Errol Schweizer, Whole Foods’ Executive Global Grocery Coordinator, has left the company after a 16-year tenure.

During Schweizer’s time with the company, he helped launched many new natural products. Schweizer is known for helping Whole Foods be front and centre with grocery trends including GMO transparency, and new superfoods.

Also, Kara Rubin, Senior Regional Grocery Director for the Northeast Region exited Whole Foods in February after a ten-year tenure.

The Canada Organic Trade Association has appointed a new Executive Director. Starting March 21, established non-profit manager Tia Loftsgard starts her new position with the company.

“We’re very pleased to welcome Tia to COTA in her role as Executive Director,” says COTA Board President Dag Falck.

Falck added that Loftsgard is the right person to take COTA and organic across Canada into the future. “Organic in Canada continues to have the momentum of strong consumer demand, but faces the challenges of increasing domestic supply, building on our success in international markets, and representing our needs to the new federal government.”

“I’m honoured and excited to take on this new role at COTA,” says Tia Loftsgard. “I know the organic sector well, and am really looking forward to meeting more of our diverse members, partners and stakeholders so we can plan the next stage for organic in Canada together –

In 1999, Tia cofounded Camino (La Siembra Co-operative) and worked as the Director of Sales. In 2009, Loftsgard left the company and joined Fairtrade Canada as its Business Development and Licensing Director. In 2013, she joined Fairtrade America as its Chief Operating Officer.

Canadian natural health retailers might have experienced some additional sales from south of the border. While it is not unusual for American shoppers to shop across the border in times of the Loonie’s weakness, this slump has seen a vast increase in their doing so in the online arena.

Over the past two years, the Canadian dollar has fallen about 18 per cent against its U.S. counterpart. Correspondingly, PayPal spending by U.S. shoppers on Canadian websites jumped 20 per cent in 2015 from the previous year.

EMarketer suggests that this is unusual for American shoppers, who typically stray from international e-commerce—when these customers buy foreign products online, getting it delivered is considered importing and is thus subject to examination from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This means that buyers may have to pay extra duties and fees depending on the item.

Regardless, many Americans still feel that this hassle is worth it—in 2015, Americans spent $3.2 billion on Canadian websites. (hitechwork.com) According to a study from PayPal and Ipsos SA, this is part of a total cross-border spending spree of $27 billion that is expected to grow 10 percent in 2016.

A February report from eMarketer notes that the top two reasons that U.S. digital shoppers cited for buying cross-border were product availability and better prices. PayPal adds that the top three categories of goods purchased are auto parts, fashion, and Web services and software.

Peter Jorna, a Halifax pharmacist, was recently robbed at knife point. Now, he fears that pharmacy robberies will happen again. It is true, pharmacy robberies are on the rise.

Besides Halifax, pharmacies in Hamilton, Ontario, and other Canadian cities have fallen victim to robberies. In light of this, Durham Regional Police has some useful advice to help pharmacists protect themselves and their stores if future robberies were to occur. 

Recent media reports show that thieves are either looking for drugs or money. In the Hamilton robberies, for example, the thieves stole money, fentanyl patches as well as hydromorphone and oxycodone pills. Sergeant Bill Calder with Durham Regional Police advises that pharmacists should always comply with criminal demands.

“After a robbery occurs, pharmacists should provide local police with as much information on the suspect and items stolen as possible,” Calder says.

While prevention is always important, Calder says that: “There is no real way to prevent people from robbing your store, but ensure you have a protocol in place which details how to deal with the robbery as well as how to assist the police in their investigation after the fact.”

Preventative measures such as alarm systems and surveillance cameras can help deter criminals, but Calder says that these measures help police to do their jobs more quickly. Pharmacists, Calder advises, should secure known prescriptions and other drugs.

“[Also] Don’t ever hesitate to call the police if you suspect any suspicious behaviour in the store.”

PharmaChoice is now Canada’s second-largest independent pharmacy banner after recently reaching its significant milestone of 600 locations.

“PharmaChoice is proud to have earned a leadership position in our country’s crowded pharmacy landscape,” says PharmaChoice East CEO Calvin LeRoux. LeRoux and other owners founded the pharmacy banner in 1999.

“We are confident that PharmaChoice is the program that provides independents with the best return on their investment, and we believe our rapid growth is proof of that,” LaRoux adds.

According to a recent release, the company has doubled its store count in five years. PharmaChoice West CEO Grady Brown says that the company’s success is due to a “proven financial model with operational flexibility and comprehensive program support.”

“If a member is looking for true independence, ultimate flexibility and a solid support system, look no further,” Brown says. “We truly respect our owners’ entrepreneurial spirits while offering them the comprehensive set of tools required to remain competitive in today’s marketplace.”

Vivo Brand Management is recalling more of its sexual enhancement products. This recall is due to an undeclared prescription drug, which could pose serious health risks—particularly those with heart conditions.

The recalled products, Sorta for Men Daily, Forta Xpload, as well as Durazest For Men Volume, might contain the prescription drug, sildenafil, the generic form of Viagara, which should only be taken under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner.

