The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, Jan. 31, edition that Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is reaching out to international grocers in the hopes they will open up shop in Canada and spur more competition. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that the minister spoke to one foreign grocer recently as part of his efforts to court new players to join the Canadian grocery sector -- but he is not naming any names. Mr. Champagne told reporters: "I can't tell you too much, or else you won't ask me questions next week. I spoke with one company." Mr. Champagne met with Canadian grocers in the fall about food inflation and demanded they create plans to stabilize grocery prices or face consequences. He recently expressed disappointment that the grocers have not been more transparent about their plans, but has stayed mum on whether the federal government plans to punish them for it. In a letter to Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell on Monday Mr. Champagne said, "Large grocers have not, to date, been sufficiently transparent about the causes of food inflation and they have failed, for the most part, to provide regular updates on initiatives aimed at stabilizing food prices in the country."