In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Kerri-Ann Santaguida, Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services Canada at American Express, shares how one of the world’s most trusted financial brands is translating global scale into meaningful local impact for Canadian small businesses.
Interview By Maheen Bari
A skilled executive with a passion for partnerships and collaboration, Kerri-Ann Santaguida is the Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services Canada at American Express, where she is a key member of the executive team at one of Canada’s top travel and financial services companies.
Responsible for leading a high performing Acquisition and Business Development teams of more than 100+ employees from across Canada, Kerri-Ann oversees and leads the strategic direction for American Express Merchant Services Business in Canada.
Kerri-Ann has responsibility for growing coverage and market share through acquisition channels , existing merchant partnerships, as well as executing the OptBlue Acquisition strategy for small merchants in Canada. Kerri-Ann’s teams plays a vital role in the organization’s growth and profitability.
As Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services Canada at American Express, you oversee relationships with thousands of merchants nationwide; how does the Backing International Small Restaurants grant program fit into Amex’s broader strategy to empower small businesses and local communities in Canada and around the world?
Backing small businesses is core to American Express, and the Backing International Small Restaurants program is a natural extension of that focus. Independent restaurants are vital to their neighbourhoods and this program helps owners invest in their businesses and communities. Now in its fourth year in Canada, it works alongside programs like Shop Small to support growth for local businesses.
The 2025 program offers grants to small, independent restaurants to modernize their spaces, improve kitchen operations, and enhance digital tools so they can adapt and grow; from your perspective, what kinds of upgrades or investments tend to deliver the biggest long-term impact on restaurant resilience and customer experience?
The most effective investments enhance the customer experience while improving efficiency for business owners. Kitchen upgrades, workflow improvements, and technology can help restaurants run more smoothly. Digital tools like online ordering or marketing make it easier for customers to connect. Refreshing a space also makes a restaurant feel more welcoming and keeps customers coming back.
The Backing International Small Restaurants initiative, now in its fourth year, has supported more than 200 restaurants globally with over a few million dollars in funding, while its sister Backing Historic Small Restaurants program has helped hundreds of historic eateries in the U.S.; can you walk our readers through how long the Canadian program has been running, how many restaurants it has supported to date, and what the application and selection process looks like for interested owners in cities like Toronto and Montreal?
Backing International Small Restaurants has been running in Canada for four years and restaurants are selected based on community impact and persevering through economic challenges. In 2025, we’re supporting 20 restaurants with $20,000 CAD grants, bringing total support to more than 50 restaurants in Canada since the program started. Globally, over 200 restaurants have received funding since the program started. Interest in the program continues to growth, with applications increasing by 12% increase compared to last year.
Past grantees have used funding to host more community events, upgrade equipment, and reimagine their dining spaces, often becoming even stronger cultural anchors in their neighbourhoods; could you share one or two success stories—either from Canada or internationally—that illustrate how this grant has transformed a small restaurant’s business, and how American Express continues to support these entrepreneurs beyond the initial funding through initiatives like Shop Small and Small Business Saturday?
We’ve seen many restaurants use the grant to strengthen their role in the community. One example is Nicaroma Café in Toronto, which plans to upgrade kitchen equipment, support takeout and delivery, and improve accessibility.
Beyond this program, Amex Canada has proudly supported 350 Canadian small businesses with $3.5 million CAD in grant funding through our various small business grant programs administered by DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Many Canadian small business owners—especially independent restaurateurs—are looking for practical ways to stay competitive, deepen customer loyalty, and tap into programs like Backing International Small Restaurants; drawing on your experience leading merchant services and supporting SMBs, what key advice or final thoughts would you share with entrepreneurs who want to grow sustainably while staying true to their community-focused roots?
Stay close to your customers and your community while continuing to adapt. The right investments can help you grow without losing what makes your restaurant special. Programs like Backing International Small Restaurants are designed to support that balance and help businesses grow sustainably.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
