Forum Logistique 2026 to Bring 200+ Supply Chain Leaders to Montreal

Forum Logistique 2026 to Bring 200+ Supply Chain Leaders to Montreal

More than 200 logistics, manufacturing and supply chain professionals are expected in Montreal on November 16–17 for the 16th edition of GCL’s Forum Logistique 2026.

Held at Hôtel Bonaventure Montréal, the two-day event will feature 10 conferences and eight networking sessions built around real-world logistics projects from companies including Groupe Robert, PACCAR, Winpak, SPI Santé Sécurité, Stella-Jones, Deschênes & Fils, Groupe Marcelle, Browns and Renwil.

Rather than focusing primarily on high-level industry predictions, the program is structured around projects these companies have actually implemented, the decisions behind them and the challenges encountered along the way.

Topics range from 3PL operational excellence and warehouse expansion to ecommerce fulfillment, artificial intelligence, automation, SAP implementation, inventory planning and distribution network transformation.

Two Days Focused on Real Logistics Projects

GCL has organized the 2026 Forum around three themes: innovation, collaboration and transformation.

The event is targeted primarily at directors, vice presidents and other logistics and supply chain decision-makers.

GCL says the event typically attracts more than 200 participants from logistics and manufacturing and has recorded attendee satisfaction above 95%.

The relatively small format is intentional.

Instead of a large expo hall, the Forum combines presentations, interactive sessions, shared meals and networking periods designed to give attendees more direct access to speakers and other operators.

The 2026 edition will also feature an increased presence from warehouse automation and logistics technology companies.

Day One Opens With AI and Warehouse Automation

Programming begins Monday, November 16, with GCL’s interactive “Radar of Logistics Innovations.”

The session will examine developments in warehouse automation, artificial intelligence for supply chain operations, return-on-investment calculations and technology benchmarking.

Rather than simply presenting new technologies, the session is designed around the practical question of when automation or AI actually makes financial and operational sense.

Live polling and audience discussion will be incorporated into the session, giving operators an opportunity to compare their technology priorities with other companies in the room.

For warehouse and 3PL executives evaluating robotics, automation or AI projects, this could be one of the more useful opening sessions.

Groupe Robert and PACCAR to Discuss 3PL Operational Excellence

One of the most relevant sessions for Racklify’s 3PL audience follows immediately afterward.

Groupe Robert and PACCAR will present a case study on operational excellence inside a large third-party logistics environment.

Groupe Robert has operated as a logistics provider for approximately 80 years and has developed its own operational excellence program across its business.

Pierre Beaulieu, Vice President of Automotive and Aeronautics Operations at Groupe Robert, and Josée Charbonneau, Senior Director of Operational Excellence, will present alongside PACCAR Materials Director Jean-Sébastien Moukhtar.

The discussion will focus not only on results but also on the decisions, obstacles and lessons encountered while building and implementing the program.

For 3PL operators, that makes the session particularly relevant because it provides a look inside how another logistics provider approaches continuous improvement with a major customer.

SPI to Break Down a Warehouse Expansion

Warehouse growth will also feature prominently on the first day.

Linda Duhamel, Vice President of Operations at SPI Santé Sécurité, will present the company’s warehouse expansion and optimization project.

The session will examine how SPI planned its facility expansion while attempting to maintain operational efficiency as the business grew.

Warehouse expansions can create difficult tradeoffs around layout, storage density, automation, labor and future capacity.

The presentation is intended to give attendees a look at the planning process behind those decisions rather than simply showcasing the finished facility.

Winpak and Stella-Jones Tackle Multi-Site Transformation

Winpak will present another operational transformation case study focused on turning a fragmented multi-site organization into a more integrated operation.

The company will discuss sales and operations alignment, integrated planning, cross-functional governance, data-based decision-making and standardization across locations.

Later in the afternoon, Stella-Jones and DBC will examine a different type of transformation.

Stella-Jones first implemented SAP S/4HANA and then built additional S&OP and material requirements planning processes on top of that foundation.

