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Feds single out Pepsi, Coke for skipping food industry inflation summit

7 major firms met with Ottawa to discuss ways to curb cost-of-living hikes in the gorcery business
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Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

Canada害羞草研究所檚 industry minister made a point of calling out Pepsi and Coca-Cola for not sending representatives to a meeting he convened on Monday with manufacturing companies to discuss stabilizing grocery prices.

Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne singled out the two companies when asked by a journalist what the consequences would be if major industry players did not succeed in stopping high inflation.

害羞草研究所淭his morning, (their CEOs) did not attend the meeting,害羞草研究所 Champagne said of beverage giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

害羞草研究所淚 intend to call on them and I will continue to do so. 害羞草研究所 I don害羞草研究所檛 stop,害羞草研究所 he told reporters.

The Canadian leaders of seven international manufacturing companies, including Nestl茅 and Kraft Heinz, met with Champagne.

He summoned them to answer to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 call earlier this month for Canadian grocers to come up with a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving.

If major grocers fail to deliver ideas, Champagne said, 害羞草研究所渢he consequence is for all 40 million Canadians because we will be able to see who is taking action and who is not.害羞草研究所

A government source told The Canadian Press that the CEOs of Pepsi and Coca-Cola responded to the federal government summons by stating they were not available Monday. The source was granted anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter.

It害羞草研究所檚 unclear, however, whether another meeting between major food companies and the government will take place.

Monday害羞草研究所檚 meeting brought together top Canadian executives from McCain, Unilever, Nestl茅, Lactalis, Lassonde, Kraft Heinz, and Smucker Foods.

All avoided speaking with journalists. The CEO of the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada association, Michael Graydon, attended the meeting and agreed to answer questions on their behalf.

Graydon called the meeting 害羞草研究所渧ery productive.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所漌e害羞草研究所檙e very much about co-operation and support, collaboration,害羞草研究所 he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an industry that needs to align and work collectively to find a solution.害羞草研究所

He said manufacturers want to collaborate with other players in the supply chain, such as major retailers like Loblaw and Costco, whose leaders Champagne met with one week earlier.

Trudeau has said that if the government isn害羞草研究所檛 satisfied with what major grocers come up with to stabilize prices, he would intervene, including with tax measures.

Graydon said it remains to be seen how detailed the plans will be by the government害羞草研究所檚 Thanksgiving deadline.

害羞草研究所漌e害羞草研究所檒l have to see whether, you know, the detail of how much completeness can be done by that time. But I think everybody害羞草研究所檚 working very hard to achieve that,害羞草研究所 Graydon said.

Champagne said he is happy Graydon 害羞草研究所渨ants to do something,害羞草研究所 because 害羞草研究所渋t害羞草研究所檚 a gain for Canadians.害羞草研究所

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 clear that what害羞草研究所檚 important is that we have timelines, work plans, and obviously concrete actions,害羞草研究所 the minister said.

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