The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster would like to present our key founding partner and cluster member, Bertrand Walle. 

Mr. Walle specialized in Sales and Marketing positions and General Management with international companies in Canada – L’Oréal, Biotherm and Humpty Dumpty Foods. He brings his management experience and strategic marketing expertise to projects for international clients’ economic and commercial challenges.

Since 1992, Bertrand has taken on over 50 international consulting mandates, with many of them extending over several years. Among them are international companies such as Alsago, and Spincontrol North America (efficacy testing of cosmetics). Walle and Associates projects range from strategic thinking and analysis to implementation. Bertrand has been working on mandates from TFO Canada as a TFO Canada Associate since 2004, starting with South Africa with cosmetics ingredients to finished products. He has worked abroad in South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia. His involvement with TFO Canada ranges from selecting SMEs with export potential, through individual assessment and training, to facilitating Trade Missions from developing countries to Canada, particularly with B2B matchmaking in Canada. He is knowledgeable about gender equality issues and good social and environmental practices. He has been involved with over 30 TFO Canada mandates which are primarily in food and beauty products. In the food sector he has been and is still involved in both diverse food ingredients and processed packaged goods with products such as coffee, tea, infusions, confectionery products and nutritional supplements. In the Cosmetics sector he works the complete spectrum of beauty products from ingredients to finished products, both mass and high-end, through all channels of distribution, including E-Commerce. He successfully heads up Trade missions involving both exporters and buyers.

Bertrand has an excellent knowledge of the Canadian food and cosmetic markets and has a solid, up-to-date Canadian network of buyers and distributors to market products from developing countries to Canada. Bertrand Walle is cognizant of regulations and distribution of organic products for both food and cosmetics. 

For more information, please refer to www.walleassociates.com 

This year the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster focused on Canadian Glacial Clay (INCI: Canadian Collodial Clay). The Cluster featured Canadian Glacial Clay Company, Kilbourne Clay. Kilbourne Glacial Clay is one of the worlds most purest and mineral rich montmorillonite glacial clays. It is calcium based with an extensive portfolio of macro, micro and trace minerals that are all bio-available for the body to use. Clay is harvested in British Columbia. Used topically Kilbourne Glacial Clay nourishes and cleanses the skin, delaying the skins ageing process, gently removing wrinkles, softening skin, and brightening. Blemishes, black heads, and dark color deposits clear up over time, and the skin becomes rejuvenated, feeling fresh and revitalized.

At the 72nd SCC Technology Showcase the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster did a live demo, making a Powder Cleanser with the Glacial Clay. Formulations for the Powder Cleanser and a Clay Mask are available below.  Formulations done in partnership with Frontier Cosmetics Canada. 

The Cosmetic Victories competition was created in 2015, to promote innovation in the Cosmetic Industry in France. This fund completion puts a spotlight on the SME's and academic scholars of the beauty industry. This opportunity is a great way for entrepreneurs, researchers and project managers with innovative cosmetic projects to showcase their talents. The winners will receive the following;

• Following the competition, there will be major national and international press coverage. 
• The prize winners will also be able to benefit from project engineering facilities at Cosmetic Valley, in order to help them obtain government funding.
• Winners of The Cosmetic Victories award will receive a cash prize of €10,000.

The Cosmetic Victories competition is sponsored by the Cosmetic Valley-ESSEC endowment fund.​

Margarita Sidorova, an entrepreneur and innovator, is establishing a Canadian Cosmetic Cluster to unite the Canadian cosmetic industry and to help SME’s develop new cosmetic innovations. Her biggest priority, said Margarita, “is to have more Canadian cosmetic companies go global.” 
What is a Cluster? The success of a region within the cosmetics industry is not determined by the success of an individual company, but by the cumulative success of all the companies within that region. The cluster is a triple helix of collaboration between academia, industry, and government. The purpose of the collaboration is to give small and medium-sized companies a chance to gain resources and technological “know-how” to succeed in the industry. Other Cluster benefits Include: 
• Increased productivity: easier access to information and resources for product development 
• Faster innovation: collaboration in research and development 
• New business support and formation 
• Access to local resources such as fresh raw materials (mining, agricultural and chemical distributors)

 
 













Image 1. Cluster Helix
 


​In October 2018, Margarita attended the 3rd annual Cosmetic Clusters International Rendez-vous. Cosmetics Clusters Rendez-vous is a one-day event for discussions and B2B meetings between international clusters of the entire cosmetic value chain. Cosmetics Clusters Rendez-vous is organized by Cosmetic Valley in partnership with France Clusters and takes place in Paris within the framework of the Cosmetic 360 International Fair. This year it hosted 60 participants from 26 organizations representing 17 countries. Presentations included worldwide cosmetics market trends as well as an international panorama of expertise along the cosmetics value chain. 
The CCIN and Cosmetic Valley France are the international beauty cluster founding groups and lead the global industry in cosmetic development and innovation. The partnerships Margarita Sidorova is developing with these organizations can help us to connect Canadian cosmetics companies to the Global cosmetic industry. 
The primary activities Margarita is planning to promote her Canadian Cluster for the next year will include: 

1. Develop a series of workshops on cosmetic careers, cosmetic business development, and related cosmetic industry topics; 

2. Scope the development of a Cosmetic Innovation Center. This center would create a partnership with local academic and industry professionals to help SME’s and students develop innovations in cosmetic formulation and packaging. 

3. Work with Quebec International to create the Canadian Cosmetic Pavilion for the Cosmetic 360 Show in 2019. Cosmetic 360 is an international trade fair for innovative ideas and solutions in the fragrance and cosmetics industry. The fifth edition of the show will be held on October 16-17, 2019 at Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. 

4. Actively engage in welcoming inbound cosmetic trade missions. 
The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster will welcome all Cosmetics Alliance Canada members and will begin Cluster events in January 2019. Stay tuned for more information at www.canadiancosmeticcluster.com