The presentation will focus on the lessons learned moving from a major ERP implementation toward more integrated supply chain planning.

BMR Pilot Examines Transportation Decarbonization

Transportation will also be part of the first-day agenda.

A session involving a pilot conducted with BMR will examine the eCube project and the challenge of introducing lower-emission transportation technology without sacrificing operational or financial viability.

The case study is intended to look at what happens when emerging transportation technology is tested in a real commercial environment.

For logistics providers, the discussion should provide a more practical view of transportation sustainability than broad corporate emissions targets alone.

Day Two Includes a Rare Look at Bringing Ecommerce Fulfillment Back In-House

One of the most interesting sessions for 3PLs comes Tuesday morning.

Groupe Marcelle will explain its decision to internalize ecommerce order fulfillment after previously outsourcing the operation to a third-party logistics provider for several years.

The company began the project in 2023.

Jean-Philippe Godin, Senior Director of Supply Chain, and Philippe Proulx, Senior Director of Operational Excellence, will discuss why Groupe Marcelle made the decision, how the transition was executed and what results it achieved.

For 3PL executives, this is particularly worth watching.

Most logistics events focus heavily on why brands outsource fulfillment. Hearing directly from a company that made the opposite decision offers an opportunity to understand the conditions that can cause a customer to bring operations back in-house.

The lessons could be just as relevant for 3PLs trying to improve customer retention as they are for brands evaluating their own fulfillment strategy.

Deschênes & Fils to Discuss SAP and Warehouse Consolidation

Day two begins with Deschênes & Fils discussing the operational challenges that come with growth.

The company's Quebec division is simultaneously working through technology modernization and warehouse consolidation.

The presentation will cover its SAP implementation, facility consolidation and the tradeoffs involved in modernizing operations without interrupting service to existing customers.

The session is designed as a practical account of the decisions being made during the transformation rather than a polished look backward after every problem has already been solved.

Browns and Generix Examine How to Modernize Without Starting Over

Browns and Generix will take a different approach to technology transformation.

Their session will focus on how companies can modernize logistics operations while continuing to use parts of their existing infrastructure.

Topics include developing a technology roadmap tied to business objectives, introducing systems incrementally and using AI to extract more value from technology already in place.

For warehouse operators facing aging systems but not prepared for a complete technology replacement, the discussion could be particularly relevant.

Renwil to Take Attendees Inside a New Warehouse Project

Another major warehouse-focused session will examine Renwil’s new facility in Châteauguay.

GCL worked with Renwil on multiple parts of the project, including racking selection, operational implementation and logistics strategy.

Patricia Sabapathy, Executive Director of Operations at Renwil, will walk attendees through the decisions that shaped the warehouse and the lessons learned during development.

The presentation should provide a useful case study for companies planning new facilities or evaluating whether their current warehouse layout can support future growth.

Networking Is Built Into Both Days

The Forum is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both November 16 and 17.

Breakfast, breaks and lunch are included with registration, giving attendees multiple opportunities to network throughout the program.

Each day concludes with a 4 p.m. closing followed by a networking event beginning at 4:30 p.m.

In total, GCL lists eight networking sessions across the two-day program.

The smaller audience could be particularly useful for 3PL executives, warehouse operators and technology providers interested in meeting Canadian logistics decision-makers without navigating the scale of a major industry trade show.

Event Details

Forum Logistique 2026 takes place November 16–17 at Hôtel Bonaventure Montréal.

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Regular registration is CA$599 for one day or CA$899 for both days, excluding taxes. Group pricing is available for companies registering five or more attendees.

Registration includes breakfast, snacks, lunch and access to the networking cocktail.

Presentations will be delivered in French and English.

For 3PLs and warehouse operators, the combination of Groupe Robert’s operational excellence program, Groupe Marcelle’s decision to leave outsourced ecommerce fulfillment, SPI’s warehouse expansion and Renwil’s new facility gives this year’s agenda several unusually relevant case studies.

More information, the complete agenda and registration are available through the Forum Logistique 2026 event page.