Join Hayden Thomson as he hosts The Pack Heavy Podcast, a must-listen show for business owners and operators competing in the CPG and food processing industries. Featuring insightful interviews with industry leaders and special guests, this podcast shares valuable knowledge on the challenges, failures and successful strategies that have shaped their businesses. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, tune in weekly to help prioritize what matters most and take your business to the next level.
Episodes
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
Sunday Aug 28, 2022
In the same vein as my two previous producer episodes with Jeff Ball from Thrive Provisions (e.82) and Brad and Sheila from Natural Farmworks (e.88), today's conversation revolves around the background story of the Riverside Cranberry Farm and the brand that has been built around their delicious Cranberries and products - The Bog.
Cranberries, like many crops are typically sold as a commodity and pooled into the Ocean Spray Co Op, however Brain and Mandy made the bold decision to shift away from this model and sell 60% of their crop independently offering their Cranberries and products to retail grocery stores, wholesalers / distributors and direct to the consumer through their farm stand and online store.
We touch on the history of the commercialization of cranberry growing, various Cranberry varietals used, the typical harvesting process, their product and brand development and some critical decisions that have shaped their business model to date.
During the cranberry harvest (late Sep / Oct) Brian and Mandy open up the farm for tours where you can stroll the perimeter of the field being actively harvested, or follow the self guided audio tour around the farm using the QR Code system and your mobile phone.
Tickets will be available for pre-booking online soon!
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Web: https://www.riversidecranberries.ca/
IG: @theriversidebog
Email: riversidecranberries@gmail.com
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Saturday Aug 20, 2022
Saturday Aug 20, 2022
Today's episode is another great example of a business idea kicking around that came to life during the pandemic. Dana shares her experience of getting Brightside from concept to reality - covering everything from some early iterations, product and brand development and pricing strategy.
There’s no doubt that an experienced team capable of leveraging a lifetime of knowledge is on a winning path - keep an eye out for Brightside and let their tasty food blow you away!
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Founded by the folks who brought you The Burrow (formerly known as Bandidas Taqueria), and launched in July, 2021 Brightside Foods make vegetarian and vegan, restaurant quality handmade frozen meals that are quick, convenient and incredibly tasty!
Their collection includes some Burrow classics like the Habanero Hot Sauce and Cornbread, as well as some original creations like the ever-popular Pinto Pocket, Breakfast Burrito, and Spicy Bean & Cheese Burrito.
For the remainder of 2022, to receive 20% off your order you can email dana@brightsidefoods.com with the subject line "PACK HEAVY DEAL" to arrange a pick up time on weekdays before 4pm. This is a one time use offer.
Feast: Recipes and Stories from a Canadian Road Trip: A Cookbook
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Linktree: https://linktr.ee/brightsidefoods
Email: dana@brightsidefoods.com
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
As a vertically integrated operation, Brad and Sheila tell the full & entertaining Tea’d Greens startup story. From some hard lessons learned during the operation of a previous business, right through to the development of some custom harvesting equipment and the purchase of their traditional processing equipment from China.
With some great detailed discussion on their 8 month initial and ongoing market research and product development process, you will find that this episode truly is a great entrepreneurial story that you will learn a lot from!
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Established in 2019 and situated in Bridesville, BC on rich fertile farmland with rolling hills and a pristine view of the stunning Monashee Mountain Range, Sheila & Brad's Tea’d Greens are made from organically grown, hand-harvested, young barley, wheat and oat leaves.
With the guiding philosophy of working in sync with nature using regenerative practices that build soil fertility without chemical fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides, Brad focuses on growing and processing techniques, while Sheila has developed a deep knowledge of herbs and creating synergistic blends with their delicious and unique tea.
For 10% off any purchase over $20 use the promo code PACKHEAVYPODCAST
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Web: https://www.naturalfarmworks.ca/
Email: info@naturalfarmworks.ca
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Kyla generously tells the Rad Jamz story, going into great detail on the major mechanics involved when getting her jam business off the ground and out into the world. Some key takeaways from the conversation revolve around the development of her unique flavours, product testing at Farmers Markets, the game of costing out each Jam and how it has impacted her SKUs that have gone commercial along with ensuring security of fruit to keep her select SKUs in circulation year round.
