Halifax-based Dash Hudson is one of three Canadian innovation companies to be honoured at the upcoming National Retail Innovation Awards in Halifax.

The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services, located at Saint Mary’s University, announced Wednesday the three winners for its annual awards luncheon. It will take place at the David Sobey Centre on Nov. 1.

“As the largest private-sector employer in the country, retailers in Canada hold a critical role in our economy,” said Diane J. Brisebois, President and CEO of Retail Council of Canada and a member of the David Sobey Advisory Council. “And to grow and prosper in a competitive global environment, our retailers are innovating in technology, customer loyalty, store and product design and much more.”

The three category winners are:

Sustainable Retailing Innovation: Edmonton-based Poppy Barley works with family-owned factories in Mexico and Brazil to develop a sustainable supply chain and an ethical product line.
Retail Technology Innovation:  Dash Hudson’s software helps some of the world’s largest brands to manage, source and engage with the traffic of their photos and videos. So far Dash Hudson has been known for monitoring Instagram and now its tools can be used to measure the success of Pinterest campaigns.
Retail Customer Experience Innovation: Vancouver-based Six Hundred Four creates limited edition art shoes. Its in-person Sneaker Gallery elevates sneaker buying to art immersion, and a virtual reality online store mirrors the unique experience.

The David Sobey Centre, founded in 2014, funds research projects relevant to the retail sector, sponsors retail innovation and student competitions, and offers executive education for the retail sector.

 “The David Sobey Centre's mandate is help build a vibrant retail sector in Canada,” said Director Ramesh Venkat. “We engage in applied research that guides retailers and support innovation that solves problems or creates new opportunities for retailers.”