When Solecito Foods Andrea Blendl considers the advantages and disadvantages of running an authentic Mexican food company with her (authentic Mexican) family, she laughs. “You know, you’re very honest with family,” she says, “that’s good sometimes…and not so good other times.” As co-director of business operations, along with her father, Fernando Blendl, Andrea has watched … Continued
Avi Gill laughs when he thinks about the fact that the Farming Karma Fruit Co. was partly inspired by his orchardist parents’ talk of retirement. After all, his father Karma and mother Kuku have been growing apples for over thirty years. Certain habits die hard. But when the Gill family decided to branch out into … Continued
When we picture the type of entrepreneur who is steering our world towards a more sustainable future, we picture Nature Bee Beeswax Wraps ’ Katie Gamble. Katie’s company provides a “simple, natural, and beautiful alternative to plastic wrap” in the form of beeswax-embedded food wraps. Without a doubt, it’s a product whose time has come. … Continued
When Jonathan Schow, Big Marble Farms Inc Vice President of Sales and Marketing, reflects on the impact of COVID-19, it’s easy to connect with the purpose of his work. “These days, everyone is scrambling to find ‘normal’. And we know that people feel much more secure if their supply of local food is safe.” Big … Continued
Beth Herrild, founder of the art project subscription box company Outside the Box Creation, says creativity is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. If that’s true, then Beth’s creative muscles have got to be super-sized by now. Every month, she creates an art project for the parents and children … Continued
How do you test whether you have a great business concept? Focus groups, surveys, pilot projects? How about discovering that your friendly acquaintance and fellow designer has been mulling over the same bright idea for an interior design business? And for exactly the same length of time—six years? “It was way too serendipitous,” says Carla … Continued
Sea Change Brewing Co.’s founders have definitely experienced profound changes together. As a group of friends participating in Edmonton’s perennially booming independent music scene in the aughts, they probably wouldn’t have predicted a shared entrepreneurial future. But Ian McIntosh made a series of life-changing decisions three years ago and took his friends along for the … Continued
Most North Americans have no idea how fun it can be: a mug of mulled wine cheer, warming your hands before it warms your whole body. At a pub on a winter day? At a ski-slope? Come on! FireVines founder Ben Andrews hails originally from the UK, so he knows just how much delight the … Continued
A dish isn’t called “comfort food” for no reason. And Soul Bite Food’s flaky phyllo pastries, exotic spices, and hearty rolls provide plenty of comfort, especially to vegan eaters. But, incredibly, this company is determined to provide comfort to more than just their customers. Through the power of stuffed veggies, cabbage rolls, and mushroom and … Continued
Jack59, the Edmonton-based shampoo and conditioner bar company, started the way so many innovative businesses do. Because a smart, capable woman became determined to create a livelihood on her own terms. “I was a dental assistant for most of my life with two kids, eighteen years apart,” says Vanessa Marshall, Jack59 founder. “I was really … Continued