Most businesses don’t use the word “love” in their employment strategy—but the owners of Homesteader Health Foods do. And it’s working. They’ve been in business for 37 years, operating five stores in northern Alberta and British Columbia. Being in remote, smaller urban centres—Prince George, Fort St. John, and Quesnel, BC and Grande Prairie, AB—presents multiple challenges for the retailer.

‍The alive Executive Summit once again attracted leading figures in Canada’s natural health industry by offering a slate of inspiring presentations and essential business insights.

On the Friday evening of CHFA NOW 2026 weekend in Vancouver, Alive Publishing Group co-hosted its annual retailer dinner with TallGrass Natural Health. The event brought together industry leaders and retailers for an evening of connection and conversation amid a bustling trade show weekend.

Led by Ellen Wheeler, vice president of partnerships for Alive Publishing Group and publisher of CNHR, this column highlights outstanding female leaders and innovators in our natural health community.

In this issue, Ellen introduces you to Stacey Kravitz, president at UNFI Canada.

Following a successful debut at CHFA NOW Vancouver in 2024, the Retailer Roundtable—hosted by Bruce W. Cole, founder and former editor of CNHR—returned to the trade show and was met with an overwhelming response from retailers.

This issue of CNHR marks a new chapter for both the magazine and myself. I’m honoured to step into the role of publisher and carry forward the work and vision that Bruce Cole has so passionately led.

At CHFA, our focus has always been simple: create the most valuable, inspiring, and business-building experiences for our community of retailers, manufacturers, brokers, and distributors. After all of our incredible years at CHFA NOW Toronto, the momentum has only continued to grow, and we’re carrying that energy into the 2026 show with even more opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together.

Everywhere I looked, there were smiling faces, excited conversations, and the easy embraces of old friends. It could’ve been a scene out of a wedding or a family reunion—instead it was one from the opening of Community Natural Foods’ new Seton, Calgary store.

Carolyne Côté had never run a business before, but in 2019, she was handed the keys to one. After 15 years at the helm, Sandrine Guérin, founder of Verveine et cie, was ready to move on, and Carolyne—an employee since 2016—was intrigued by the prospect of carrying this legacy forward. Her passion for supporting healthy living helped her overcome the doubts of first-time ownership.

The release of Canada’s Organic Action Plan (OAP) set the stage for members of the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) to meet in Ottawa from November 2 to 4, 2025 to urge the federal government to increase support for the organic industry.

There is a familiar scene emerging on the natural health shop floor these days: customers are getting genuinely excited about dietary fibre. First of all, I am thrilled that there is a notable increase in people talking about fibre again. But, as with anything in our industry, nuance and mentorship are required to help customers bridge the gap between their current intake and the recommended daily targets. This is where we come in.

After more than three decades as a field sales representative, one of Ontario’s longest serving ‘road warriors’ has called it a day.

In the third part of our roundtable series from 2025, we’re sharing insights from retailers about the approaches that have been the most effective in fostering motivation, engagement, and resilience among their employees—especially during periods of rapid change and economic uncertainty.

An independent omni-channel brand management and revenue growth firm serving the supplement and sports nutrition industry, DW Approved supports brands and retailers in building sustainable growth across specialty retail, national accounts, and digital channels.

Continual improvement is essential for sustaining consistent business growth. Yet in focusing on the big picture, we often overlook the small things that matter the most, especially for us, the natural health retailers. Small, consistent steps applied across key retail practices add up to major progress.