ECRM – The Candy Planning: Everyday & Summer Seasonal Session 2026

The Groupe Export Agri-Food, in partnership with ECRM (Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing), is offering you a unique formula for individual meetings with buyers in your product categories. You will benefit from one-on-one meetings with retail buyers in the United States and Canada. These meetings will last 10 or 20 minutes, depending on the chosen session.

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ECRM Candy – Information for participating members

• (24 to 27 August 2026) Candy Planning: Everyday & Summer Seasonal Session: Confectionery suppliers will present programs for basic assortments, everyday, and summer seasonal promotions to retailers across all channels.

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How ECRM Works

• A personalized program through the MarketGate platform, providing access to detailed buyer information to help you plan targeted and effective meetings.

• Individual meetings of 10 to 20 minutes each, scheduled consecutively over 3 to 4 hours per day.

• Easy follow-up: access your meeting notes and connect directly with buyers on RangeMe to request samples, place orders, or continue post-event communication.

• Dedicated support: an ECRM Client Success Manager guides you throughout the entire program.

A comprehensive and structured program designed to maximize your business opportunities!

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Option 1: Innovation Pipeline

Brands looking to grow distribution with buyers including national, regional & alternative channels

• This formula is for 1 attendee and includes: 10-minute appointments in a private 10 x 10 booth, hotel accommodations, meals, ECRM session services, networking functions and educational opportunities.

Option 2: Planning Session

Brands looking for strategic collaboration, distribution & planning with key buyers across all channels.

• This formula is for 2 attendees and includes: 20-minute appointments, hotel accommodations, meals, ECRM session services, networking functions and educational opportunities.

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Price per options

• 10 min – Innovation Pipeline: $7 300

• 20 min – Planning Session: $10 500

Register an extra attendee for $650 USD per person, per day.

If a company registers for a second session, the participation fee for the second session is discounted by 50%.

A minimum number of participants is required for this activity to take place and be subsidized.

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*Subject to approval 

Activities are subject to approval by the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (2026–2028). If funding for the activity is denied, you will be responsible for reimbursing up to $7500. Given the positive partnership between the Groupe Export and government programs, the risk of funding denial is minimal.

Financial assistance for participants

50% reimbursement of one economy class airfare (2 per exhibiting company with a maximum of $750 per plane ticket);

• The company must imperatively provide proof of travel (e.g., an invoice of flight, train, bus, etc. with complete itinerary or receipt for the purchase of gas near the place of destination).
• In case of purchasing a higher class airfare ticket, you will have to present an economy fare travel estimate for the same route, date and flight in order to be reimbursed.
• Flight must have been paid for; redemptions of bonus points of any kind remove the right to this subsidy.

Financial assistance covering 75%* of the additional costs related to your booth setup and the shipment of samples (consolidated with Groupe Export), up to a maximum of $6,000 of eligible expenses per company.

Groupe Export reserves the right to request any additional supporting documents. By registering for this event, you agree to complete and return the activity report that will be sent to you. You will have 60 days following the event to return the completed report; otherwise, you may be required to reimburse the subsidies received for this activity. The compiled data will be used solely to assess the economic impact of this activity.

* Subject to Approval

Activities are subject to approval by the Ministère de l’Agriculture des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (2026–2028) and by Agri-Marketing under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (2026–2028). In the event that funding for the activity is denied, the subsidy for additional setup costs will be limited to 50%. Given the positive partnership between Groupe Export and the governments, the risk of funding rejection is minimal.

Cancellation Policy

The Groupe Export Agri-Food is a non-profit organization that manages export financial programs from the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  As a government program manager, Groupe Export has defined a general cancellation policy to follow when participating in a trade show. Policy’s details are as follows:  When a participation or registration form is signed by a representative of a company, this company becomes liable to the Groupe Export Agri-Food, as this form is a contract between the company and the Association.

• In the five days following registration, the company must pay, as a deposit, 50% of participation fees. This amount can be paid by check, direct deposit or credit card by contacting Groupe Export’s financial department at 450-649-6266. Direct deposits are preferred. 
• The remaining 50% of participation fees must be paid at least 60 days before the activity. 
• If the company does not respect these terms, Groupe Export Agri-Food has the right to cancel the company’s participation. 
• When a company cancels its participation: 

→ If the company or the Groupe Export Agri-Food finds a replacing participant, the full amount will be reimbursed, except for a $200 administration fee, as soon as a replacing participant has paid in full the amount due.  

→ In case a substitute cannot be found, all other incurred charges, including 100% of the invoice for a space reservation, would be charged to the company.  

→ All cancellation requests must be made in writing and be addressed to the person in charge of the activity, whose name appears on the participation form. 

 This policy was ratified by the Groupe Export’s Board of Directors on February 14, 2008. 

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Eligibility for participants

To be eligible for the applicable provincial subsidies for this activity, the company must:

• Meet all eligibility criteria for applicable provincial and federal subsidies for this activity;
• Hold a license number from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) or demonstrate that it is not required for its type of business; 
• Have a registration number with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

The Groupe Export reserves the right to refuse any registration for this activity.