2025 Star Women in Convenience winner: Chantal Charlebois

Chantal Charlebois   

Category Manager      

Groupe Beaudry         

How did you get into this business? 

I started in the food buying team at Price Club which later became Costco. Since then, I have worked for a few companies and now I am with Groupe Beaudry with the same passion that I had at the start of my career.

What work-related accomplishment are you most proud of during the last 12-18 months?

During the last year, I worked on several projects with my colleagues, and I am proud to say, “We did it!”

What do you like most about your job?

The confectionery category includes a lot of new products, seasonal products, and volume items. It’s a category that is always in movement with a lot of challenges, and I like the fact that it’s never boring.

What was the biggest challenge or your career? What did you learn? 

During my career, there have been port strikes, railroad strikes, natural disasters, continuous IT changes, shortages, a pandemic and tariffs, and I was able to navigate through all these challenges by quickly adapting and problem solving in these situations. Whatever comes next, I am ready.

What's the best advice you ever received? 

Never try to impress your colleagues by telling them where you worked, what you did, or who you know. Impress them by who you are.

What's your career highlight/biggest achievement so far? 

Over the years, I trained several people that have moved into various positions in different companies. I am happy to see where they are now, and that I was a part of their journey.

What excites you most about the future of this channel?

The channel has had a lot of challenges in the last few years, and will likely have a few more in the future, but we will adapt like we always do. 

What trend or innovation will shape the business in the next three years?

Let’s see where AI takes us in the coming years!

Anything else you would like to add? 

During the last few years, I have had extraordinary colleagues, and I have also met extraordinary people. I don’t know if they learned something from me, but I learned something from them, and I will continue to learn because there is always something to learn.