Hamel is QPMA's first female president, Fogarty named Pillar of the Industry
Hamel is QPMA's first female president, Fogarty named Pillar of the Industry
MONT-TREMBLANT, QC -- For the first time in its 60-year history, the Quebec Produce Marketing Association has a female president, Bernadette Hamel, who also serves as the senior director of produce purchasing and merchandising in the province of Quebec for Metro Inc.
Ms. Hamel took over as president Aug. 25 when she ceremoniously received the gavel from the association's outgoing president, Michel Levac, at the closing banquet here at the Fairmount Tremblant.
Ms. Hamel's first words to the 440 members and guests assembled at the event were a quite appropriate line from a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain, "let's go girls," and drew loud applause from the audience.
"I'm thrilled to be taking the challenge of serving the QPMA, and I'm extremely proud to be the first woman to hold this prestigious office," she said. "It is my intention to promote closer ties among members and to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables with an emphasis on today's global economy."
Ms. Hamel said that she would be promoting several new events that would start in 2008 to facilitate links between sellers and buyers.
"I intend to encourage person-to-person contact among our membership," she said, adding that she would also be looking at the possibility of trade missions to other countries to "broaden the association's horizons."
Before stepping down, Michel Levac told the audience that "being president during this anniversary year was certainly a great privilege at this unique moment in our history, and thank you for your confidence. We still have challenges ahead, and you can count on us to ensure that the QPMA remains a key channel in the distribution chain. There is no doubt that the QPMA will be at the heart of the industry for another 60 years."
In a ceremony at the closing banquet, industry veteran Peter Fogarty, a longtime association member and past president as well as the owner of two supermarkets outside Montreal that bear his name, Metro Fogarty, was presented with the coveted Pillar of the Industry Award.
Mr. Fogarty is credited with giving the QPMA the mission and structure when he was president in 1995 that it still uses today.
"I think that the association always mattered and continues to matter to me," he said proudly. "I believe that the QPMA is the driving force in the industry, and I am grateful to have added this enormous honor to the greatest moments of my life."
Earlier in the day, the association held its annual general meeting, which was followed by two conferences and an industry brunch.
Sophie Perreault, the association's general director, told those assembled at the general meeting that Robert Beauregard, director of produce procurement and quality control for Sobeys Quebec, would be its new second vice president, while Stephan Dolbec, president of Patates Dolbec, would move up to first vice president.
In addition, Stephan Schmeckel from Del Monte Fresh Products (Canada) was elected to its board by an open vote of its members, which was only the second time in its history that this has happened.
Ms. Perreault told The Produce News that she is "happy" to have Mr. Schmeckel on the board. "He is very dynamic and I think will be very dedicated. I am really pleased to work with him," she said, adding that she hoped he would be able to bring new members to the association.
Ms. Perreault said that for 2008, the association is going to completely revamp its web site and will also do a review of its constitution, a process that it will undertake with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, which is reviewing its constitution as well.
"We would like to have the same message to the industry since they are members of both [organizations]," she told The Produce News. "Let's not complicate things. Some bylaws have been around for 60 years and are not applicable anymore."
Ms. Perreault also echoed Ms. Hamel's comments, saying that the association would be working to increase its networking events for its members.
"Even with Blackberries and e-mail, people still like personal contact, and there is nothing like dealing with someone in person," she said. "We will continue to put energy in networking activities" and might have a new event in the works in April -- but it is still under discussion.
After the general meeting, Frederic Blaise, a food-marketing specialist and president of Enzyme Communication Marketing Inc., gave a presentation titled "Draw me a picture."
He told the audience that "the one-size-fits-all" concept does not work, and the industry needs to make a "simple drawing for the consumer" that can "simplify things without forgetting the client."
He added, "The relationship of the consumer with food is a complex one and cannot be compared with others." It involves emotional, psychological and economic factors, he said.
This relationship is what most people in the industry are "suffering with," he said. "You can either influence or react to the environment, but if you are reacting, you are already behind. The importance is not to succeed but endure. You need to change perspectives and develop a vision but be flexible. Banality is not an option. If you have an enduring momentum, you will build business."
The second workshop was given by Frederic Pare, the ecological agriculture coordinator for Equiterre, or "an equitable earth." The presentation was titled "Fruits & Vegetables: Between Trade & Essential Services."
