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
Thursday Nov 04, 2021
Thursday Nov 04, 2021
I met Destiny & Kelsey at the From the Ground Up conference and trade show, where they were awarded as the Bronze winner of Outstanding Product of the Year, alongside Marilyn Cordoba, from Panela Lemon (Silver) and Todd & Melinda Kopet from Alkeme Foods (Gold).
Bangin’ Bannock was founded in 2021 by three Indigenous women entrepreneurs who were brought together by the 3C Challenge in 2020 (a 45 day Indigenous Entrepreneur Program) where they created and developed their business idea - a convenient bannock dry mix sold by the bag - the solution to getting more people to cook the traditional staple by just adding water and oil.
Bannock (a quick bread usually fried or baked much like a Scone, Tea Biscuit or Damper which is common in Australia), was introduced into the indigenous culture during colonisation and the segregation of indigenous communities onto reservation lands. Bannock isn’t a traditional indigenous food but rather a food that has been adapted into indigenous culture. Bannock is a source of nostalgia, a familiar symbol of home and the associations that come with it like safety, comfort, community, and good times!
The team at Bangin Bannock value community and giving back, and donate to a different cause dear to them monthly - as well as connecting with community, customers and working to fulfil a future dream of opening an indigenous business hub where collaboration and mentorship will be front and centre.
Bangin Bannock can be found online via their own website (shipping right across Canada) and at select retail locations.
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Web: https://banginbannock.ca/
Instagram: @banginbannock
Contact: eatbannock@gmail.com
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
Thursday Oct 28, 2021
I met Marilyn at the recent From the Ground Up conference and trade show, where she was awarded as the silver winner of Outstanding Product of the Year.
I was lucky enough to sample Marilyn’s Hazelnut cookie and wasn’t surprised when she received recognition for her product - stunningly decadent and all wrapped up in a beautiful brand and story.
Today’s conversation touches on Marilyn's journey through entrepreneurship - from the seed of the idea, the current mechanics of her startup business, right through to the overarching vision for Panela Lemon.
Marilyn’s mission at Panela Lemon is to bring happiness to each one of her customers in the form of a treat. All of her products are plant based, preservative and artificial dye free and produced using high quality and local ingredients.
Panela Lemon cookies are available online via the Panela Lemon webstore, COHO retail, BC Local Root, Spud.ca & Kula Kitchen - and can also be found at 14 retail locations around metro Vancouver.
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Instagram : @panelalemon
Contact: hello@panelalemon.com
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Founded in 2019 and located in Rossland, BC Alkeme Foods is the realised manifestation of two dreamers and doers - Todd and Melinda Kopet.
Their Gluten Free Sourdough Bread takes centre stage within their bakery, featuring a crisp, rich crust and a taste that balances the fresh, earthy, sweet flavours of their GF grains with some light lactic and acidic flavours from the fermentation. Made using certified or tested gluten free flours, their bread is processed in a dedicated gluten free facility and baked-to-order in small batches.
Their delicious bread and other baked products are available online via their website and in 36 retail locations around BC.
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On this episode Todd and Melinda share their Alkeme story - beginning well prior to uprooting their lives from Seattle, WA after they began to take note of life around them.
They noticed the abundance of quick, easy, cheap and disposable convenience. Together they made lists and notes, determined what they cared about and what they valued.
When the time was right in 2016 they took the leap of faith and moved away from the security of their corporate careers and city-lives with their two children, to a slow and quiet life nestled in the mountains of BC.
Fast forward to today and their life is anything but slow operating and tending to Alkeme Foods. Most recently Alkeme was recognised as the gold winner of Outstanding Product of the Year at the “From the Ground Up” conference and trade show held in September by Andrea Gray-Grant and her team at Good to Grow.
Web: https://thisisalkeme.com/
Instagram : @thisisalkeme
Contact: hello@thisisalkeme.com
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Friday Oct 15, 2021
Stevan is the CRO and owner of Planted Expo, a trade show, platform and network to connect Canadians to local vegan and plant-based businesses offering new, innovative and inspiring products, services and practices.
The Planted website is a great educational resource offering online courses and definitely make a point of checking out their chats section where you will find the latest from leading voices in the plant-based movement.
