2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Cassandra Pino
Cassandra Pino
Sales representative - convenience & grocery Ontario
Arterra Wines Canada
How did you get into this business?
I have always had a passion for wine and innovation, which led me to study at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara College in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Combining my interests in sales with my appreciation for the wine industry made this career path a natural fit for me.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy building relationships and connecting with people. Playing a role in introducing wine into convenience stores has been especially exciting, and it is rewarding to witness the rapid growth and evolution of the industry firsthand.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ This is something my father, a former successful business owner, always told me growing up and it has stayed with me throughout my career. I feel incredibly fortunate to work for an amazing company in an industry I am genuinely passionate about. I love connecting with people, continuously learning about wine and challenging myself to grow both personally and professionally. Being able to turn something I genuinely love into a career is something I never take for granted.
What excites you most about the future of this channel?
What excites me most is the incredible pace of growth within the channel. The opportunities are endless, and I love seeing LCBO essentials now available in convenience stores. Being able to pick up a bottle of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc at a local convenience store highlights how accessible and innovative the industry is becoming.
Nomination highlights
Cassandra Pino has spent the past two years building the Arterra Wines portfolio within the convenience and gas channel with a strong customer-first approach. She consistently connects directly with owners and operators through phone calls and email to ensure product assortment recommendations, pricing updates and product availability are clearly communicated. Working closely with the account management team, she provides exceptional customer service while helping retailers grow their business through high-velocity SKU recommendations and strong category support. Her dedication and responsiveness have contributed to Arterra achieving more than 80% share within the domestic portfolio. Her responsibilities include account management, product assortment planning, digital communications and supporting monthly sales targets through proactive outreach and B2B communications. Pino also ensures retailers stay informed about new product launches, promotional pricing and innovation opportunities. Beyond her daily role, she is an active participant in industry trade shows, golf tournaments and charitable initiatives, helping strengthen relationships and positively support the convenience industry.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
Be there when the industry comes together in-person to celebrate at the Star Women in Convenience Awards Event.