The CIGBA/CFIG Charity Golf Classic returns after a two year hiatus! We are excited to announce that the tournament will be held at a new location, Georgetown Golf Club on September 27th, 2022. Back with a fresh look, this event allows Members, Partners, Service Providers, Wholesalers and Media colleagues coming together to network, exchange business leads and raise funds for the Charity of Choice!
Registrations are now open at https://www.cigba.ca/golf and early birds get a chance to win a prize! As well, register a foursome and save money!
Looking to sponsor the tournament? There are lots of spots available for ultimate exposure. Be that company that is seen as a leader in the independent space! https://cigba.ca/s/2022-Golf-Sponsorship-Document.pdf
We look forward to seeing you at this event!
CIGBA/DCI Announces 2022 Events Committee
Since 2017, DCI has established an Events Committee to allow our dedicated Members, Partners and Media colleagues to provide feedback and discussion on the annual events as they are planned. Providing national coverage from coast to coast, the Events Committee is also in charge of voting the winners for the annual CIGBA/DCI Star Awards presented during the June 14th, 2022 Gala Dinner at the Business Summit.
We would like to announce our 2022 CIGBA/DCI Events Committee who are dedicated and passionate enough to join the Events Committee and help ensure the success of our events for the Independent industry:
Industry:
Barry Lanteigne - CIGBA/DCI
Joe Sawaged - CFIG
Members:
Mike Sharpe - Sharpe’s Food Market (Ontario)
Neil Kudrinko - Kudrinko’s Ltd. (Ontario)
Adam Powell - Atlantic Grocery Distributors/Powell’s Supermarkets (Newfoundland)
Brian Bradley - Stong’s Markets (British Columbia)
Partners:
Jessica Embro - Sleeman Breweries (Ontario)
Thomas Perry - Covered Bridge Potato Chips (New Brunswick)
Renato Guerini - Sobeys Wholesale (Ontario)
Stephen Carroll - Maple Leaf Foods (Ontario)
Mauro Di Tullio - Federated Insurance Company of Canada (Quebec)
Jeff O’Neill - Wonder Brands Inc. (Ontario)
Shawn Dobrowolski - Lactalis Canada (Ontario)
Media:
Vanessa Peters - Canadian Grocer
Larry Bonikowsky - Grocery Business
For any questions, please contact matthew@distributioncanada.ca.
Nominations Open For the 2022 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards!
Nominations are open for the 2022 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards and we are looking for more submissions for this year’s Gala! The 2022 CIGBA/DCI Business Summit will host the the Mix & Mingle Star Awards Gala on June 14th, 2022 at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel.
If you know of a deserving individual, company or innovation who should be nominated in any of these categories, please consider filling out a nomination for them:
Retailer of the Year
Partner of the Year
Social Responsibility Award
Innovation Award
Leader of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
If you would like to nominate someone, please click here: https://cigba.ca/star-awards-nomination
To register for the event and attend the Star Awards Gala in person, please click here: https://www.cigba.ca/summit
Members/Retailers receive complimentary access to the CIGBA/DCI Business Summit!
If you have any questions, including how to maximize your Business Summit Experience, please contact the DCI office. Don’t miss out on one of the year’s biggest industry events for the Independents!
Registrations Open for the 2022 Business Summit!
Members, Partners, and Industry Colleagues! Please join us at this year’s 2022 CIGBA/DCI Business Summit: Independent Strong.
After a trialing two years, we are excited to network and develop business in person again! This year, the Business Summit is a hybrid model, for those excited to have meetings face-to-face, and for those that cannot attend, or want to utilize buying and selling products in the Virtual Booth Showcase.
The In Person Experience will be held on June 14th, 2022 at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel and the Virtual Booth Showcase follows on June 15th - 29th, where Members shop and see deals and services, schedule meetings with Partner reps and learn more about our Partners all while utilizing the OrderEase platform!
Both the In Person Experience and Virtual Booth Showcase hold incredible value depending on how you want to connect and do business across the country. We recommend utilizing the full hybrid model to maximize your Summit Experience!
For more information, please visit www.cigba.ca/summit or contact the DCI office!
Register Now!
2021 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Winners Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2021
2021 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Honour Past, Present and Future Legacies
[Burlington, ON] On June 23rd, 2021 the annual CIGBA/DCI Star Awards were presented virtually to the independent grocery industry. With attendance from members, retailers, partners, distributors, media, and VIP, this year celebrated DCI’s 40th year in business. This year the 40th Anniversary Mix and Mingle and Star Awards Gala were presented by Howell Data Systems Inc.