Mr. Pare said that the produce sector is "offering great opportunities but has greater challenges." He said that the industry should "know the decisions made upstream," noting that over the past 50 years, the nutritional value of produce has decreased.
He postulated that this decrease could stem from the distance fruits and vegetables travel or the crossbreeding of varieties in favor of increased yields over nutritional value.
Mr. Pare also noted that due to the concentration in retail, "agricultural production is becoming intense and changing agricultural practices."
Mr. Pare told the audience that a major segment of Quebec's population is restricted in what food it can buy and cited a study conducted by Montreal's public health department that found that 40 percent of the population on the island of Montreal does not have access to fruits and vegetables.
There are two groups when it comes to health and food, he said: poor people and people with money.
Mr. Pare discussed the results of a study conducted by Equiterre on organic, fair-trade and local products. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed said that organic products are too expensive, and 42 percent said that organics are only for those who are "city or granola types." Forty percent of those surveyed also felt the same about fair-trade products.
Seventy-seven percent try to buy local products, and 72 percent will pay more for them, Mr. Pare said, noting that 84 percent of those surveyed buy local to encourage producers.
He recommended that the industry buy local organic products, implement sustainable development policies especially for local products and develop certifications to recognize local organic products.
Perhaps the most inspiring speech was given by Pierre Mainville during the industry brunch. Mr. Mainville became a paraplegic in 2001, when he was shot by a jealous boyfriend (who was also a police officer) who was attempting to shoot his girlfriend. She was driving the car in which Mr. Mainville was unfortunately riding with two other passengers.
Mr. Mainville, an avid athlete before the accident, told the audience of his rehabilitation and how he took up the sport of fencing. Though still in a wheelchair, he is currently ranked 13th in the world and has high hopes of participating in next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
Donald Beaudry, the master of ceremonies, welcomed the association's 37 new members, and Julie DesGroseilliers, the QPMA's "I Love 5 to 10 a Day" campaign spokesperson, gave a presentation on Canada's new food guide as well as the association's new companion guide, which is currently available only in French, that helps explain to consumers "why" and "how" to get their five to 10 servings a day.
Ms. DesGroseilliers also drew Patates Dolbec as the winner of the association's "I Love" contest from among the 10 members who best utilized its logo in their respective businesses.
The QPMA is already planning its next convention, which will be held Aug. 14-16, 2008, at the Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.
Ms. Hamel took over as president Aug. 25 when she ceremoniously received the gavel from the association's outgoing president, Michel Levac, at the closing banquet here at the Fairmount Tremblant.
Ms. Hamel's first words to the 440 members and guests assembled at the event were a quite appropriate line from a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain, "let's go girls," and drew loud applause from the audience.
"I'm thrilled to be taking the challenge of serving the QPMA, and I'm extremely proud to be the first woman to hold this prestigious office," she said. "It is my intention to promote closer ties among members and to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables with an emphasis on today's global economy."
Ms. Hamel said that she would be promoting several new events that would start in 2008 to facilitate links between sellers and buyers.
"I intend to encourage person-to-person contact among our membership," she said, adding that she would also be looking at the possibility of trade missions to other countries to "broaden the association's horizons."
Before stepping down, Michel Levac told the audience that "being president during this anniversary year was certainly a great privilege at this unique moment in our history, and thank you for your confidence. We still have challenges ahead, and you can count on us to ensure that the QPMA remains a key channel in the distribution chain. There is no doubt that the QPMA will be at the heart of the industry for another 60 years."
In a ceremony at the closing banquet, industry veteran Peter Fogarty, a longtime association member and past president as well as the owner of two supermarkets outside Montreal that bear his name, Metro Fogarty, was presented with the coveted Pillar of the Industry Award.
Mr. Fogarty is credited with giving the QPMA the mission and structure when he was president in 1995 that it still uses today.
"I think that the association always mattered and continues to matter to me," he said proudly. "I believe that the QPMA is the driving force in the industry, and I am grateful to have added this enormous honor to the greatest moments of my life."
Earlier in the day, the association held its annual general meeting, which was followed by two conferences and an industry brunch.
Sophie Perreault, the association's general director, told those assembled at the general meeting that Robert Beauregard, director of produce procurement and quality control for Sobeys Quebec, would be its new second vice president, while Stephan Dolbec, president of Patates Dolbec, would move up to first vice president.
