Empire's CMO Sandra Sanderson Wins Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award — Retail Council of Canada

Event summary

Sandra Sanderson, CMO of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., receives the Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award on April 15, 2026.
Sanderson's career spans CPG and retail, with leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Coca-Cola, Canada Post, Danier Leather, Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart Canada, and White House Black Market.
At Empire, Sanderson led the transformation of the loyalty program with Scene+, which has over 15 million members, and launched Empire Media+.
Sanderson championed community investment strategies, including the Family of Support: Child & Youth Mental Health initiative and the 'Feed The Dream' Olympic and Paralympic campaigns.
The award will be presented at RCC's Canadian Grand Prix Awards Gala on June 3, 2026.

The big picture

Sandra Sanderson's recognition underscores the strategic importance of modernizing marketing in the retail sector. Her work at Empire highlights the growing emphasis on loyalty programs and retail media as key differentiators in a competitive grocery market. The award also reflects broader industry trends towards purpose-driven leadership and community engagement.

What we're watching

Leadership Transition: How Empire will navigate potential leadership changes following Sanderson's recognition and potential future moves.
Loyalty Program Growth: The pace at which Scene+ membership will continue to grow under Sanderson's leadership and strategic initiatives.
Retail Media Expansion: Whether Empire Media+ can sustain its growth and become a significant player in the retail media space.