2026 Future Leader in Convenience + Car Wash winner: MARIE THIFFAULT

Landing a national launch with Circle K Ontario was a huge milestone for Marie Thiffault. In just one year, she turned Sunii from a simple idea into a fast-growing Canadian brand that’s gaining real traction in the convenience industry.

“Having a major retailer believe in Sunii early on while we’re such a young brand is incredibly validating. It’s proof that our vision and product resonate beyond our local community, and that a small B.C.-born idea can grow into something much bigger when you stay consistent and trust what you’re building,” she says.

“I love that I get to build something that means something. Sunii isn’t just caffeine in a gum; it’s this little piece of sunshine that helps people push through when their brain says, ‘nope.’ I’m proud that we’ve created a brand that reflects how I want people to feel: motivated, alive and capable of more. I want Sunii to stand for the kind of energy I believe in—one that connects, uplifts and gives back.”

Thiffault says she’s not trying to build the biggest brand, just one that’s most authentic.

“Whether it’s working with local ambassadors in the Sea-to-Sky, using local manufacturers, or simply showing real, diverse humans in our content community is the core. We live in a society where it’s so hard to feel authenticity and I want to make sure that’s what people feel.”