UNFI Innovation Showcase ignites energy, connection, and industry momentum
The UNFI Innovation Showcase, held April 27–28, delivered an electrifying experience as retailers, suppliers, and partners came together for a reimagined, two-day event that was impossible to miss. From the moment doors opened, the show floor pulsed with energy—loud, engaging, and truly energizing—fueled by incredible products, meaningful conversations, and a shared excitement for what’s next in natural, organic, and wellness.
This year marked a major evolution for the event, as UNFI combined its Vendor Summit with the Innovation Showcase, creating a powerful, must-attend experience designed to inform, inspire, and connect the industry like never before.
Vendor Summit
The Vendor Summit kicked off the event with a half-day dedicated exclusively to supplier partners. Featuring a thoughtfully curated lineup of industry experts, the summit delivered timely education, actionable insights, and forward-looking perspectives.
Highlights included a retail-focused session from Empire guest speaker Rob Alsop, data-rich insights into the wellness sector from Nick Gibson of NIQ, and an in-depth overview of the new Grocery Code of Conduct led by Karen Proud. Attendees also gained valuable perspective on export growth opportunities from Will Stenason and experienced a live demo of UNFI Insights, the company’s new platform designed to help partners unlock data and drive smarter business decisions.
In honour of UNFI’s 50th anniversary, they proudly awarded $50,000 to The Grocery Foundation. The event also celebrated industry excellence with Circle of Excellence Awards: BrandSeed was recognized as Boutique Broker of the Year, Propel as Large Broker of the Year, Sambazon for Best in Service, and Cwench as Fastest Growing Brand.
Innovation Showcase
The energy reached new heights as the Innovation Showcase took over, delivering a sold-out show floor and record-breaking engagement. The event welcomed retailers ready to do business with the over 165 exhibiting suppliers.
A special Land Acknowledgement, supported by Mitsoh, reinforced the event’s sense of purpose and community. Circle of Excellence Retailer Awards were presented to Marché Tau, Dad’s Organic Market, and Healthy Planet, recognizing excellence and leadership at retail.
One of the most anticipated moments of the event was the Pitch Slam competition, sponsored by Alive Publishing Group. Five innovative brands took the stage to compete for a prize package valued at $35,000. After an exciting showdown, Mitsoh emerged as the winner, capturing both the prize and the crowd’s vote!
Set in a new venue designed to amplify connection, this year’s Innovation Showcase delivered more buzz, more conversation and more inspiration than ever before. The show floor was alive with discovery, collaboration, and a shared excitement for the future of the industry.
Looking ahead
With the success of this year’s event setting a new benchmark, UNFI is already looking ahead. Partners and customers are invited to save the date for the next UNFI Innovation Showcase in February 2027.
About UNFI Canada
UNFI is North America’s premier grocery wholesaler delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to more than 30,000 locations throughout North America, including natural product superstores, independent retailers, conventional grocery chains, e-commerce providers, and food service customers. UNFI also provides a broad range of value-added services and segmented marketing expertise to help customers and suppliers build their businesses and brands. As the largest full-service grocery partner in North America, UNFI is committed to building a food system that is better for all and is uniquely positioned to deliver great food, more choices, and fresh thinking to customers. To learn more about how UNFI is delivering value for its stakeholders, visit unfi.ca.