Having the right items on the shelves is table stakes for operating a successful grocery business. Although some consumers are embracing online ordering, a survey by Chain Store Age found that about 80% prefer to shop in-store. And for 74% of shoppers, product availability is the top priority when deciding where to shop. To meet…
As an independent grocery business in Canada, you’re a fixture in your communities. Canadian grocery stores make healthy foods available and accessible while also taking active roles in local culture and supporting local causes. However, doing business today comes with more challenges than in the past, so much so that the Grocery Innovations Canada show…
In the competitive grocery industry, technology-enhanced customer experiences can unlock greater success. A flexible, full-featured POS system for grocery store operations can help you position your business firmly at the top of your market. Most consumers have multiple choices of where to purchase their groceries. Your customers could shop at competitors’ stores, buy groceries at…
Your store is a destination for your customers. Whether you offer a taste of home or sell unique ingredients for favorite recipes, your customers will pass by larger grocers and supermarkets to come to your store. As the popularity of ethnic and specialty grocery stores continues to grow, you will need to upgrade from manual…
Success in the grocery industry involves staying on top of several ever-shifting factors, from popular products and customer behaviors to technological advancements. One rapidly growing trend is the use of healthy benefits and over-the-counter (OTC) benefits cards. OTC solutions that integrate with grocery store software allow customers to use their OTC grocery cards to purchase…
Grocery store software and other store management technology have numerous benefits, from smoother, more efficient processes to data for informed decision-making. However, when it comes to technology, there can be too much of a good thing. No one knows this better than managers with expanded store — and IT — footprints after grocery mergers and…
Giving consumers more control over their shopping experiences leads to greater satisfaction. Offering self-service and self-checkout options that eliminate lines and save time is an excellent example. Shoppers can skip the line and complete their shopping journeys more quickly and conveniently. In the not-so-distant past, grocers had few self-service solution options. However, in 2025, grocery…
Grocery store loyalty programs have become an essential part of grocers’ business strategies. A loyalty rewards solution integrated with grocery store software helps grocers compete with stores selling lower-priced private label brands and big box stores that evolved into supermarkets. A well-designed loyalty program increases basket sizes, strengthens customer relationships, and incentivizes future purchases. However,…
Dear Resellers and Partners, After our most recent partner event, I am thrilled to look back at the gains we have made to date and present the exciting news LOC Software has moving forward. This last year has been filled with hard work, connection, and the momentum we are building together. With the work our…
With the recent rise in eCommerce and then the return to brick-and-mortar shopping over the past few years, 73% of shoppers consider themselves “omnichannel.” This transformation has resulted in higher expectations for in-person shopping experiences. Consumers crave the personalization, easy access to information, and on-demand service that online shopping offers. In fact, PwC research reveals…
Why LOC Added an Agent Option to Our Channel Partner Program We know channel partner relationships can be mutually beneficial, even if they don’t all follow the same model. So, we are expanding our channel partner program to include an Agent option. Our Agent program is a LOC-supported model that allows you to confidently offer…
You checked all the boxes on your business plan, from choosing your membership model, building relationships, developing training and information for members, and hiring great people. However, if you’re like most food co-op operators, you didn’t anticipate the challenges you’d face finding and implementing the right technology to run your business. The processes necessary to…
Yves is a leader known for his exceptional ability to plan, organize, negotiate, and lead transformation, innovation, and communication initiatives. Yves brings over 35 years of experience in the retail software industry along with excellent product knowledge. He was one of the co-founders, Executive Vice President and COO of a major value-added reseller of LOC Software. During this period, he was responsible for the strategic management of the company, addressing the many challenges of growth and restructuring, including the implementation of a centralized ERP system and setting up of operations related to software integration, deployment, and development, as well as leading project management and customer success. Yves now heads the product management department, where he leads the definition, dissemination, and adoption of LOC Software’s product roadmap. He manages priorities and development objectives that support the innovation, improvement, and constant evolution of technology according to market trends and the need to stand out in the industry by providing innovative and intuitive features that allow retailers to better compete and face growing challenges.
Johanne holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations combined with Business and Labor Law. Johanne has consulted LOC Software since 2015 and joined full-time in 2022.
Before her time at LOC Software, Johanne worked as an HR director in Paris for six years and has over 20 years of experience as an HR Consultant in the IT and engineering fields; this gives Johanne an edge when growing the company’s team.