Be sure to head along to one of their upcoming trade shows where you will find over 200 vegan edible and lifestyle businesses, as well as a great lineup of leading plant based speakers from around the world.
Trade show dates :
- Vancouver - November 20-21, 2021
- Toronto - March 26-27, 2022
For 15% off tickets use the promo code Pack Heavy at the checkout
Web: https://www.plantedlife.com/
Contact Stevan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevanmirkovich/
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Oct 07, 2021
Thursday Oct 07, 2021
Bruce provides us with great insight into BC’s Blue Economy and the role that the emerging BC seaweed industry is playing by helping to solve some of the biggest challenges humanity is facing today; climate change, economic instability and food security.
Bruce and I touch on some exciting innovation currently underway in the seaweed and algae bioplastic space (a serious contender in the replacement of petroleum-based polymers in the future) and the impact that this will have on flexible plastic packaging and the CPG industry.
Seaweed is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient and is a fantastic dietary source of iodine, vitamin K, B, zinc and iron. With this taken into account, the potential to utilise seaweed as an ingredient in your food based products to create a unique flavour, point of differentiation, nutritional boost is definitely worth considering!
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Bruce Wallinger serves as a food sector director and board member with the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association (PSIA). He is also a freelance business consultant working with natural and plant-based food entrepreneurs and companies.
Prior to consultancy work, Bruce was the vice president at Orca Specialty Foods Limited, Canada’s leading value-added seafood processor. He also worked for Icicle Seafoods as a national sales & marketing manager for Canada.
Prior to working in the seafood industry, Bruce worked directly and extensively with BC First Nations communities and tribal associations as an advisor assisting with environmental impact assessments, community-based planning, and funding.
Bruce earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in geography at UBC with continuing education at BCIT and Sauder School of Business.
Web: https://seaweedindustry.ca/
Email: bruce.wallinger@seaweedindustry.ca
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Thursday Sep 30, 2021
Kerry provides us with a great explanation and insight into the value that a broker can bring to your business, and some context surrounding where a broker fits in relationship to the food brand / manufacturer, distributor and retailer dynamic.
Other key takeaways from the episode include some discussion on noteworthy market & industry shifts and trends, questions to ask a broker when qualifying them for your business, some insight into membership at the Food Executives Club of Vancouver and the strong network of industry professionals that frequent events and monthly luncheons.
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For over 60 years The Food Executive Club of Vancouver has served the vendor and retailer community in BC, connecting top executives from Canadian retail banners (so think Choices, Costco, HY Louie, London Drugs, Overwaitea, Quality Foods and T&T to name but a few) to members of the community who are primarily CGP sales and marketing executive AND people just like you - owner / operators who want to network and build relationships to help their business thrive in a competitive market.
It’s fair to say that The Food Executive Club of Vancouver has built one of the strongest industry communities in Canada and definitely worth looking into if you're determined to build face to face relationships. Kerry is currently the president of the organisation and thrilled to introduce the club to us during this episode.
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Founded in 2014 by President Jim Kavanagh, Brandseed Marketing has over 30 years experience in the grocery Industry ranging from in-store retail, category and brand management. The overall focus of BrandSeed Marketing is to add value to your company and become your brand's champion in the Canadian Market while assisting you, the manufacturer, in delivering your product, your goals and your ideas to your quiver of distributors and retailers.
https://www.brandseedmarketing.ca/
Email: kerrys@brandseedmarketing.ca
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Futurpreneur Canada : https://www.futurpreneur.ca
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
In one of our most open and easy flowing conversations to date, Mitch from Rviita generously takes the time to share with us his Rviita Inc. startup story.
There’s a lot of gold packed into this episode however some key takeaways include the benefit and pleasure of working alongside his co-founding team members, some critical mistakes and lessons learned, the utilisation of small focus groups for early product and market testing, the critical nature of distribution partners, some key ingredients that translate to success in both life and business, the attention to detail required with package and label design AND the value and efficient nature of flexible packaging!
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Launched in 2018 and located in Calgary, AB - Mitch and his co-founding partners, Robert and Karly are pushing the boundaries of the energy drink market with their innovatively packaged and delicious energy teas.
