CIGBA/DCI Digital Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 4 | | MESSAGE FROM BARRY LANTEIGNE, DCI PRESIDENT | | |
Greetings!
The Board of Directors and I would like to thank our CIGBA/DCI Members, Supplier Partners, and Industry Partners for your ongoing and continued support.
The past few months have been very busy for our team, as we onboarded a New Event, Digital Communications, & Marketing Manager, Nicole Kolodziej. Welcome, Nicole. You have been a great addition to our team.
The focus this last quarter has been onboarding Nicole, New Member Prospecting, New Vendor Opportunities, Member Business Reviews, and confirming venue dates and locations for next year's events! Please save these important dates: Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Annual Business Summit, Pearson Convention Center, and Wednesday, June 3rd, Annual Charity Golf Classic, at Royal Woodbine Golf Club. We hope to see you there!
The team is looking forward to GIC at the end of October. Did you know that the majority of our connections for members and partners are made through events such as GIC! This event gives retailers and partners the ability to get together in person to discuss future business opportunities. Members, be sure to register and attend this industry-leading event; email reminders are being sent weekly to register. If you need more information, please feel free to contact our office, and we can provide you with more details. For those attending Grocery Innovation Canada, October 28-29, please stop by booth 1954 and say hello to the team.
Looking ahead for the remainder of the year, we will be connecting with Members to continue business reviews, review and update current supplier agreements, onboarding of new Members and Partners and working on Marketing Material for 2026 Events.
As always, I am here to support our Members and Supplier Partners. Please reach out to me as required, and I will be more than happy to help you in any way possible! I can be reached at 905-681-3933 or barry@distributioncanada.ca.
Sincerely,
Barry Lanteigne
Director of Operations/President
CIGBA/Distribution Canada Inc.
(905) 681-3933 x 101
barry@distributioncanada.ca
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CIGBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Representing our Membership coast to coast
| | *Executive Board Member / DCI Board Director | | SAVE THE DATE - CIGBA/DCI 2026 NETWORKING EVENTS | | |
The CIGBA/DCI Business Summit is an annual event organized by the Canadian Independent Grocery Buyers Alliance (CIGBA) and Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI). It serves as a premier gathering for independent grocers, wholesalers, and suppliers across Canada, fostering collaboration, networking, and business development within the grocery industry.
📅 Event Details
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Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
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Location: Pearson Convention Centre, 2638 Steeles Ave E, Brampton, ON L6T 4L7
- Registration Deadlines:
- Full Day Summit: May 8, 2026
- Dinner Only: May 22, 2026
🔄 Key Features
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DBX (Distribution Canada Inc. Business Exchange): A series of fast-paced, one-on-one meetings facilitating discussions on new products, promotions, and business strategies between retailers and suppliers.
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Partner Deals & Power Buys: Exclusive, aggressive pricing and promotional deals curated for members.
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Star Awards Gala Dinner: An evening event recognizing excellence in the industry across various categories, including Retailer of the Year, Partner of the Year, Innovation Award, Social Responsibility Award, Leader of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Networking Opportunities: Various sessions designed to connect members, partners, and industry colleagues, emphasizing the power of collaboration.
📝 Registration Information
The Summit is exclusive to current CIGBA members and DCI Supplier Partners. For information on membership or to register, please visit the official CIGBA Summit page. If you need assistance with registration or have further questions about the event, feel free to contact the CIGBA/DCI office!
- Registration opening Feb 2026
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The CIGBA/CFIG Charity Golf Classic is an annual event organized by the Canadian Independent Grocery Buyers Alliance (CIGBA), Distribution Canada Inc. (DCI), and the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG). This charity golf event serves as a premier networking opportunity for the grocery industry, bringing together independent grocers, suppliers, and industry professionals to support a charitable cause!
📅 Event Details
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Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Time:
- 08:00 AM: Registration & Light Breakfast
- 09:30 AM: Shotgun Start
- 02:30 PM: Cocktails & Mix + Mingle
- 03:30 PM: Dinner & Prizes
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Location: Royal Woodbine Golf Club, 195 Galaxy Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6R7
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Charity of Choice: Food Banks Canada
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Registration Deadline: May 22, 2026
🎯 Event Highlights
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Networking Opportunities: Connect with key business partners, suppliers, and industry colleagues in a relaxed and engaging environment.
