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2026 Master Merchandiser Awards Winners Announced

By October 27, 2026October 29th, 2026No Comments4 min read

OCTOBER 27, 2026, TORONTO – Awards for the best merchandising displays in Canadian grocery were presented at Grocery Innovations Canada’s Merchandising Excellence Awards Event on October 27. The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers’ (CFIG) Master Merchandiser Awards Program (MMAP) honours and recognizes best Point-of-Sale merchandising in the grocery industry. It enables retailers and supportive manufacturers the opportunity to stimulate purchase by building effective displays, promotions and events. A total of 15 prizes will be awarded (3 different store size groupings and 5 different merchandising categories).

A panel of experienced industry judges determined category winners based on: creativity & visual appeal; effective use of signage; display shopability; effective cross-merchandising; and supporting manufacturer compliance. Merchandising displays, promotions and events were held between August 9, 2025 and August 10, 2026.

First To Market – New Product

Small Surface Gold

IGA West Broadway
Vancouver, BC

Moris Espiritu and Team

Supplier – Ben Clarke – Lassonde

Medium Surface Gold

IGA St Pierre
Granby, QC

Tammy Ferland and Team

Supplier – Benoit Bedard – KraftHeinz

First To Market – New Product, Medium Surface Gold: IGA St Pierre, Granby, QC

Large Surface Gold

IGA Extra Convivio Loretteville 8288
Quebec, QC

Jean-François Dorval and Team

Supplier – Yves Gigault – KraftHeinz

First To Market – New Product, Large Surface Gold: IGA Extra Convivio Loretteville 8288, Quebec, QC

Themed Event

Small Surface Gold

Beausejour Co-op Oakbank
Oakbank, MB

Andrew Grave and Team

Supplier – Donna Van De Walle – Lassonde

Themed Event, Small Surface Gold: Beausejour Co-op Oakbank, Oakbank, MB

Medium Surface Gold

Sherwood Co-op Regina, Rochdale Crossing
Regina, SK

Noel Castillo and Team

Supplier – Michelle Young – KraftHeinz

Themed Event, Medium Surface Gold: Sherwood Co-op Regina, Rochdale Crossing, Regina, SK

Large Surface Gold

Save-On Foods – Park & Tilford
North Vancouver, BC

Nav Kandola, Eric Falkenberg, Justin Gaw and Team

Supplier – Coca-Cola

Themed Event, Large Surface Gold: Save-On Foods – Park & Tilford, North Vancouver, BC

Perimeter Display

Small Surface Gold

Central Fresh Market
Kitchener, ON

Ben Pino and Team

Supplier – Dave Farley – Maple Leaf Foods

Perimeter Display, Small Surface Gold: Central Fresh Market, Kitchener, ON

Medium Surface Gold

Save-on-Foods – Regina South
Regina, SK

Greg Lewis and Team

Supplier – Damara Brown – Lassonde

Perimeter Display, Medium Surface Gold: Save-on-Foods – Regina South, Regina, SK

Large Surface Gold

Save-On-Foods – Chuka Blvd
Regina, SK

Rob Foster and Team

Supplier – Damara Brown – Lassonde

Perimeter Display, Large Surface Gold: Save-On-Foods – Chuka Blvd, Regina, SK

Multi-Manufacturer

Small Surface Gold

Colemans Food Centre – Caribou Road
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

Chad Luedee & Store Team

Supplier – Trevor Legge Coca-Cola, along with Old Dutch

Multi-Manufacturer, Small Surface Gold: Colemans Food Centre - Caribou Road, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

Medium Surface Gold

Market Street Vulcan
Vulcan, AB

Scott Mitchell & Team

Supplier – Sharon Gower from Saputo, along with General Mills

Multi-Manufacturer, Medium Surface Gold: Market Street Vulcan, Vulcan, AB

Large Surface Gold

Calgary Co-op Creekside
Calgary, AB

Wade Fedosenko and Team

Supplier – Deanna Hamilton from Maple Leaf Foods along with KraftHeinz

Multi-Manufacturer, Large Surface Gold: Calgary Co-op Creekside, Calgary, AB

Single Manufacturer

Small Surface Gold

Central Plains Co-op Rosetown, SK

Corey Weedmark & Team

Supplier – Carol Rissling – KraftHeinz

Single Manufacturer, Small Surface Gold: Central Plains Co-op Rosetown, SK

Medium Surface Gold

Gardenland Co-op
Winkler, MB

Cam Buhler & Team

Supplier – Jennifer Richter – Nestlé

Single Manufacturer, Medium Surface Gold: Gardenland Co-op, Winkler, MB

Large Surface Gold

Save-on Foods – Orchard Plaza
Kelowna, British Columbia

Scott Gilbert & Eric Falkenberg and Team

Supplier – Michael Thacheal, Kevin Kentel, Landon King, Ken McCaffrey, Coca-Cola

Single Manufacturer, Large Surface Gold: Save-on Foods – Orchard Plaza, Kelowna, British Columbia

For inquiries, please contact:
Nancy Kwon
Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG)
E. nkwon@cfig.ca

About the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG)

CFIG is a non-profit trade association founded in 1962, which continues to be a collaborative community, equipping and enabling independent, franchised and specialty grocers for sustainable success. CFIG is the strong and united voice for the independent grocery retailers to Industry and Government across Canada. CFIG also provides programs that support operational excellence while fostering solid relationships among retailers, distributors and suppliers. www.cfig.ca

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