TORONTO—October 28, 2026… The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards Ceremony was presented tonight in Toronto, in front of a gala audience of over 500 leading grocers, suppliers, and distributors at Grocery Innovations Canada, Canada’s premier grocery conference and trade show. Each year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) Awards Program recognizes the success of outstanding independent retailers and offers insights into innovations that are changing and enhancing the way retailers compete.
HERITAGE AWARD – Arnold Rands Award
For the best multigenerational grocery store that is privately owned and has been in the same family for at least two generations and in the same community for a minimum of 35 years.
Paul Lovsin & Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market Hinton Hill, Hinton, AB
NATIONAL AWARDS – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE in Specialty Category
Gold, silver and bronze awards to the top-scoring entries in specialty food retailing.
SPECIALTY Category
David C. Parsons Award GOLD – David La Mantia, La Mantia’s Country Market Fresh, Lindsay, ON
SILVER Eddie Kim, PRICESMART FOODS Lougheed, Burnaby, BC
BRONZE Stephanie Adams, Belbin’s Market, St. John’s, NL
REGIONAL AWARDS – SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE
Top-scoring stores from the four Canadian regions in the small, medium and large size categories.
REGIONAL SMALL Surface Category
British Columbia/Yukon Sana & Jerry Marsh, Whistler’s Creekside Market, Whistler, BC
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Michael Lovsin & Team Members, Freson Bros. Valleyview, Valleyview, AB
Ontario John, Mary, Joey, Vincent, Deanna Carnevale, Pape Market Foodland, Toronto, ON
Québec/Atlantic Canada Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Métro Plouffe, Bedford, Québec
REGIONAL MEDIUM Surface Category
British Columbia/Yukon Charlie Lee, Fresh St. Market Walnut Grove, Langley, BC
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Lori Pollon & Ryan Hannay, Heritage Co-op Minnedosa, Minnedosa, MB
Ontario Mathew Danambassis, Longo's Liberty Village, Toronto, ON
Québec /Atlantic Canada Kim Martet Walsh, Colemans – Mount Pearl, Mount Pearl, NL
REGIONAL LARGE Surface Category
British Columbia/Yukon Cory Butler & Team Members, Save-On-Foods Pine Centre, Prince George, BC
Alberta/Sask./Man./NWT/Nunavut Paul Lovsin & Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market Hinton Hill, Hinton, AB
Ontario Angela Masellis & Longo's Leaside Team, Longo's Leaside, Toronto, ON
Québec/Atlantic Canada Jean-Christophe Plouffe, Metro Plouffe Bromont, Bromont, QC
NATIONAL AWARDS – GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE IN SMALL/MEDIUM/LARGE
Bronze, silver and gold awards are presented to the top scoring stores in the small, medium and large size categories.
SMALL Surface Category
GOLD John, Mary, Joey, Vincent, Deanna Carnevale, Pape Market Foodland, Toronto, ON
SILVER Sana & Jerry Marsh, Whistler’s Creekside Market, Whistler, BC
BRONZE Michael Lovsin and Team, Freson Bros. Valleyview, Valleyview, BC
MEDIUM Surface Category
GOLD Charlie Lee & Team, Fresh St. Market Walnut Grove, Langley, BC
SILVER Mathew Danambassis & Longo’s Liberty Village Team, Longo's Liberty Village, Toronto, ON
BRONZE Lori Pollon & Ryan Hannay, Heritage Co-op Minnedosa, MB
LARGE Surface Category
GOLD Angela Masellis & Longo’s Leaside Team, Longo’s Leaside, Toronto, ON
SILVER Cory Butler & Team, Save-On-Foods Pine Centre, Prince George, BC
BRONZE Paul Lovsin & Team Members, Freson Bros. Fresh Market Hinton Hill, Hinton, AB
Platinum Achievement Award
PLATINUM-entry that has won ten consecutive Awards of Merit (Plaque)
- Arden Fowler & Team, Stong’s Market Northwoods, North Vancouver, BC
- Nesters Kelowna Airport Team, Nesters Market Kelowna Airport, Kelowna, BC
- Henry Simoes & The Longo’s Mount Pleasant Team, Longo’s Mount Pleasant, Brampton, ON
- Andrew Chambers & The Longo’s Ancaster Team, Longo’s Ancaster, Ancaster, ON
Hall Of Fame
Stores that have consistently demonstrated excellence are recognized. To be eligible, a store must have won at least three Gold Awards or have received a Platinum Achievement Award and two Gold Awards.
John, Mary, Joey, Vincent, Deanna Carnevale, Pape Market Foodland, Toronto, Ontario
Life Members
Tom Szostok
John Tobin
Jeffery Min
2026 NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS
The CFIG National Scholarship Program was created to support and celebrate the next generation of leaders within Canada’s independent grocery sector. Each year, the program recognizes outstanding high school and post-secondary students who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, and a passion for innovation in independent retail.
NATIONAL WINNER – High school $15,000 Scholarship
Luke Coleman, Coleman Food Centre, Corner Brook, NL
REGIONAL WINNERS – $3250 Scholarship
Calyssa Eng, Young’s Market, Winnipeg, MB (High school)
Daniel Lal, Saputo, Guelph, ON (High school)
Lauren Kim, Save-On-Foods Pembina, Winnipeg, MB (High school)
Daliah Falcioni, General Mills, Mississauga, ON (University)
About the Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards
The Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year is the most prestigious award CFIG can bestow. Each year, independent grocery stores from coast-to-coast in Canada compete for the coveted title in each of the specialty, large, medium and small surface categories. Each of the competing stores is visited personally by a highly respected retail management expert, who evaluates competing stores based on retail excellence and innovation, store team performance, customer service, space utilization, freshness and cleanliness. The gala awards evening takes place annually at Grocery Innovations Canada, the premier grocery event in the country.
Contact:
Nancy Kwon Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, T: 416.219.0952, nkwon@cfig.ca
Photos available upon request