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Contests & Prizes: Participate in various on-course contests such as "Closest to the Pin" and "Longest Drive," with prizes sponsored by industry partners.
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Product Sampling: Enjoy product displays and sampling from leading suppliers, offering a taste of the latest offerings in the grocery sector.
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Charitable Support: Proceeds from the event support a designated charity, fostering community engagement and corporate social responsibility.
📌 Registration & Inquiries
- Registration opening Feb 2026
If you have any further questions or need assistance with registration, feel free to contact the CIGBA/DCI Office!
| | JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS! | | |
Fine Foods Market
Toronto, ON
| Ownership change + Name change | | | JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST SUPPLIER PARTNERS! | | Leaders in Commercial & Industrial Energy Solutions | |
| Northern Fried Chicken Coating Mix with Signature 1780 and Great Lake Fish Coating Mix | | | Mailers, Food Service Packaging and Cargo Control | |
| Representing multiple brands including Cuisine L'Angelique, Lakanto, Sambazon, and Say It Ain't Soda | | | Bulk, Packaged, Private Label, Himalayan Salt Products | | | Vortex High p.H Natural Spring Water 500ml and 1.5L, Berri Fresh Sparkling Juice, flavours include: Joy, Longevity, and Vitality | | | Lobster Tanks and Maintenance and Services for Lobster Tanks | | | Super Seed Crackers Original, Cracked Black Pepper, Fennel and Black Cumin, and Everything Bagel | | | Functional Alchemy Beverages | Origen Seawater Electrolytes, Java Protein | | | Frozen Retail Pack Commodities and Value-Added Seafood | | | SHORT ON TIME? VISIT DCI SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES | | |
Only have a couple of minutes? Check out the DCI Social media pages on Facebook, X and LinkedIn. Major public announcements are always posted on our social media and you can often find other industry bits of information shared on our pages.
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DCI at Grocery Innovations Canada 2025
The DCI team will be exhibiting at Booth #1954 during Grocery Innovations Canada 2025, held October 28–29 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This premier event brings together over 1,500 companies and 5,600+ attendees to explore the latest in grocery innovation, from new products to cutting-edge technologies. With over 608 booths across 140,000 sq. ft., it's the ideal place to connect with industry leaders and discover emerging trends.
[Source: Grocery Innovations Canada 2025]
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2025 Star Women in Grocery Awards
The DCI team was proud to attend the 2025 Star Women in Grocery Awards in Toronto, celebrating Canada’s top female leaders across the grocery industry. The winners — featured in the June/July issue of Canadian Grocer — span senior executives, rising stars, and store-level innovators.
This year, Canadian Grocer introduced a new honour — the inaugural Star Women in Grocery Icon Award — presented to Diane J. Brisebois for her outstanding leadership and long-standing contributions to Canada’s retail and grocery sector.
[Source: Star Women in Grocery Awards]
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Mike Dean Local Grocer unveils refreshed website and “Dean Deals” flyer program
Mike Dean Local Grocer has recently relaunched its website along with its flyer program, introducing a new special deals section called “Dean Deals”. The updates aim to improve the online experience for shoppers — making it easier to browse the weekly flyer, find in-store specials, place orders for pickup or delivery, and access savings all under one roof.
The new site now prominently features the Weekly In-Store Flyer, where the “Dean Deals” are highlighted.
Online ordering (for pickup or delivery) is facilitated directly via the refreshed site for locations in Chesterville, Bourget, and Sharbot Lake.
[Source: New Flyer 'Dean Deals' and Web Page Relaunch ]
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The Canada Grocery Code is now live
The Canada Grocery Code of Conduct officially came into effect on June 1, 2025. Designed to promote fairness and transparency between retailers and suppliers, the Code is now in a transition phase, with full enforcement beginning January 1, 2026. Businesses are encouraged to join the Office of the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct and start aligning their contracts and practices ahead of the deadline.
[Source: Canada Grocery Code]
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Consumers still feel squeezed by food inflation
While overall inflation has eased, food costs remain a top frustration for Canadians. A recent survey shows that more than half of households feel grocery bills have risen faster than their incomes, forcing many to cut back on non-essentials or switch to lower-cost alternatives. With food making up a large share of household budgets, affordability continues to be a pressing issue.
