Seminar: Skale Up to Retail Bootcamp

Please join Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership (STEP) for a full-day, applied retail readiness program designed to help Saskatchewan food, beverage, pet food, e-commerce, and agri-value CPG companies understand how retail really works and what it takes to succeed in competitive retail channels.

Delivered in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), this program combines expert instruction, real-world retail frameworks, and hands-on pitching practice to strengthen commercial readiness for retail entry and growth.

Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of:

• How retail buyers, brokers, and distributors make decisions
• What drives pricing, margins, trade spend, and retail profitability
• Why products are accepted or rejected by buyers
• How to build a compelling, retail-ready product story and pitch
• Where key commercialization gaps exist, and next steps to address them

Participants are encouraged to bring product samples, packaging, sell sheets, pricing sheets, and pitch materials for use during applied sessions.

Featured Facilitators & Speakers

Scott Miller | Market Entry Consultant, MarketReady Consulting
Scott brings deep experience in retail commercialization strategy, pricing structures, and preparing CPG companies for buyer engagement.

Gary Hughes | Local Development Manager, Sobeys
Provides a buyer perspective on retail decision-making, including evaluation criteria, rejection factors, and expectations for retail-ready products.

Ecosystem Partners
Representatives from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, and STEP will provide insights on funding, technical support, and commercialization pathways.

Program

This is an interactive, full-day, in-person workshop combining education, application, and peer learning.

Morning: Retail Reality & Commercial Foundations

• Retail Systems How retail channels work, how decisions are made, and how products move through buyers, brokers, and distributors.
• Retail Economics Pricing strategy, margins, trade spend, listing fees, SKU economics, and profitability realities in modern retail.
• Buyer Decision-Making Delivered from a retail buyer perspective, focusing on evaluation criteria, rejection drivers, and retail-ready expectations.

Afternoon: Application & Pitch Development

• Retail Readiness Translating your product, pricing, and positioning into a clear and compelling retail pitch.
• Peer Pitch Simulation Participants deliver structured pitches in cohort groups, followed by timed peer feedback and evaluation using a structured scoring framework.

Ecosystem Support

The day concludes with insights and connections from Saskatchewan’s innovation and export ecosystem, including funding, technical support, and export pathways.

Networking Reception

A casual networking reception to follow, providing additional opportunity to connect with speakers, partners, and fellow participants.

Investment:

STEP Member: $15 +GST
Non-Member: $25 +GST

Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

Registration

Please register below by September 1, 2026, to guarantee your spot. You will receive a confirmation email upon completion of your registration.

NOTE: There is a maximum of two participants per company – thank you for your understanding.