CanadaB次元官网网址檚 industry minister made a point of calling out Pepsi and Coca-Cola for not sending representatives to a meeting he convened on Monday with manufacturing companies to discuss stabilizing grocery prices.

Fran莽ois-Philippe Champagne singled out the two companies when asked by a journalist what the consequences would be if major industry players did not succeed in stopping high inflation.

B次元官网网址淭his morning, (their CEOs) did not attend the meeting,B次元官网网址� Champagne said of beverage giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola.

B次元官网网址淚 intend to call on them and I will continue to do so. B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 stop,B次元官网网址� he told reporters.

The Canadian leaders of seven international manufacturing companies, including Nestl茅 and Kraft Heinz, met with Champagne.

He summoned them to answer to Prime Minister Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 call earlier this month for Canadian grocers to come up with a plan to stabilize prices by Thanksgiving.

If major grocers fail to deliver ideas, Champagne said, B次元官网网址渢he consequence is for all 40 million Canadians because we will be able to see who is taking action and who is not.B次元官网网址�

A government source told The Canadian Press that the CEOs of Pepsi and Coca-Cola responded to the federal government summons by stating they were not available Monday. The source was granted anonymity because they were not allowed to speak publicly about the matter.

ItB次元官网网址檚 unclear, however, whether another meeting between major food companies and the government will take place.

MondayB次元官网网址檚 meeting brought together top Canadian executives from McCain, Unilever, Nestl茅, Lactalis, Lassonde, Kraft Heinz, and Smucker Foods.

All avoided speaking with journalists. The CEO of the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada association, Michael Graydon, attended the meeting and agreed to answer questions on their behalf.

Graydon called the meeting B次元官网网址渧ery productive.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檙e very much about co-operation and support, collaboration,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an industry that needs to align and work collectively to find a solution.B次元官网网址�

He said manufacturers want to collaborate with other players in the supply chain, such as major retailers like Loblaw and Costco, whose leaders Champagne met with one week earlier.

Trudeau has said that if the government isnB次元官网网址檛 satisfied with what major grocers come up with to stabilize prices, he would intervene, including with tax measures.

Graydon said it remains to be seen how detailed the plans will be by the governmentB次元官网网址檚 Thanksgiving deadline.

B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檒l have to see whether, you know, the detail of how much completeness can be done by that time. But I think everybodyB次元官网网址檚 working very hard to achieve that,B次元官网网址� Graydon said.

Champagne said he is happy Graydon B次元官网网址渨ants to do something,B次元官网网址� because B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 a gain for Canadians.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 clear that whatB次元官网网址檚 important is that we have timelines, work plans, and obviously concrete actions,B次元官网网址� the minister said.

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