[Source: Food inflation still a top frustration for most Canadians]
| | DCI MEMBER PORTAL PROVIDES THE LATEST UPDATES | | |
By logging into the portal, you will get access to your company's rebate reports. As well, any important announcements regarding changes in agreements will also be posted internally on the portal.
What else does the portal provide?
- new supplier partner agreements
- new programs and promotions
- revised supplier partner agreements and rebate scales
- your member reports
- the DCI by-laws
- the CIGBA by-laws
- summary of volume rebates
- AGM information
- education and resources
If you don't have login credentials to access the Member Portal, click here to email Michele at DCI.
Once you've checked the portal for information and still don't see what you are looking for, please email or call the DCI office with your inquiry.
| | NEW ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLIER PARTNERS | | |
Looking to better connect with Independents in the highly competitive digital space?
We've tailored a brand new advertisement and marketing package available for our Supplier Partners to utilize!
Now, with the help of DCI, Supplier Partners can send:
- Tailored non-competitive e-blasts direct to Member's mailboxes
- Newsletter advertisement with reduced rates for year long bookings
- Website advertisement on both DCI and CIGBA pages
- Digital real estate space within the Member Portal (available for 12 months)
- Social media posts across three platforms
If interested, email nicole@distributioncanada.ca to get started or to inquire!
| | PARTNERS OF THE MONTH PROGRAM WITH DCI | | |
WHAT MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW:
Check your inbox every 1st of the month to see the new Partners highlighted for the month. They can be Partners with Power Buys and deals or Service Partners who want to highlight all that they have to offer. If you can't find the email, you can always login to the Member Portal and access the deals under "What's New". Click here to access the Member Portal.
WHAT PARTNERS NEED TO KNOW:
Looking to get in the mailbox of the Independents? Let DCI help you with any seasonal programs, new item or product launches, and quick sells. Our "Partners of the Month" program highlights up to 5-10 different Supplier Partners each month, and provides DCI members with monthly deals and incentives (if applicable), or a highlight of your services, if you're a service provider. This program is great for an increase in exposure (as a Partner) and to capitalize on great product deals or new service opportunities (as a Member). For more details and eligibility, please contact the DCI office.
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All DCI Supplier Partner Vendors now have access to their Vendor page! By logging into the portal, you will get access to the most current Membership List, and Purchase Input of Sales Form. Once logged in you will now be in control in seeing the current agreement, sell sheets, pricing lists and company brochures that is currently Member-facing on your company page!
Take the time to review your CTA (Cooperative Trade Agreement), whether your sales and product sell sheets are relevant, and review pricing lists. If you notice your Vendor page being pretty bare, connect with us so we can upload documents for you and make your page more enticing for Members to view and connect with reps!
Connect with us to get your page up-to-date.
| | DCI COMMUNICATIONS AND EMAIL CAMPAIGNS | | |
Breaking news, industry announcements, new agreements, Partners of the Month, and other opportunity buys are always sent out through email. This allows us to target our communication by location, type of store, and relevancy as well as give us detailed reporting on who is opening the announcements, which links they have clicked on and where to allocate our efforts for outreach if members haven't opened up these communications.
By ignoring emails or allowing them to go to your spam/junk folders, you could be missing incredible buying opportunities, programs, or helpful industry tips to better the success of your company.
Please email the DCI Office to see which members of your company currently receive our communications (we segment by multiple lists, so be sure touch base with DCI if you aren't aware as to who is receiving which communications).
| | MEMBERS, STAY CONNECTED WITH DCI! | | |
Retailers, are you missing out on our messages? We send out aggressive pricing promotions, power buys, new partner announcements and informational resources dedicated to the success of your business.
Please take the time to review:
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that our emails are going to the correct person at your company
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that our emails aren't getting sorted into your Junk/Spam folder. If that is the case, be sure to whitelist our domain (@distributioncanada.ca) to ensure you are receiving all of our information
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that someone from your company is registered to order products on OrderEase (the DCI Power Buy ordering software)
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that someone from your company is registered and has access and login to the Member's Portal
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that you send in your reports when asked to allocate proper rebates with certain vendors
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that you check your mailboxes every month on the 1st for the Partner of the Month deals and promotions. Make this routine and know that you only have until the 15th to order products with aggressive deals.
| | SUPPLIER PARTNER? If you are interested in running a promo, submitting material for education and resources or to advertise with DCI and the independent retailers, please email: barry@distributioncanada.ca | | | | |