Lelio joined LOC Software in 2021 and brings a diverse managerial background in finance, accounting, and capital markets, having worked with high-growth small-cap companies across Canada. He is focused on being a change agent for the business and promoting value-added initiatives and policies that lead to sustainable growth and development.
Yvan has academic training in electronics, microprocessors, and development. He also has 30+ years of experience in Point of Sale technologies, making him a respected leader in the industry.
He became interested in the petroleum pump industry in the early 90s and became the chief architect of our pump system. He has overseen installations of several types of these systems since. Over the years, Yvan has also acquired a skillset that includes EFT transaction communications with banks and EMV terminals.
Today, Yvan leads LOC Software’s vendor relationships using his industry and development knowledge to strengthen vendor management and integrations.
Rene is Head of Marketing at LOC Software, where she leads the company’s marketing strategy and execution internally and for its value-added resellers (VARs) and its vendor partners.
Rene has been in the grocery industry for 25 years, beginning her career in the 90s, working on front-end and back-office solutions in large corporate environments. Before her time at LOC Software, she held various positions in her VAR career, including instructional design, consulting, implementation, product management, and Software Director roles. She highly values building strong relationships and takes pride in understanding the market and identifying and strategizing efficiencies.
Guy joined LOC Software in 2013 as VP, Sales and Marketing. He brings extensive retail experience to the company’s Software team.
Guy’s career has progressed through various management roles, as he has held strategic positions at retail technology companies in the US and Canada. Some of his leadership roles included VP Sales and VP Product Sales at companies such as Balance Innovations, Systech Retail Systems, and Steinberg Inc
Marie-Claude began her career as a service department manager in grocery retail. Over the years, she moved into roles with independent and corporate grocery stores and solution providers.
Marie-Claude developed training and support plans designed for real-world software use through her different positions. Since 2001, she has played a critical role in LOC Software, helping build service and training departments dedicated to certifying the community of authorized resellers. Her team provides world-class training through specialization, serving the company’s value-added resellers and customers.
Andre started at LOC Software over 25 years ago by providing technical support for electronic cash registers. His experience over the years gave him a solid foundational understanding of the various industry standards, allowing him to eventually develop interfaces on other POS systems.
His programming skills have made him the in-house scripting engine expert. He now acts as an expert mentor to the various service teams. He also designs tools that help clients meet the demands of an ever-changing retail industry.
Jimmy obtained his degree in Industrial Engineering and later completed post-graduate studies in Japan with specializations in Supply Chain Management, Total Quality Management, and Business Process Management; he received his MBA from one of Canada’s top Universities. He has more than 15 years of combined expertise in leadership roles in Operations, Process Improvement, Project Management and Digital Transformation.
He developed his career working in retail for one of the largest multinationals in South America and for Canadian firms, learning supermarket, pharmacy, and retail credit operations. Jimmy’s past as both a client and a vendor provides him with a unique perspective that helps him inspire his teams to continuously improve their practices and provide best-in-class professional and training services.
Patrick has a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and a degree in electronics engineering technology. Since 2003, Patrick has worked in software development, mostly for Points of Sale in the hospitality industry. In 2009, his focus evolved toward management practices as he became director of R&D, where his passion for programming combined was aligned with his desire to maximize the throughput of his team.
Patrick joined LOC Software in 2017, and in addition to his management responsibilities, he still develops tools to enhance work methodologies and document procedures to improve efficiency.
Stephan is the founder and principal software architect of LOC Software’s Store Management Suite (SMS). With over 35 years of experience in the development of retail software applications, he has surrounded himself with skilled collaborators to develop a versatile product that meets the growing needs of the industry. Passionate about the field, he continues to innovate and be at the cutting edge of technology by constantly improving the customer experience and operational efficiency.
Gilles is a seasoned executive with extensive experience leading technology-driven small enterprises and large corporations operating in the Information and Communication Technology industry. Benefitting from a ten-year tenure with Ericsson Canada, he successfully led software development teams, managed large-scale R&D projects, and drove sales and business development activities. In 2008, Gilles relocated to Dubai to join Emirates Integrated Telecommunications (EITC) as Senior Vice President, Investment. In his 10+ years tenure, Gilles secured value-added partnerships, which complemented and enhanced EITC’s service offering to consumers and enterprise clients.
More recently, Gilles joined LOC Software as Chief Executive Officer. Based on his strong background in engineering, his business education, and his rich work experience, Gilles is determined to bring the company into its next stage of development by enabling practical solutions that help overcome business challenges and nurture existing and new partnerships.