”Our industry relies on the efforts of our members and partners everyday, and I am proud to work with an amazing group of professionals that are passionate about the work they do supporting their teams and communities they serve,” says Barry Lanteigne, DCI/CIGBA President and Director of Operations, “I would like to give special shout out to all the members and partners that submitted nominations, and thanks to our events committee for selecting the winners! I look forward to seeing everyone in person in 2022!”
Taking the Partner of the Year category was CJR Wholesale Grocers, with members noting that they were the go-to partner to help them during the pandemic. After assisting a hungry shoplifter, Mike Williamson of Central Fresh Market and his team took home the category of Retailer of the Year. Continuing with member success, the new and upcoming Elora store ‘The Geddes Street Market’ took the award in Innovation with their new store concept, while DCI Partner, Jamieson Wellness took the award for Social Responsibility after assisting a mother of two kids with a rare disease that demanded a high supply of their vitamins, sourcing product from across the country and shipping them to her - free of charge. This year, the Leader of the Year award pluralized to become Leaders of the Year, after the joint nomination of Tom Shurrie and Gary Sands took the category win for their effective advocacy and representation of independent grocers at government level. Finally, the most prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to Steve Sharpe of Sharpe’s Food Market for his decades of service in the independent grocery industry and for being a staple in his community.
The CIGBA/DCI Star Awards Gala is part of the annual CIGBA/DCI Business Summit where independents learn, engage, network and celebrate the industry nationwide. For more information, please go to: www.cigba.ca.
Celebrate DCI’s 40th Anniversary at the 2021 CIGBA/DCI Virtual Business Summit: Shop. Save. Win!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 26, 2021
Celebrate DCI’s 40th Anniversary at the 2021 CIGBA/DCI Virtual Business Summit: Shop. Save. Win!
DCI is looking forward to celebrating its 40th anniversary in the grocery industry! As a buying group that formed in 1981 and is comprised of independent grocers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors, DCI would like to invite their members, partners, and colleagues to the 40th Anniversary Mix and Mingle & Star Awards Gala presented by Howell Data Systems happening on June 23rd, 2021 from 3:00PM – 4:30PM EST. Together, we would like to celebrate the success of four decades in business, and celebrate our industry’s best independents, supplier partners, innovations, socially responsible companies, leaders and lifetime achievers!
Since COVID-19 changed the landscape on how we maintained and facilitated business networking, this year the Summit has gone completely digital, introduces a new format, presents an abundance of show specials aimed to help retailers save money, find some new business opportunities, and connect with each other like never before! CIGBA/DCI would like to introduce the 2021 CIGBA/DCI Virtual Business Summit: Shop. Save. Win! where we know you will find elevated value, and lots of savings!
To maximize the experience, DCI Partners will showcase their products, catalogs, and sell sheets in their respective categories for a two-week period at the virtual event for our members to shop, become familiar with products as well as establish and/or strengthen business relationships. To cap the excitement are the new ways to win at the event this year: not only do attendees get a chance to win prizes for engagement, but all DCI Members who register will get the chance to win a 2022 DCI Full Year Membership presented by Howell Data Systems. We are excited to announce that this year has seen the biggest registration and engagement for DCI Partners and we are looking forward in helping our members build these business relationships. For more information about the event, please go to www.cigba.ca/summit
DATES & TIMES
June 16th - 29th: Booths and Show Specials Open
June 23rd @ 3:00PM – 4:30PM: Mix and Mingle and Star Awards Gala presented by Howell Data Systems
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Matthew Brown – Manager: Events, Communications & Technologies matthew@distributioncanada.ca
Nominations are open for the 2021 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards!
Nominations are open for the 2021 CIGBA/DCI Star Awards and we are still looking for a few more nominations to round out this year’s awards gala! This year, the Mix & Mingle Star Awards Gala will be held virtually on June 23rd, 2021 from 3:00PM - 4:30PM EST.
If you know of a deserving individual or company who should be nominated in any of these categories, please consider filling out a nomination for them:
DCI Retailer of the Year
DCI Partner of the Year
Social Responsibility Award
Innovation Award
Leader of the Year
Lifetime Achievement Award
If you would like to nominate someone, please click here: https://cigba.ca/star-awards-nomination Nominations are due by April 16th, 2021.
To register for the event, please click here: https://www.cigba.ca/summit
Member and Partner registrations are completely FREE! Please join us in celebrating DCI’s 40th Anniversary!
Please note: all Partners who attend are required to have a booth at the 2 week virtual summit (unstaffed). Please contact the DCI office to secure your booth prior to registering for the event.