Small Business Week: Economic Update & Consumer Trends
Event Date
October 22, 2026
Event Time
12:00 pm
Event Location
Vaughan City Hall
Event Description
October 22, 2026 | Presented by Food and Beverage Ontario & BDC
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/small-business-week-economic-outlook-tickets-2002583345695?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
Join Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO), the City of Vaughan and BDC during Small Business Week for a timely look at the economic and consumer trends shaping Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector.
We’re pleased to welcome Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC, who will provide an economic update and share his perspective on the forces influencing Canadian businesses, including the outlook for the economy, interest rates, investment and the operating environment for small and medium-sized businesses.
Pierre will be joined by Francis Parisien of NielsenIQ, who will explore the latest consumer trends and purchasing behaviours in Ontario and across Canada. Francis will highlight how consumers are responding to changing economic conditions, where spending patterns are shifting, and what these trends could mean for food and beverage manufacturers.
Together, these two perspectives will provide Ontario food and beverage businesses with a clearer picture of both sides of the market — the economic environment in which they operate and the consumers they serve.
Whether you’re planning for 2027, evaluating new opportunities, or simply trying to understand what lies ahead, this Small Business Week session will provide timely insights to help inform your business decisions.
Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 PM
Presented by: Food and Beverage Ontario & BDC
Speakers
Pierre Cleroux, BDC Vice President, Research and Chief Economist
Pierre Cléroux was appointed Vice President, Research and Chief Economist at BDC in 2012.
Pierre leads a team of experts who analyze economic data to identify business and sector trends impacting Canadian entrepreneurs. A seasoned speaker, he regularly travels across the country to help business owners understand the risks and opportunities presented by the economic environment.
Mr. Cléroux is also responsible for providing economic analysis and advice to the Bank’s senior management team, and supervises all marketing and industry research activities.
Over his 25-year career as an economist, he has held several influential positions that had a direct impact on entrepreneurs in Canada and abroad.
Before joining BDC, Pierre worked for the Government of Saudi Arabia as Vice President, Business Analysis in the National Industry Clusters Development Program. His role was to create program strategies, define sector policies and conduct financial and economic analyses of industrial projects.
Previously, Mr. Cléroux was the Quebec Assistant Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, responsible for the implementation of economic policies and programs to support small and medium-sized businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. He was also a strategic advisor for Montreal International, where he was responsible for attracting foreign investment from India and the Middle East, and developing international relationships and partnerships. He worked for 12 years at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in various roles, including economist and Quebec Vice President.
Pierre is President of the Financial Services, Capital and Economy Committee of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ).
He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a master’s degree in Economics from Laval University, as well as an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Francis Parisien, Senior Vice President of Sales for Small and Medium Businesses in Canada at NielsenIQ (NIQ)
Francis Parisien is the Senior Vice President of Sales for Small and Medium Businesses in Canada at NielsenIQ (NIQ). With more than 25 years of experience at NIQ, Francis brings deep expertise in navigating the impacts, challenges and opportunities of an evolving marketplace and shifting consumer trends.
In his role, Francis leads a nationwide team that supports start-ups, emerging suppliers, established manufacturers, government agencies and non-governmental organizations seeking market and consumer insights. Collaborating closely with his team, Francis’ primary objective is to forge partnerships across the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, ensuring NIQ’s Canadian initiatives remain aligned with client needs and market dynamics.