Ever been to an old-fashioned candy store? It’s a whole experience: the gleaming countertops, the shelves stocked with bright-coloured confections, the real human doling out sheer deliciousness. This was the kind of experience John Delaney wanted to create with his premium hard candy company VIP Hard Candy. And this warm, delightful experience needs to characterize … Continued
Are you in the knitting community? Do you know someone who is? If so, you understand the pure passion of those who spend their time transforming yarn into cozy creations through the power of simple interlocking loops. You probably also understand the deep appeal of particularly well-made knitting accessories, like the kind Firefly Notes makes. … Continued
Banded Peak brews adventurous beer for adventurous people, but there are arguably few adventures as wild as getting a brewery up and running. Much of the success of this Calgary-based outfit is probably due to the fact that the relationships between its founders as so solid and long-running. “Alex [Horner] and I grew up on … Continued
What do you get when you put a lifelong passion for vintage trucks and beer together? If you’re Red Truck Beer Company founder Mark James, you get a brand that’s powerful enough to have thrived for 17 years. What started out as a single brewpub in North Vancouver in 2005 is now a beloved craft … Continued
What’s the flavour that takes you all the way back to childhood? Was it a freezie, a candy, a soda? Were you a creamsicle fan, or more of a root beer enthusiast? Chances are, Wize Spirits Co. has made a beverage out of your fondest sticky-fingered memories. Wize is a vodka soda company with a … Continued
The kombucha company Healthy Hooch is just the kind of business two retired athletes would start up. Co-founders, partners, and former professional racing cyclists Shoshauna and Will Routley spent years fueling their bodies with the best food and drinks they could find. Bubbly, sweet-tart, and gut-health-boosting kombucha was the beverage they liked best. It delivered health … Continued
Olé Cocktail Co.’s founders are classic entrepreneurs, and classic entrepreneurs love to ask questions. In their pursuit of answers, a new product just might come into being. In Olé’s case, that product was Canada’s first premium tequila-based cocktail in a can. “We were just so curious why there weren’t any tequila canned drinks using real … Continued
In the thirty-plus years that Blue Mountain Winery has existed, the Mavety family has seen tremendous changes. The Mavetys, who purchased the property in 1971, began their transition from viticulturalists to full-on winemakers in the early nineties. At that time, the South Okanagan was far from being the famous wine region it is today. “Most … Continued
A cup of coffee is always a wonderful thing. But a cup of coffee that represents environmental sustainability and a fair income for farmers is something very special indeed. That’s the critical difference behind Level Ground Coffee. And that’s the difference that this Victoria, BC-based company has been creatively communicating since 1997. It’s likely that … Continued
Ask Ashley Paterson—founder of the plant-based, low-sugar gummy candy company Healthy Hippo Naturals—to tell you about Monk Fruit and you’ll experience pure enthusiasm. Monk Fruit Juice Concentrate is the only sweetener used in Healthy Hippo Naturals and after a run down from Ashley, you’ll understand why. “Monk Fruit? I could go off! I discovered it … Continued