Exciting times ahead for Kyla and the Rad Jamz team with an upcoming and innovative shift from jars into flexible stand up squeeze pouches for their Jams, a move into their own larger production facility and a storefront opening in the very near future, along with further distribution of their delicious product!
Another great conversation with a highly passionate and talented Entrepreneur for you all to learn from!
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Located in West Kelowna, BC and founded in 2016 - Kyla creates incredibly delicious and unique jams, jellies, relish, pickles & pies at Rad Jamz and Rad Relish.
With an exclusive focus on real fruit and low sugar content, Kyla and her team work with local Okanagan farmers to help use up excess fruit that would otherwise go to waste.
Kyla is a Red Seal chef, working her trade from Whistler to Vancouver, over the Pacific to Melbourne, Australia in a 3 hat restaurant and then onto London England working at a 2 Michelin starred restaurant as well as staging in over 20 Michelin starred restaurants in total. After traveling abroad, Kyla spent two summers as a Sous Chef at Mission Hill Winery and two winters as Head Chef at a Heli-ski lodge before starting Rad Jamz in 2016.
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Web: https://radjamz.com/
IG: @radjamz
Email: kyla@radjamz.com
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Sunday Jul 31, 2022
Today’s conversation with Andrea centers itself around food being the common thread that binds us all - and what better way to start the conversation than with a quote by the late Anthony Bourdain - “Food is everything we are. It's an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It's inseparable from those from the get-go."
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Andrea started in the natural and organic food industry more than 25 years ago and over that time has built a specialized resume of positions & experience, including time at Yves Veggie Cuisine and Imagine Foods, VP of Sales and Marketing at Happy Planet Foods and Owner of Tarragon Foods.
As well as being the founder and CEO at Good to Grow, Andrea plays an active role in the business as the Sales, Marketing and Operations Specialist.
Good to Grow has helped literally hundreds of companies launch, grow and expand their products and brands both physically and geographically, and engage with clients through business courses, coaching, mentoring and financial advisory services.
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Web: https://goodtogrowproducts.com/
LinkedIn: Andrea Gray-Grant
Grow Your Food Business one-day workshop
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
Thursday Jul 21, 2022
rePurpose Global is the world's leading Plastic Action Platform dedicated to reducing waste, reviving lives, and restoring nature's balance.
Through their pioneering ecosystem of solutions that span across advisory, action, and advocacy, rePurpose help people and companies calculate, reduce, and offset their plastic footprint (certifying them plastic neutral or negative), while empowering grassroots innovators on the cutting edge of solving these issues.
On behalf of their global coalition, rePurpose eliminate millions of pounds of plastic waste from nature every year, and in doing so, positively impact the lives of 10,000+ marginalized waste workers and community members worldwide.
To date, rePurpose has created systemic change for people across 26 countries and hundreds of brands worldwide - Some current FoodPak clients proudly engaged with rePurpose include Lita’s Mexican Foods, Quesava, Agro Roasters & Alkeme - Gluten Free Bakery
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Web: https://repurpose.global/
LinkedIn: Geoff King
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Saturday Jul 16, 2022
Saturday Jul 16, 2022
We cover a lot of ground on today's episode with a big focus on the Two Bears startup story, iteration from Cold Brew to Flash Brewed Coffee, and the decision to introduce Oat Milk to their lineup.
David generously discusses his multiple successes and failures throughout the years, the value of teaming up with co-founder Joe Angellotti and working with a business advisor.
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Founded in 2014 and located in Toronto, Ontario - Two Bears Coffee sell craft roasted beans, flash-brewed non-dairy frothed lattes, and unsweetened oat milks.
Their products can be purchased online and delivered in the USA and Canada through their own webstore, as well as on amazon.com & amazon.ca AND can be found in thousands of retail locations Canada wide.
For 15% off use the promo code “packheavy15” at the checkout
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IG: @twobearscoffee
LinkedIn: David Schneiderman - Oat Milk Aficionado
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Friday Jul 08, 2022
Friday Jul 08, 2022
Jordan has over 14 years of CPG experience with 7 as the Founder & CEO of The Lloyd James Group - North America's first plant based food brokerage (acquired by the Very Good Food Co.)
