Friends of Feadies

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, host Lindsay Toth is joined by Greg McLaren, Managing Director of Farm Food Drink Inc., for a grounded and insightful conversation on what it truly takes to support and scale women-led food businesses in Canada.

Drawing on his extensive experience working across the food industry, Greg shares why women-led businesses are critical to food sovereignty and resilient local food systems, and why clear pathways, strong support structures, and access to the right information matter at every stage of growth. Together, they unpack the unique challenges women founders face when scaling, from production efficiency and financial tracking to market research and operational readiness.

This week on Friends of FEADies, Regan Michiels joins us to share the story behind Easy Snack Co., a brand built on the belief that nutritious food should be easy to enjoy, even on the busiest days. Regan blends her food science background with real-world startup experience to discuss the highs and hurdles of building a functional snack company from the ground up.

From packaging challenges and flavour testing to community support and game-changing learning inside FEAD’s Seed to Scale Accelerator, this episode offers friendly, honest advice for any entrepreneur ready to turn a great idea into a product people love.

Elysia Vandenhurk, Co-Founder of Three Farmers Foods, joins us to talk about the messy middle of marketing, where strategy meets intuition and discomfort sparks growth.

Elysia shares how trusting the process has been one of the most powerful lessons in both business and leadership. From testing new products and exploring consumer insights to navigating uncertainty in a competitive CPG landscape, she reminds us that growth rarely feels comfortable, and that’s exactly how you know you’re on the right path.

Whether you’re refining your brand, managing feedback, or stepping into something new, this episode is a reminder that self-awareness and patience are key ingredients in building something lasting.

Sondra Pern, Co-founder of Lake Life Caesar Co. sits down to explore how a beloved family recipe transformed into one of Western Canada’s fastest-growing Caesar mix brands. Sondra shares the unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship—from late-night bottling sessions and navigating food regulations to mastering public speaking and growing a social media community that actually buys. She credits much of her success to authentic relationships, pitch competitions, and support from places like the Saskatchewan Food Centre, which helped her scale from home production to commercial manufacturing.

Whether you’re launching your first product or managing a growing food brand, this episode is packed with relatable insights and hard-earned wisdom.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, we sit down with Domenique Mastronardi, COO and partner at Beck’s Broth, to talk about the real work behind building a million-dollar food brand in Canada. From bone broth–based coffee and hot chocolate to scaling production and navigating the challenges of retail growth, Domenique shares what it takes to bring bold ideas to life in the food industry. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to grow a food brand from startup to seven figures, this conversation is packed with insights, honesty, and inspiration.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, we sit down with Gurkash Jasol, a franchisee of Opa of Greece, to get the real story behind running a franchise. Gurkash opens up about how he chose the right brand, what it really takes to make the numbers work, and the lessons he’s learned about due diligence along the way. He shares his personal journey—the wins, the challenges, and what it’s like to navigate the fast-food industry during uncertain times. Whether you’re exploring franchising or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, this conversation is packed with honest insights and practical advice you won’t want to miss.

Host Lindsay Toth dives into the dynamic intersection of technology, pricing, and entrepreneurship with Melanie Morrison, founder and CEO of Better Cart Analytics. Discover how Melanie's Saskatchewan-based company is revolutionizing the food industry by using AI and machine learning to provide real-time price analytics, empowering smaller players to compete with industry giants. From her journey from academia to tech entrepreneurship, Melanie shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in transforming pricing strategies for grocers, CPG brands, and food processors. Tune in to explore how Better Cart is leveling the playing field and driving innovation in the agri-food sector. This is the episode for everyone with a food business to learn more about tools available for their business!

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, we sit down with Azrah Manji-Savin, co-founder of Syzl and Volli AI, to explore the intersection of food, tech, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Azrah shares how she’s building tools that support underrepresented food founders—both by helping them access commercial kitchens and by simplifying daily decision-making through customized AI.

We chat about productivity hacks, food trends (hello chili oil, goodbye dill pickle soda), and the importance of staying grounded through community and culture. Azrah also opens up about the power of having a complementary co-founder, why leadership means embracing vulnerability, and how comfort food connects us to home.

Food Entrepreneurs, restaurant owners, and CPG Founders this one is for you!