Starting next April, Canada Good Agriculture Practices (CanadaGAP) will make it more difficult for companies to pass its audits. This change will affect approximately 3,000 retailers and companies that handle produce.

Currently, grocers need 80 per cent to pass—next year, this number will increase to 85 per cent. As of now, the average score on a CanadaGAP audit is 92 per cent. Additionally, about five per cent of companies score between 80 per cent and 85 per cent, meaning that they must increase their scores before next spring.

“To maintain program integrity and credibility, we felt it was time to move in the direction of a higher passing score,” says Jack Bates, chair of CanAgPlus, the non-profit operator of CanadaGAP.

The organization works with certification inspection agencies to check farms, packing houses and storage facilities for employee training, hygiene facilities, cleanliness of buildings, among other factors. CanadaGAP was born in the 1990s after bacteria outbreaks shook several U.S. producers.

If your business is subject to CanadaGAP audits, make sure your standards are up to date so that you may pass next year’s inspection.

Chinese buyer Xiwang Foodstuffs Company Ltd. has acquired Iovate Health Sciences International Inc., a Canadian nutrition supplement maker. The deal values Iovate at USD $730 million and will close later this year.

Xiwang was the highest bidder in a war between multiple Chinese buyout firms that made offers for the business. At this time, Chinese demand for dietary supplements is rising as the desire to live healthier lifestyles increases. This makes Iovate an excellent way for Xiwang to carve itself a spot in the market, as the Canadian company owns fitness supplement brands MuscleTech and Six Star Pro Nutrition. Iovate also has partnerships with Wal-Mart and Walgreens.

Iovate will keep its North American headquarters in Oakville, Ontario. Additionally, all key executives and 330 existing employees will remain in the company’s employ.

Lyne Castonguay has been selected as chief merchandising officer for Sobeys Inc. In this position, she will oversee all aspects of the retailer’s go-to-market strategy with responsibility for category management, marketing, data insights, research, procurement, private label and merchandising as well as the company’s digital strategy.

“Lyne is a passionate and successful retailer who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record for growing the businesses she has led,” says Marc Poulin, president and CEO of Sobeys. “I am delighted she is returning to Canada to take on this extremely important role for our organization.”

For the past 14 years, Castonguay has held positions with The Home Depot both in Canada and the United States, most recently serving as the senior vice-president of home services. Previously, she worked for General Electric in Canada. where she held numerous roles including general manager for the Canadian lighting business.

Last week, Nutraingredients.com released an article in which it canvassed various industry experts about the effects of Brexit on the UK and EU nutrition sectors.

Graham Keen, executive director of the UK Health Food Manufacturer’s Association (HFMA) told Nutraingredients that while the industry may see some impacts on future legislation, members should not worry about immediate changes.

“This should now be a period of calm reflection and not hasty decisions,” he added.

Robert Verkerk, PhD, founder, executive and scientific director for the Alliance for Natural Health-International (ANH-I) also spoke to Nutraingredients.com. He noted that the future of the market depends on the ways in which UK regulators respond to these changes and secure proper trade negotiations.

To read the full article, click here.

Source: Nutraingredients.com

This September 15-18, CHFA east will take place at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre. Members of the Canadian Organic Trade Association (COTA) that are interested in attending the show will be able to use a discount when purchasing tickets.

DISCOUNT CODE: E16A27

The pre-registration deadline for the event is September 2. After the deadline, however, members can still receive a $30 discount from the on-site price.

This year’s CHFA East will feature the start of the Organic Week 2016 celebrations. COTA will be exhibiting at the show, and will also host the COTA Annual General Meeting in Toronto on September 15. Details regarding the annual general meeting will be available later this month.

CHFA east acts as an opportunity for retailers and health practitioners to stay up-to-date on the latest product offerings and industry advances. The conference allows attendees to network with like-minded people who are dedicated to the natural health and organic products industry.

For more information, click here. https://chfa.ca/en/index.html