable, prompting a state of emergency. Despite supply chain disruptions, the Pattison Food Group responded by ensuring the delivery of essential goods and medicines to affected communities.
The team coordinated helicopter drops of emergency supplies, rerouted deliveries through their Edmonton warehouse, hired additional truck drivers and arranged an RCMP escort to deliver the first supplies to Hope, B.C.
Moreover, a Red Cross disaster relief fundraising campaign was launched, with Save-On-Foods matching customer donations dollar for dollar, resulting in $258,078 for the Canadian Red Cross. The federal and provincial governments matched these donations, bringing the total relief funding to $774,234.
Sayers Foods reopens in Apsley after devastating fire
It’s been nearly five months since Sayers Foods reopened its new store on March 25 in Apsley, Ont., following a devastating fire that destroyed the old property in December 2020.
“We received an incredible amount of support from different members of the community, including members of the community that came to my house and brought homemade food and stuff to try to help just do what they could at that kind of vulnerable time when we were figuring out what to do and how to get back on our feet,” Jeff Sayers told Grocery Business.
For over four decades, Sayers Independent Food Town was a place to buy groceries and a community gathering spot. The December 2020 fire, caused by an electrical issue in the back half of the store, left North Kawartha Township residents without their primary grocery store and a beloved social hub. Established in 1976, the store evolved from Sayers General Store to an IGA, then a Foodland, and finally became Sayers Independent Food Town in 2017. The fire’s impact was profound, as the nearest grocery store is 35 minutes to an hour away.
“It was a Saturday morning. I was already in bed. I got a call on my wife’s phone because I don’t sleep with my phone nearby. I jumped out of bed because it sounded rough. I was supposed to coach hockey practice later that morning,” Sayers recalls.
The new store features a socially oriented layout. The front half is dedicated to fresh produce in a market-style environment. Additionally, a front patio with Wi-Fi and power outlets has been integrated with the sidewalk, creating a welcoming space for community members to gather.
The store’s square footage remains nearly unchanged. The main renovation involved expanding the main floor, offsetting the lack of a new basement. Unused apartments and redundant storage space from the building’s old residential portion have been repurposed, increasing the store’s retail space.
Brent Falvo, a part-time resident of Apsley, eagerly anticipated the store’s reopening.
“There is a renewed sense of enthusiasm and excitement lately as the rebuilt Sayers Foods appears to be nearly complete,” he says. “it is amazing to see how the opening of a grocery store can create such excitement in a community that was left brokenhearted when it suddenly and tragically disappeared.”