With 5 SKUs in the marketplace, Rviita Energy Tea is a ready-to-drink beverage consisting of a delicious blend of tea based caffeine, golden organic honey, fruit juice and vitamins all designed to give the consumer clean (no artificial colours or sweeteners) energy without the crash.
Rviita is available from coast to coast across Canada in 700+ retail locations (most major banners), and online at rviitalize.com, Amazon.ca, Well.ca and SPUD.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-jacobsen-p-eng-89277649/
Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
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Please support this podcast by checking out our show sponsors:
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Brad Bodnarchuk : https://www.bradbodnarchuk.com/new-strategy-session
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
Thursday Sep 16, 2021
After immigrating to Canada from Nigeria to continue her education at University, Lola established herself in the IT consulting world before identifying a gap in the retail market with a lack of authentic, ready to eat African foods.
Lola and I cover the full spectrum of the It’s Souper startup story, including the challenge of selling what is typically considered a seasonal product, selling into her first retail locations and how she approaches competing against established brands.
Other key takeaways include the value of in store demos (now that they are back in play) and how she focused on brand building and marketing exercises when they weren’t an option.
Lola provides great insight into the grants that have been available to her and leveraged to assist in scaling her business - and what she considered the most critical components to focus on when working through the application process.
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Launched in 2018 and located in Toronto, Ontario Lola’s Afro-Fusion gourmet soup and sauce line was inspired by the fusion of cultures that exists in Canada, a yearning for authentic flavours from Africa, and a desire to share it with her community.
Their mission is to produce delicious tasting soups, meals, and sauces made with high quality ingredients and exotic flavours that meet the demands of today's diverse world, and ultimately to inspire a new found love for food.
Lola’s soups can be found in over 50+ retailers in and around the GTA and Quebec and online at itssouper.com
For 10% off online orders use the promo code: PackH10
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Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Lyndsay joins us for a deep dive into the award winning and inspiring Kindred Cultures story which was primarily seeded by the necessity to find relief for her youngest son's health.
With a previous career in the VC and Private Equity world, Lyndsay discusses her approach to managing risk while building the business, making decisions and the value of leveraging her network in the process.
We go into some detail on how the team scaled their production and the benefit of working with the UBC food science department to assist in shelf life testing, microbial analysis, and assistance with the formulation of recipes as they grow.
Among many other things we also touch on the evolution and the story behind the KC brand, the seriously instagrammable colour pallet of their various SKUs, distribution network, approach to marketing and transition from B2C to B2B marketing & sales
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Founded in 2018 and located in Richmond, BC Kindred Cultures makes Infused Water Kefir beverages, using fresh raw natural ingredients to create a delicious and nutritious probiotic beverage. Their Infused Water Kefir is Vegan, uses only raw ingredients, and is low in calories and sugar (30 calories and 6g of sugar per bottle).
Currently producing 5 flavours and all available in 2 sizes, Kindred Cultures can be found online via Legends Haul, SPUD, & BC Local Root (to name but a few) and in over 100 retail display cases here on the Western side of Canada.
https://ubcfarm.ubc.ca/feeding-growth/
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Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Jannine and Anush provide a complete snapshot of Zing, including some great insight into the startup methodologies that they are actively applying while developing their business.
Every Zing recipe goes through a structured Lean Startup Methodology / feedback loop of testing, reviewing and iterating in their test kitchen community. By leveraging this system they are building products with reduced risk, strong market fit and most importantly a pool of fans who are helping to drive early growth of the business.
If you’re in the process of market testing new SKUs and are looking for some inspiration and insight - this episode is for you!
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Founded in 2020 and located in Toronto, Ontario the team at Zing are creating chef-crafted pantry shortcuts designed to help their consumers make quick, delicious meals at home, with recipes inspired from around the world.
Their condiments and seasoning salts are produced in small batches and are all natural, gluten-free and hand crafted by professional chefs who have worked in restaurants throughout Toronto.
Zing ships across Canada and is available in-store at a select number of independent, small businesses.
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Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor
FoodPak: https://www.foodpak.com/
Please leave a review, rate the show and if you have any questions or feedback I would love to hear from you : hayden@thepackheavypodcast.com