In addition, Stephan Schmeckel from Del Monte Fresh Products (Canada) was elected to its board by an open vote of its members, which was only the second time in its history that this has happened.
Ms. Perreault told The Produce News that she is "happy" to have Mr. Schmeckel on the board. "He is very dynamic and I think will be very dedicated. I am really pleased to work with him," she said, adding that she hoped he would be able to bring new members to the association.
Ms. Perreault said that for 2008, the association is going to completely revamp its web site and will also do a review of its constitution, a process that it will undertake with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, which is reviewing its constitution as well.
"We would like to have the same message to the industry since they are members of both [organizations]," she told The Produce News. "Let's not complicate things. Some bylaws have been around for 60 years and are not applicable anymore."
Ms. Perreault also echoed Ms. Hamel's comments, saying that the association would be working to increase its networking events for its members.
"Even with Blackberries and e-mail, people still like personal contact, and there is nothing like dealing with someone in person," she said. "We will continue to put energy in networking activities" and might have a new event in the works in April -- but it is still under discussion.
After the general meeting, Frederic Blaise, a food-marketing specialist and president of Enzyme Communication Marketing Inc., gave a presentation titled "Draw me a picture."
He told the audience that "the one-size-fits-all" concept does not work, and the industry needs to make a "simple drawing for the consumer" that can "simplify things without forgetting the client."
He added, "The relationship of the consumer with food is a complex one and cannot be compared with others." It involves emotional, psychological and economic factors, he said.
This relationship is what most people in the industry are "suffering with," he said. "You can either influence or react to the environment, but if you are reacting, you are already behind. The importance is not to succeed but endure. You need to change perspectives and develop a vision but be flexible. Banality is not an option. If you have an enduring momentum, you will build business."
The second workshop was given by Frederic Pare, the ecological agriculture coordinator for Equiterre, or "an equitable earth." The presentation was titled "Fruits & Vegetables: Between Trade & Essential Services."
Mr. Pare said that the produce sector is "offering great opportunities but has greater challenges." He said that the industry should "know the decisions made upstream," noting that over the past 50 years, the nutritional value of produce has decreased.
He postulated that this decrease could stem from the distance fruits and vegetables travel or the crossbreeding of varieties in favor of increased yields over nutritional value.
Mr. Pare also noted that due to the concentration in retail, "agricultural production is becoming intense and changing agricultural practices."
Mr. Pare told the audience that a major segment of Quebec's population is restricted in what food it can buy and cited a study conducted by Montreal's public health department that found that 40 percent of the population on the island of Montreal does not have access to fruits and vegetables.
There are two groups when it comes to health and food, he said: poor people and people with money.
Mr. Pare discussed the results of a study conducted by Equiterre on organic, fair-trade and local products. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed said that organic products are too expensive, and 42 percent said that organics are only for those who are "city or granola types." Forty percent of those surveyed also felt the same about fair-trade products.
Seventy-seven percent try to buy local products, and 72 percent will pay more for them, Mr. Pare said, noting that 84 percent of those surveyed buy local to encourage producers.
He recommended that the industry buy local organic products, implement sustainable development policies especially for local products and develop certifications to recognize local organic products.
Perhaps the most inspiring speech was given by Pierre Mainville during the industry brunch. Mr. Mainville became a paraplegic in 2001, when he was shot by a jealous boyfriend (who was also a police officer) who was attempting to shoot his girlfriend. She was driving the car in which Mr. Mainville was unfortunately riding with two other passengers.
Mr. Mainville, an avid athlete before the accident, told the audience of his rehabilitation and how he took up the sport of fencing. Though still in a wheelchair, he is currently ranked 13th in the world and has high hopes of participating in next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
Donald Beaudry, the master of ceremonies, welcomed the association's 37 new members, and Julie DesGroseilliers, the QPMA's "I Love 5 to 10 a Day" campaign spokesperson, gave a presentation on Canada's new food guide as well as the association's new companion guide, which is currently available only in French, that helps explain to consumers "why" and "how" to get their five to 10 servings a day.
Ms. DesGroseilliers also drew Patates Dolbec as the winner of the association's "I Love" contest from among the 10 members who best utilized its logo in their respective businesses.
The QPMA is already planning its next convention, which will be held Aug. 14-16, 2008, at the Manoir Richelieu in the Charlevoix region of Quebec.
