Real-world challenges faced by the food retail sector
About the Retail Innovation Challenge
Deadline to register : October 6th
The Fall 2025 edition of the McGill-BSRM Retail Innovation Challenge promises real-world problem-solving, focusing on the real-life challenges faced by three key companies in the food retail sector: Bassé Nuts, Économusée-Micro Distillery Gin Le Grand Dérangement and Mandy’s Gourmet Salads. Examples of the challenges will focus on increasing traffic and revenues, digital market expansion goals, supply chain optimization, process management flow to improve business metrics and customer focus.
Check out the highlights from the 2024 edition!
What to expect
Phase 1 —
Ideation
October 9-18
Oct. 9 – 6PM (EST)
Launch of the competition and Ideation Phase; Student teams receive their respective business cases & instructions
Oct. 18 – 6PM (EST)
All teams are required to submit their Ideation Phase presentations.
Phase 2 —
Implementation
October 20-26
Oct. 20 – Afternoon
Semi-finalist teams are announced; Implementation Phase instructions sent to teams
Oct. 22 – 4PM (EST) - TBD
Problem solving workshop hosted by Ernst & Young (60 min)
Oct. 25 – 6PM (EST)
Submission deadline for Implementation Plan
Oct. 26 – 10AM-4PM (EST)
All semi-finalist teams (4 per case study) to present online in front of a separate jury per company (representatives from the company & case writing team)
Phase 3 —
Business Plan
Oct. 27-Nov. 1
Oct. 27 - Morning
Finalist teams are announced (2 per case study); Business Phase instructions sent to teams
Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 - TBD
Mentoring from Ernst & Young (30-min session per finalist team)
Oct. 30th evening & Nov. 1 morning (EST)
Activities for in person teams & participants (TBD)
Nov. 1 – 10AM (EST)
Submission deadline for finalist presentations
Nov. 1 – 1-4PM (EST)
Finalists' presentations in front of independent jury & announcement of winners
Nov. 1 – 4:30-5PM (EST)
Closing ceremony & prize presentations
Nov. 1 - 5PM-6:30PM (EST)
Closing cocktail for those present in person
Final presentation format
Phase 1 and 2 will be held virtually. The third and final phase will be held in person at McGill University campus with an option to present virtually for those unable to attend. Activities for finalist teams will be organized from October 31st (evening) to November 1st. Private breakout rooms for each finalist team are reserved and food catering for breakfast and lunch is provided.
The finalists, 2 teams per case study, will present in front of a live panel of judges including: business case owner, consulting firm associates, McGill professors and a senior level representative from the SAQ, our title sponsor.
Prize money
Each finalist team will win prize money. For each case study, first place team wins $2,500 while second place team wins $1,000. The overall Grand Prize-winning team receives $10,000 powered by the SAQ.
Virtual and in-person presentations will be done in front of a panels of judges who will evaluate your proposals by its impact on:
Viability of
Ideas, Solutions & Financials
Use of
Supporting Data
Quality, Clarity
& Creativity
Impact on
Business
Impact on
Stakeholders
Why Participate?
Get real-world experience working on real business cases
Potential for senior-level mentorship to further develop your ideas
Make an impact on the future of retail during these unprecedented times
Win prizes such as Grand Prize of $10,000!
The student teams will benefit from town halls with leading experts from our partner organizations. The finalist teams (Phase 3) will benefit from personalized coaching from Ernst & Young.
We are delighted to announce the SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec/Quebec liquor board), as the title sponsor of the RIC 2025. With their support, we will be able to reward the top teams with monetary prizes, including the grand prize of $10,000!
If you have any questions, please contact us directly at bsrmcomp.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca.
Title Sponsor
Other Sponsors & Partners