Since 2021 Jordan has led Very Goods Canadian Wholesale sales team and secured distribution in over 1000 Canadian retail locations.
Jordan sits on numerous boards and is currently the President of the Vancouver Food Executives Club.
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Founded in 2016 by James Davidson and Tania Friesen. The Very Good Butchers began selling their products at a local farmers market on Denman Island, BC in early 2016. James and Tania met Mitchell Scott and hired him for a business operations and marketing position in hopes of growing the company.
The Very Good Butchers officially opened up their restaurant, vegan butcher shop, and production facility at the Victoria Public Market in Victoria in 2017 becoming the first vegan butcher shop to open up in western Canada.
After a successful Crowdfunding campaign and Dragon's Den Appearance the company rapidly grew, eventually raising more than $4 million in an IPO on the CSE in June 2020. James and Mitchell have recently stepped down from the company with Parimal Rana announced as the new CEO. Rana was previously VP of Operations and Food Safety before moving into the CEO role.
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Web: https://www.verygoodbutchers.com/
Web: https://www.lloydjames.ca/
LinkedIn: Jordan James Rogers
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Saturday Jul 02, 2022
Saturday Jul 02, 2022
Located in Brant, Alberta and founded in 2018, Thrive Provisions is an extension of four generations of cattle farming legacy arching back to 1940.
With 4 Wagyu Beef meat bar SKUs in the market that are free from artificial ingredients (nut, dairy, soy, gluten and GMO free) and the perfect high quality and delicious keto snack, TP’s Wagyu Meat Bars can be found primarily in Alberta in camping and outdoor stores, with further distribution right across Canada just starting to roll out.
Today's episode covers the full Thrive Provisions story and the unique CPG model that Jeff is able to leverage. Along with some really interesting conversation around the history of the Wagyu breed of cattle and Ballco feedlots innovations, Jeff provides some insight into the value of having full control over product quality, further diversification and additional revenue streams for the family business, and why upholding best-in-class practices with the treatment of their land and animals (certified under the Verified Beef Productions Plus (VBP+) Program) and advocacy for these practices right across the industry is essential.
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Web: https://thriveprovisions.ca/
LinkedIn: Jeff Ball
Email: Jeff@ballco.ca
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
In 1996 a Natural Nut Butter brand called Skeet & Ike's (developed by Ian Walker and Jason Dorland) entered the world and quickly grew into becoming an Organic snack and distribution business hustling organic popcorn, organic granola and organic trail mixes locally and down into the North Western states of the USA.
In 2008, Skeet and Ike's changed gears and rebranded as Hippie Snacks and in 2009 the distribution arm of the business became its own entity: Left Coast Naturals.
Today, Left Coast Naturals has a fleet of trucks, a 32,000 square foot warehouse, and a 10,000 square foot production facility located in Burnaby BC. They distribute nearly 30 brands, nearly 200 organic and natural bulk foods, and manufacture three of their own brands: Hippie Snacks, Left Coast Bulk Foods, and Left Coast Organics.
With ethical and environmentally responsible practices at the forefront of their business mission, Left Coast Naturals & Hippie Snacks became one of Canada’s founding Certified B Corporations - A huge achievement in its own right.
Today’s episode with Ian covers the startup story and operational nuances of Left Coast Naturals and Hippie Snacks - a great conversation for anyone in the natural and organic space who is interested in the history of the channel and shifts that an organization can see over the course of 2 decades.
As Ian so eloquently put it “we’re all standing on the shoulders of the giants who came before us” - and for those who are just getting started in the industry, Ian Walker IS one of those amazingly gifted, giving and humble giants.
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Web: https://www.hippiesnacks.com/
Web: https://www.leftcoastnaturals.com/
IG: @hippiesnacks
LinkedIn: Ian Walker
Email: ian@leftcoastnaturals.com
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Listen on Apple, Spotify, Amazon & Google Podcasts
Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
A review and a positive rating will help to get this show into more business owners / operators ears - and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com