Some of the most remarkable food stories in Canada do not begin in corporate boardrooms—they begin on farms, with families deeply committed to quality. In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with John Miller and Marie Miller, co-owners of Miller’s Dairy, recorded live at the Maple Leaf Gardens Loblaws flagship store.

Miller’s Dairy is a multi-generational Ontario dairy whose history stretches back to the late 1800s, including a family legacy tied to the earliest use of glass milk bottles in Canada. Today, that heritage lives on through a fully integrated, family-run operation where the Millers grow feed, milk Jersey cows, process their dairy products on-site, and deliver directly to stores—often within the same regional communities.

A key differentiator is their exclusive use of Jersey cows, prized for milk with higher butterfat, protein, and natural sweetness. John explains how Jersey milk delivers richer flavour with a lower carbon footprint, while Marie highlights how those qualities reduce the need for added sugar in products like chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and eggnog. The result is dairy that tastes noticeably different on the shelf.

The conversation dives deep into craftsmanship and sustainability, including Miller’s commitment to reusable glass bottles with a deposit-return system, animal welfare practices focused on cow comfort, and a processing model designed to preserve freshness and quality. From mattresses and rotating brushes in the barn to meticulous bottle inspection, the Millers describe a philosophy rooted in respect—for animals, customers, and the product itself.

Listeners also hear the origin story behind some of Miller’s most beloved products, including their seasonal eggnog—custom-formulated after months of stove-top experimentation—and small-batch ice cream made using a restored vintage ice-cream machine from the 1950s. These products have helped the brand stand out in a competitive dairy category.

Finally, John and Marie share how persistence, strong relationships with store managers, and Loblaw’s support for small suppliers helped Miller’s Dairy expand thoughtfully while protecting quality. This episode is a powerful reminder that in an era of scale and speed, authenticity, patience, and pride of ownership still matter—and consumers can taste the difference.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently in Toronto, Austin, Texas & Savannah, Georgia. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award winning, top independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced Apple podcast management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has named him one of their top 50 Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer.

If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

In this episode of The FEED powered by Loblaw, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Chad Jakeman, Chief Executive Officer of Jakeman’s Maple Syrup Products, to explore how one of Canada’s most iconic food products is being scaled for modern retail—without losing its heritage.

Jakeman’s is a 150-year-old, family-owned Ontario business that now funnels more than half of the province’s maple syrup through its operation. Chad shares the remarkable evolution of the company, from his ancestors selling syrup roadside in rural Ontario to becoming a nationally recognized grocery brand found on shelves across Canada. The discussion offers a masterclass in how heritage brands can modernize while remaining deeply authentic.

The episode also dives into the realities of producing a climate-dependent product. Chad outlines how inconsistent winters, shifting freeze-thaw cycles, and regional weather differences across Ontario directly impact maple syrup yields. He explains the role of strategic maple syrup reserves in Quebec and why supply management is critical to ensuring industry stability during poor harvest years.

From a production standpoint, listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at the science of consistency. Chad describes how Jakeman’s blends traditional maple-making methods with modern processes—using filtration, charcoal, spectrometers, and precise density controls—to ensure every bottle delivers the same taste, colour, and quality.

Innovation and brand storytelling are recurring themes. Chad discusses the importance of a bold 2019 rebrand to stand out on crowded grocery shelves, how tourism and retailer feedback influence product extensions like maple cookies and maple cotton candy, and why authenticity consistently outperforms flashy marketing for growing Canadian food brands.

The conversation concludes with a forward-looking discussion on growth, including Western Canadian expansion, increased European exports, and the importance of diversification. Chad’s reflections on risk, resilience, and loving the work provide valuable insights for food entrepreneurs, retailers, and brand builders alike.

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently in Toronto, Austin, Texas & Savannah, Georgia. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award winning, top independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced Apple podcast management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has named him one of their top 50 Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer.

If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.

Greetings and welcome to season two of The FEED, powered by Loblaw podcast!

We conceived of The FEED as an opportunity to showcase thought leaders, taste makers, innovative brands and leaders, who are making a difference in the grocery and health industries and helping Canadians Live Life Well.

We’re off to a great start, wrapping Season one and 2025 with a powerful interview with Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist from CIBC.

In this, our second season, we’re talking with amazing entrepreneurs and thought leaders from coast-to-coast - from The Handpie Company out of PEI to celebrating 42 years of innovation and natural beauty with Parissa in Vancouver - and plenty more in between!

So be sure and follow us on your favourite podcasting platform and our YouTube channel, and stay tuned for another season of The FEED, powered by Loblaw!

About Your Host, Michael LeBlanc

Michael is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.

Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently in Toronto, Austin, Texas & Savannah, Georgia. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.

Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award winning, top independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced Apple podcast management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has named him one of their top 50 Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer.

If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael’s cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.