Star Women in Convenience: Tammy Poirier on Mentorship
Professional recognition is more than an honour—it is a responsibility to pave the way for the next generation of female leadership.
That was the central message delivered by Tammy Poirier, national account executive at Coke Canada Bottling Limited, during her address at the recent Star Women in Convenience awards ceremony. A former SWIC Award winner herself in 2023, Poirier profoundly understand the impact mentorship has on women.
Addressing an audience of retail executives, store operators and brand partners, Poirier reflected on what industry accolades truly represent. "But it was what happened afterwards that was also really special to me. It was the conversations it created, the people I got to meet and the opportunities it gave me to then encourage other women," said Poirier. "It was a reminder that our hard work actually matters, and someone is paying attention."
Driving female leadership
Poirier emphasized that winning a Star Women in Convenience award brings a duty to lift others as you climb. "The recognition is an opportunity," added Poirier. "I believe it's a responsibility to be part of the cycle to help pay it forward. To return today in a different role with the opportunity to celebrate and encourage others is a real privilege."
Her call to action comes at a pivotal moment for the sector. While women have historically been underrepresented in senior retail leadership, their impact across operations, category management and executive suites is growing rapidly.
Convenience retail vital to Coca-Cola
Beyond leadership development, Poirier highlighted the strategic importance of the convenience channel to Coca-Cola Canada Bottling. Small-format stores serve as the frontline for consumer engagement, offering localized reach that larger retail formats simply cannot match.
The strength of the convenience sector relies heavily on core foundational pillars: deep relationship-building, an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong commitment to local community values. As the channel continues to adapt to shifting consumer habits, Poirier noted that women will play an increasingly vital role in steering the industry into its next era of growth.
