We are excited to bring back our Brands and Buyers Speed Networking event on Tuesday, May 27, 2025! This high-energy event is designed to connect innovative cannabis brands like yours with top retail buyers in the industry, giving you the opportunity to showcase your products, expand your network, and drive business growth.

Moderated By: Sameer Padamsey, ufeelu.

Panel Description:
This session is specifically designed for retail owners and store managers to learn practical strategies that have launched successful retail delivery programs across Ontario. Industry professionals experienced in implementing profitable retail delivery services will walk you through retail tech solutions that track and manage orders in real-time, while highlighting how to identify and serve your ideal audience - whether you operate in rural or urban settings across Ontario. You’ll also hear success stories from Ontario cannabis retailers who’ve boosted revenue by implementing delivery services within their regions. Attendees will leave with proven tactics to streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and scale business revenue through cannabis retail delivery.

Moderated By: Laina Yates, Mercari Agency.

Panel Description:
This session explores how producer pricing, marketing, and provincial markups sets the stage for wholesale orders and why these key metrics often guide which products hit retail shelves. Industry experts will teach retail owners, store managers and supervisors how to balance price, lab results, and consumer demand - offering data-driven tips for diversifying inventory and improving profit margins. Learn how targeted marketing and brand representatives can shape purchasing habits, drive high-demand SKUs, and give consumers the confidence to make informed choices. Participants will leave with practical strategies for accessing and analyzing data, fine-tuning product selection, cultivating brand/product loyalty, and creating a more informed experience that keeps both retailers and consumers satisfied in Ontario’s recreational cannabis market.

We are excited to bring back our Brands and Buyers Speed Networking event on Tuesday, May 27, 2025! This high-energy event is designed to connect innovative cannabis brands like yours with top retail buyers in the industry, giving you the opportunity to showcase your products, expand your network, and drive business growth.

Moderated By: Zaira Gaudio, Co-Chair of the Retail Cannabis Council of Ontario (RCCO).

Panel Description:
Licensed retailers across Ontario are under constant pressure to compete with illicit shops that avoid all taxes and regulations. This panel explores how retail associations are working alongside provincial efforts to protect consumers through retailer-led initiatives. Attendees will learn about the various forms of unregulated access points, why it poses a risk to safe access, why retailers are concerned, and how licensed retailers can level the playing field from a harm reduction lens.

Moderated By: Jay Schwartz, Mendo Medical.

Panel Description:
Canada’s online cannabis e-commerce platforms support veterans accessing cannabis for medical purposes, yet many brick‑and‑mortar operators know little about how this sector of the industry works. This session presents current data - active Sales for Medical Purposes licences, provincial licence counts, veteran usage rates, and insurance coverage - so industry professionals can learn first-hand what this demand looks like and how it is served successfully online. Cannabis e-commerce experts will explore recent regulatory shifts, the size of Canada's medical footprint, and sales trends on veteran‑focused platforms, sharing how to align with, rather than compete against, Canada’s growing cannabis e‑commerce ecosystem.

Session Description:
Kevin Jodrey’s keynote will guide retail industry professionals on understanding the importance of applying a “craft” mindset to producers of any size. He shows how careful attention to detail can create unique value, even as the industry normalizes and shifts toward commercial cultivation. Attendees will discover that “craft” isn’t limited to smaller producers - rather, it’s a pathway for better product lines, more sustainable practices, and meeting evolving consumer expectations. Kevin’s goal is to inspire positive change by merging artisanal quality with commercial efficiency, ultimately bringing greater value to both the marketplace and the environment.