In a release, Health Canada advises that any consumers who have taken this product and have health concerns to consult their physician.

“Health Canada advises that consumers taking nitrate drugs should never take sildenafil or similar products together,” says Rebecca Gilman, media relations representative with Health Canada. “The combination could cause low blood pressure, which could be fatal.”

Also, consumers with high blood pressure, history of heart attack, chest pain and other heart problems who take sildenafil and engage in sexual activity are at higher risk of cardiovascular side effects.

“Consumers can also experience other side effects including headaches, indigestion, abnormal vision, as well as hearing loss, facial flushing, and dizziness,” says Gilman.

Health Canada is in the process of suspending all affected product licenses and monitoring the recall.

Vivo was unavailable for comment as of press time.

How does Canada’s natural health retailers handle business transparency? The industry conversation over this hot topic has changed on both sides of the border with the help of regulatory decisions such as the New York Attorney General’s probe into herbal supplements. Experts say that industry players engaging in shady practices have to cease because they jeopardize other industry members. Canada’s natural health retailers compare how transparency impacts and compares to the Canadian market.

The industry conversation over transparency has changed with the help of the New York Attorney General’s probe into herbal supplements. Experts say that industry players engaging in shady practices have to cease because they jeopardize other industry members. So, with these thoughts in mind, what does Canada’s natural health retailers say about transparency?

“[Besides the New York Attorney’s probe] I believe the standard needs to be raised by Canadian authorities as well,” says Sherwin Shao, owner of a number of Nutrition House locations in Ontario. “I know many instances where labelling was forced to be changed, but only after the consumer has been buying under false pretences for years. I believe penalties must be higher to prevent abuses.”

Daniel Lupu, owner of the Yonge/Bloor Nutrition House location in Toronto adds: “Transparency is great for the natural health care industry. It forces all companies to play by the same rules–at least here in Canada.”

Lupu says all natural health products require an official NPN number with clearly indicated ingredients and their specific concentrations. “In the U.S., the consumer doesn’t really have a clear indication of what and how much of a specific ingredient is truly in that product.”

The Yonge/Bloore owner concludes: “In life, honesty is always the best policy. If a company is not willing to be transparent, then the question becomes ‘what are they trying to hide?’”

The Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) says that the Ontario government should permit pharmacists to provide immunizations and treat minor ailments. Unlike other provinces, Ontario pharmacists are not allowed to give consumers immunizations or treat minor ailments—all of which could reduce the number of patients visiting emergency rooms and doctor’s offices.

In a release, the OPA stated that pharmacists in other provinces such as Quebec and Nova Scotia can prescribe for common ailments and administer some vaccines—besides the flu shot.

“Ontario is one of the last provinces to empower pharmacists to treat common ailments such as diaper rash, athlete’s foot and pink eye, as well to authorize pharmacists to administer vaccines for travel, HPV, pertussis and shingles, to name just a few,” says said Sean Simpson, Chair of the Board for the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA).

“Pharmacists are highly trained medication experts and giving them the ability to provide these services will have a significant impact on patient care, as well as on cost savings,” Simpson continues.

Launched last March, Loblaw’s “Naturally Imperfect” line—which features misshapen and oddly sized fruits and vegetables—has been loved by consumers across the country for its affordable prices. Now, the brand is expanding to include more “ugly duckling” peppers, pears, onions, mushrooms and carrots.

“When it comes to produce, Canadians know that beauty is more than skin deep,” says Ian Gordon, senior vice-president of Loblaw Brands, Loblaw Companies Limited. “Our customers recognize that they get the same flavor and nutritional benefits in spite of appearances.

Produce selected for the line may not have been harvested due to its small size, or was previously used in juices, sauces or soups due to malformations.

The brand, which featured only apples and potatoes at its launch, can now be found across the country in select no frills, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstore, Your Independent Grocer and Loblaws locations.

As pharmacies express their valid concerns over the prospective McKesson/Rexall merger, Jim Danahy, the managing principal and CEO of consultancy firm CustomerLAB says that healthy competition is beneficial to accelerate the move toward primary healthcare.

“Healthy competition—no pun intended—is beneficial to accelerate the move toward better primary care,” Danahy says. “We have [thousands] of places already built with people ready to work in them—we just need to harness different processes and tools and to work differently.”

Danahy adds that Canada needs the deep pockets and the know-how of these two large companies, and now McKesson has the possibility of company-owned stores as labs in which to refine their primary care.

Ben Shenouda, an independent pharmacist in Brampton, and spokesperson for the Independent Association of Pharmacists of Ontario, takes a different position.

“It is true that competition is healthy, but which competition?” he says. “If your supplier is your competitor, how can you see this as a good thing. He will dictate the availability of the products as well as the cost price of the products.”

Shenouda continues: “Also, he can cut exclusive deals with end payers (insurance companies) based on lower cost prices and exclusivity of the products.”

With this acquisition, McKesson, a U.S.-based services company, could become the largest player in the Canadian retail pharmacy market—both supplying and selling drugs at retail.