Mar-Apr25, Feature alive Admin Mar-Apr25, Feature alive Admin

Nature’s Fare: offering a compelling in-store experience

One of the two big news items to come from Nature’s Fare Markets in BC recently is the announcement of a new store, set to open in 2026. This new location will be in Chilliwack, about two hours east of downtown Vancouver, in the Fraser Valley. It will measure a robust 24,000 sq. ft., making it the largest of the group’s eight stores. It edges out the 21,000 sq. ft. Kamloops location, which opened in 2023. 

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Mar-Apr25, Column alive Admin Mar-Apr25, Column alive Admin

A spotlight on the best of our industry’s women: Interview with brenda kirk

In this column, Ellen introduces you to Brenda Kirk, senior vice president of operations and merchandising at Pattison Food Group. During her 45 years in the grocery industry, Brenda has honed her reputation as a dynamic, strategic and committed leader who’s focused on achieving results and doing what’s right for her team and customers.

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Welcome Letter, Mar-Apr25 alive Admin Welcome Letter, Mar-Apr25 alive Admin

In sales, a good listener always beats a good talker

During the 2024 CHFA NOW in Toronto, two very successful natural health retailers told me that they wished they were making more sales in their stores. I guess all retailers feel this way—who doesn’t want more sales? What made this different, however, was that these two are among the most astute retailers I know. If they are having concerns, it’s likely that many, or most, or all even others are too.

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Jan-Feb25, Column alive Admin Jan-Feb25, Column alive Admin

Ministering to our minds through food

We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat.” Ongoing research in food and nutrition is giving us deeper insights into how profoundly our food choices affect not just our physical health but also our mental well-being. The foods we consume daily have the power to influence our mood, cognition, and overall mental state in significant ways.

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Jan-Feb25 alive Admin Jan-Feb25 alive Admin

Retailer roundtable part III: Supply chain issues

At the 2024 CHFA NOW, held in Vancouver, retailers were encouraged to participate and share their experiences in an idea exchange during a retailer roundtable.

Attending retailers were split into five groups and each group was asked a question about a pressing issue impacting the natural health retail industry—rent inflation, vendor relations, supply chain, consumer education, and ethical practices and sustainability initiatives.

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Jan-Feb25, Trade Talk alive Admin Jan-Feb25, Trade Talk alive Admin

Ellen Wheeler of Alive Publishing Group hosted a women’s lunch during CHFA NOW in Toronto

On the surface, it appeared to be a simple lunch. In reality, it was an opportunity to gather some of our industry’s most influential women to connect, network, and share.

 The “Sushi & Sparkle” lunch during CHFA NOW in Toronto in September 2024 was organized by Alive Publishing Group’s vice president of partnerships, Ellen Wheeler. This was the second time she organized this gathering.

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