Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois welcome Robert Carter, President of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at The StratonHunter Group, for a deep dive into coffee trends, green bean volatility, and restaurant profitability. From AI readiness and delivery economics to climate risk and trade policy, Robert outlines the forces reshaping foodservice. The hosts also explore glyphosate debates, grocery concentration, Costco’s expansion, Bobby Flay’s Toronto entry, Eggslut’s arrival in Canada, and Nice Cans’ global sardine recognition.
In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Robert Carter, President of the Coffee Association of Canada and Managing Partner at StrattonHunter Group, for an in-depth look at Canada’s coffee and restaurant industries at a moment of significant disruption.
Carter explains why coffee remains Canada’s most consumed beverage and a cornerstone of daily life, yet the industry is under intense pressure. Record-high green bean futures, climate volatility in producing nations, commodity speculation, and persistent U.S. tariffs — notably outside CUSMA protections — are reshaping the economics of roasting and exporting. Carter details how tariff exposure is impacting Canadian processors, forcing operational shifts, and creating uncertainty across North American trade.
The conversation expands into restaurant profitability, where rising input costs, labour pressures, rent, and delivery platform commissions are compressing margins. With nearly 30% of sales flowing through off-premise channels, operators must rethink strategy. Carter outlines how AI and data-driven tools are becoming essential for pricing optimization, operational audits, consumer insights, and long-term competitiveness. Restaurants that invest in AI readiness today, he argues, will outperform tomorrow.
In the news segment, the hosts unpack the U.S.. Supreme Court’s tariff ruling and continued trade uncertainty affecting Canadian agriculture, along with debate surrounding glyphosate, precision agriculture, and regulatory risk. They also analyze grocery concentration trends, declining supermarket density per capita, and Costco’s accelerating Canadian expansion.
The episode closes on restaurant innovation and cultural momentum. The arrival of Eggslut in Toronto signals continued appetite for experiential fast-casual concepts. Bobby Flay’s expansion into Canada underscores global chef brands’ confidence in the market. And Canadian entrepreneur Charlotte Langley’s Nice Cans sardines earning international acclaim highlights the premiumization of seafood and the growing power of differentiated food brands.