In this issue, Ellen introduces you to Andrea Benson, country leader at Puresource, part of NOW Health Group, where she leads a team focused on delivering trusted natural wellness products across Canada. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, strategy, and organizational transformation, her career spans roles at the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, the Canadian Heart Research Centre, Maple Leaf Foods, High Liner Foods, and Export Packers.

‍Elizabeth Hellebrand has been named director of operations for Nutters Everyday Naturals. Most recently, she was a regional manager for the company. In her new role, Elizabeth will play a central role in advancing Nutters’ strategic objectives and ensuring the organization continues delivering exceptional value to its customers and partners.

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At the 2025 CHFA NOW show, retailers were encouraged to participate and share their experiences in an idea exchange during a retailer roundtable. Attending retailers were split into five groups and each group was asked a question about the following pressing issues impacting the natural health retail industry: navigating tariffs and supply chain challenges, enhancing customer experience to drive sales, building and motivating high-performing teams, creating collaborative partnerships to boost growth, and innovating and adapting in a changing market.

The Nutters Everyday Naturals conference and trade show brought together a host of franchisees, managers, vendors, and other key industry experts to Medicine Hat, Alberta, between September 8 and 11.

In mid-September last year, close to 50 natural health retailers gathered in the small rural town of Barry’s Bay, Ontario, for a “Seed to Shelf Experience” at the St. Francis Herb Farm manufacturing facility. The event included opportunities to experience some of the herbs growing in the surrounding fields.

Looking back on my career, the best advice I ever received was from business guru Brian Tracy back in the early 90s. He said, “If you want to be the best at anything, study it for 60 minutes a day. One hour per day of study will put you at the top of your field within three years. Within five years, you’ll be a national authority. In seven years, you can be one of the best people in the world at what you do.”

AI is transforming our lives, which also echoes into our children’s learning and leisure time. What can we do to ensure that the next generation stays close to the natural world because within it are life lessons that are harder to learn in a digital world.

On a warm sunny morning in late September, the newly designed Vita Health Fresh Market in Osborne Village welcomed customers with a week-long celebration. Shoppers enjoyed deals, demos, and events held to celebrate the location’s renovation. It’s welcome timing for the Vita Health’s marketing manager, Kelly Lyons, who notes that the store’s makeover mirrors the area’s transformation.

A thriving organic sector begins where most consumers make their decisions: the retail store. Shoppers today are more conscious than ever about the food they eat and the products they use. They want to know not just what is organic, but why it matters—for their health, the environment, and the future of sustainable farming. This makes education in retail spaces crucial.

In September 2025, Alive Publishing Group and Magic Scoop hosted an informal retailer dinner in Toronto during CHFA NOW.

We’re beginning to fully appreciate just how crucial our microbiome is for whole-person health, especially in preventing and managing chronic disease.

CHFA hosted its Hill Day in Ottawa on October 6 and 7. The event brought together delegates from across Canada and the natural, organic, and wellness value chain.

 The whimsical dreams of a child are often fleeting, innocent thoughts that eventually fade—but that wasn’t the case for Kim. The impact of visiting Westmount stayed with her. In 2006, after various other pursuits, Kim landed where she was likely always meant to be: as the founder of her own health food store.

“CHFA NOW 2025 was a powerful reminder of what makes our industry extraordinary.” These are the words used by Lynsey Walker, vice president, marketing and communications, for the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA), to describe the industry conference and trade show that took place September 18 to 21.

Not everyone in our industry knew Brenda Parkes. She was one of those people who didn’t crave attention, who worked quietly behind the scenes, and who worked best in one-on-one situations to make everyone around her better. She just wanted to help improve the lives of those she worked with or came in touch with. For this reason, I’d say Brenda was very much the living embodiment of the spirit of the natural health industry.