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Our podcast is aimed at supporting the development and growth of women-owned food and beverage processing businesses in the Canadian prairies. Our guests include industry experts as well as food and beverage entrepreneurs to provide knowledge, real world examples and inspiration. Check out our other programs and join our member base for free at www.fead.ca
Episodes
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Paula Bellavance, founder of Basic Roots Dairy Free. Based in Calgary, AB, Paula had a passion to create non-dairy cheese that tastes like conventional cheese with all natural ingredients. Not only did she succeed in making the product she is now selling in stores all across Canada.
Paula shares her story of manufacturing hurdles with a nut-based cheese, meditation to help calm the brain to make business decisions, and how important the AWESOME program has been to her business journey.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Paula / Basic Roots Dairy Free:
Instagram/Facebook: @basicroots
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Yvonne Irnich, co-owner of T-Rex Distillery and Da Vinci Gelato. Based in St. Albert, AB, using only resources grown locally in Alberta, they provide Albertans with a spirits such as vodka, rum, rye and gin and have developed a product line of alcohol infused gelatos, called Happy Hour, that are being distributed from BC to Ontario in Famoso Neopolitan Pizzarias.
Yvonne talks about how a fire in her husband's previous business led them to starting a gelato business in "the coldest place on earth", and how you need to believe strongly in your product value and not undersell.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Yvonne / T-Rex Distillery & Da Vinci Gelato:
Instagram & Facebook: @trexdistillery / @davincigelato
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Ebtisam Elsheikh, owner of Nile River Food. Based in Saskatoon, SK has been providing fresh and frozen food, inspired by Nile River region to the local farmers market for ten years. She has recently launched a frozen falafel product that uses vegetables and chickpea from Saskatchewan farms and is now selling in Sobeys.
Ebtisam shares her unique challenges of running a business as an immigrant, importance of friendly customer service and not giving up when you hit a road block.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Ebtisam / Nile River Food:
Facebook: Nile River Food
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Johwanna Alleyne, owner of Mojo Jojo Pickles. Based in Edmonton, AB, creates an array of creative acidified and spirited preserved foods from pickles to condiments, beverage syrups, and shrubs. Going strong for 10 years now her products can be found in local groceries, delicatessens, butchers and artisan shops in western Canada.
Jowanna describes how COVID has affected customer relationships, how creativity helps her in business and personal life and gives encouragement to women in the business world.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Jowanna / Mojo Jojo Pickles:
Instagram/Facebook: @mojojojopickles
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Cheryl Zealand, owner of Cranked Energy. Based in Winnipeg, MB Cheryl wanted wholesome, quality energy for herself and her family. Today her Cranked Energy Bars are sold at more than a dozens of fitness and health food locations in Manitoba and Ontario and has a full digital presence as well.
Listen to Cheryl, a CPA by training, talk about monitoring product costs, taking care of your physical and mental health and the rewards of building a great team of employees.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Cheryl / Cranked Energy Bars:
Instagram/Facebook: @crankedenergy
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Pina Romolo is a co-founder of Piccola Cucina. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba for 10 years, Piccola Cucina specializes in gluten-free, dairy-free healthy, simple ingredient foods and is the premier manufacturer of almond based, creations such as Italian Amaretti Macaroon Cookies, Pie Crusts and finely milled flour. Her products are sold across Canada in over 300 retailers, on Costco.ca, and Amazon.ca as well as Piccola Cucina's commerce website.
Pina describes her appreciation for her all-woman team, how stress isn't always bad, and how important it is to revisit your business plan each year.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Pina / Piccola Cucina:
Instagram/Facebook: @piccolacucinainc
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Kellie Wahl, Co-owner and co-founder of Alternate Route Coffee Co. Based in Leduc, AB, Kellie is committed to creating a special product that honors the work of coffee producers, fairly compensates them for their efforts and educates consumers.
Kellie talks about the supply chain challenges of a Canadian based coffee company, rituals for staying organized and building a support community.
Learn more about AWESOME:
Instagram: @beawesome.ca
Follow Kellie / Alternate Route Coffee Co.:
Instagram/Facebook: @alternateroutecoffee
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Friday Mar 18, 2022
Every year AWESOME celebrates women in Canadian Prairie food and beverage manufacturing! Listen to one of 2021's Achievement Award recipients, Colleen Haussecker, owner of Splendor Garden (Canadian Organic Spice and Herb Company). Based in Watson, SK, Colleen's business has a mission to provide food that is healthy, nutritious and that tastes good. She started her business with organic spices and herbs to add antioxidants and extra nutrition to meals, without relying on salt, sugar, or fat for flavour.
Listen to Colleen's take on balancing personal and professional priorities, dealing with importing delays and increased shipping prices, as well as the importance of a clear your vision for your business.
Learn more about FEAD:
www.fead.ca
Instagram: @feadprogram
Follow Colleen / Splendor Garden:
Instagram/Facebook: @splendorgardenorganics
