Innovation & Trends

Professionnelle de la nutrition, du marketing alimentaire et de la communication cumulant plus de 20 ans d’expérience, Isabelle Marquis possède un savoir-faire multidisciplinaire unique acquis à la fois en agence-conseil et en entreprise de transformation alimentaire. Reconnue pour sa grande rigueur, sa passion contagieuse ou encore sa créativité stratégique, Isabelle est aussi une communicatrice hors pair qui sait inspirer autant que mobiliser.

En tant que directrice marketing, Grande distribution et HRI au sein du Groupe Première Moisson Inc., elle fut responsable de nombreux projets d’innovation et de lancements de produits, en plus de contribuer activement au développement des affaires sur les marchés canadien et américain. Aujourd’hui à son compte, madame Marquis accompagne des entreprises de toutes tailles du secteur alimentaire québécois et canadien en stratégie de communication, de marketing et d’innovation. Ambassadrice Innovation pour SIAL Canada depuis 2018, elle collabore également auprès de magazines spécialisés et à l’émission L’épicerie sur Ici Radio-Canada Télé.

Linda Fox is a food industry branding, marketing and commercialization specialist, able to help strengthen Canada’s position as an international powerhouse in food innovation.During her 25-year career in the food industry, Linda has worked with major FMCG and OTC brands, where she has been responsible for branding and marketing. where she has taken innovative concepts through to commercialization and launch in major food retail outlets across Canada. She knows how to make a food label stand out on the shelf, set marketing objectives and design a product launch plan and strategic go-to-market framework that drive sales growth and profitability.

Linda uses her keen curiosity and brand marketing experience to understand and capitalize on the ever-changing dynamics of the consumer journey. Her ability to marry vision and experience is particularly valuable in today’s dynamic business climate. Her focus is on aligning brand strategy with consumer needs, and Linda knows how to bring the product to a successful launch through close collaboration. Linda enthusiastically follows the latest consumer, food, beverage and technology trends to provide RCIA members with the information and advice they need to successfully bring their innovative food or beverage product to market.

Tyson MacInnisTyson MacInnis is a Prince Edward Island-based consulting firm specializing in mentoring food and beverage innovators in creating a business model, target markets and how to successfully expand their entrepreneurial ventures.

Tyson holds an MBA from Dalhousie University, with a specialization in international business and a minor in finance and marketing. He has over 20 years’ experience in helping food innovators grow. He was Director of Business Development at the Food Island Partnership. In this role, he identified opportunities to improve supports such as seed funding and, through a collaborative approach, led the development of a food start-up competition, a mentoring program for food gas pedals and a food scale-up facility, and organized the first Food Automation Atlantic event.

Tyson draws on his experience as a food marketer, small business founder and economic development consultant to meet the needs of Canada’s innovative food and beverage industry. He enjoys helping innovative new food and beverage companies get the advice, connections and financing they need to thrive.

Dana McCauley is a value proposition driven innovator who has successfully launched numerous food products and programs in collaboration with national and international food companies and entrepreneurs.

Beyond her corporate experience in marketing, product development and creative services, Dana brings expertise in the nonprofit and academic arenas to her role. She was the founding Executive Director of Food Starter, a Toronto-based food business incubator and gas pedal, which received the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in Agri-Food Innovation. As Director of New Venture Development at the University of Guelph, Dana has enabled agri-food innovators to turn their inventions into innovations that grow the economy and enhance Canada’s international reputation.

Dana has been a food media personality and keynote speaker. She is the chair of the SIAL Canada Innovation Awards jury. In 2017, Dana was recognized by WXN as one of Canada’s most powerful women in the category of Trailblazer and Trendsetter.

Julie Daigle supports the Canadian food and beverage sector to help them develop their businesses and bring new and innovative food products and technologies to market. She has spent years providing She has spent years providing mentoring and marketing services to startups and SMEs in the food sector, helping these fast-growing companies expand into new markets. She also gained extensive experience in the seafood sector during her time in Mexico and with Les Pêcheries Marinard, where she oversaw international market development for their biotech by-products.

Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Victoria and a Master’s degree in Fisheries Management and Marketing from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. Her more than 23 years of experience include positions as Executive Director of Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé – a food and nutrition industry cluster focused on innovation – and MYCÉLIUMaQuebec City-based food gas pedal and incubator. Julie is passionate about innovation and co-creation in food and beverage, nutrition and functional foods, and helps members access food industry financing and marketing strategy resources.

Julie is fluent in French, English and Spanish, and is an excellent resource for members who wish to work with a Regional Innovation Manager ( RCIA ) and food industry expert who can converse with them in any of these languages.