Articles

50 Canadian FoodTech Resources – David Sobey Centre

By CFIN Newsdesk posted 09-27-2023 08:00

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Canada has an extensive range of research centres, food incubators, accelerators and labs supporting food and beverage innovation through the research they do and/or the services they offer. Each week throughout 2023, we’ll be highlighting an organization that’s supporting food innovation in Canada.

Name: David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services (DSC), at Saint Mary’s University

Location: Halifax, NS

Mission: The centre has a mandate to help build a vibrant retail sector in Canada through research, innovation and retail education.

Focus: The centre helps lead transformation and growth in the Canadian retail industry. It is focused on multidisciplinary applied research, innovation, and comprehensive education and professional development programs, and is a hub for retail expertise equipping retailers with insights, innovation and skills to thrive.

Services: The DSC conducts and funds applied and collaborative research on issues affecting the retail sector to improve business practices and outcomes. It develops and tests new technologies, processes and methods, and innovates in-house with the help of faculty and graduate students from multiple disciplines, as well as industry retailers and technology providers. It offers a biometric and digital lab, VR retail store and cashierless store lab, as well as a variety of in-person and virtual events focused on retailing. In 2017 it launched the David Sobey Centre National Retail Innovation Awards recognizing retailers and companies supporting the retail sector with innovation and unique contributions, including sustainable solutions, e-commerce, technology and artificial intelligence.

What you Need to Know: To date the centre has given out $530,000 in research funding, and $150,000 in student competition funding. It has had 4,500 event attendees and 240 executive program attendees. The centre has two virtual and in-person events coming up that are open to the public: Retail Tech Unveiled: Exploring the Trends of Tomorrow on October 16, 2023, and the Distinguished Retailer Speaker Series - Rachel Huckle, President & COO, Staples Canada on October 26, 2023.

Notable News: The DSC recently unveiled a retail robot, designed to free up retail employees in stores and transform everyday shopping experiences. The robot can check inventory level on the shelf, as well as price and planogram compliance and send real-time reports. It is just one of several technology-based innovations being pioneered at the centre.

Get Involved: Contact the Sobey School of Business at (902) 496-8272 or davidsobeycentre@smu.ca, or reach out to our Regional Innovation Director for Atlantic Canada, Tyson MacInnis.