As we move into summer, it has been an exceptionally busy and inspiring spring for the Foodpreneur Advantage program and the food and beverage sector across Ontario.
One of the highlights of the season was the Southwest Food Innovation Summit, held on May 26th at The Grove in London. Thanks to the tremendous support of our partners, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, volunteers and attendees, the event sold out with 250 food and beverage entrepreneurs, industry professionals, and ecosystem partners coming together for a full day of learning, networking, and collaboration.
We were particularly proud to welcome Farm Credit Canada (FCC) as our Title Sponsor for this year’s event. Their continued commitment to supporting Canadian agriculture and food businesses helped make the Summit possible and reinforced the importance of investing in the entrepreneurs who are driving innovation throughout our sector.
This year’s keynote speaker, Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, delivered a powerful and inspiring message that resonated deeply with attendees. Her story was a reminder that entrepreneurship is often born from resilience, perseverance, and the courage to redefine what is possible.
A recurring theme throughout the Summit was the rapidly evolving business landscape and the importance of adaptability. As Canada’s relationship with the United States continues to evolve, many food and beverage businesses are reassessing their growth strategies and market opportunities. During panel discussions and presentations, experts emphasized the importance of exploring new domestic and international markets beyond North America and building diversified sales channels that can help businesses weather uncertainty.
As noted during the event, many businesses historically viewed expansion into the United States as the natural next step in their growth journey. However, recent trade disruptions and tariff-related uncertainty have forced many companies to pivot and reconsider their approach. These challenges reinforce the importance of creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn from those who have successfully navigated similar obstacles and can provide mentorship, guidance, and practical insights.
The Summit also featured an outstanding panel discussion focused on alternative routes to market. Entrepreneurs explored opportunities beyond traditional grocery and restaurant channels, including e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, direct-to-consumer sales, institutional buyers, colleges, hospitals, and specialty retail channels. As market conditions continue to shift, understanding and leveraging multiple pathways to customers will become increasingly important for growth-oriented food businesses.
Another exciting moment during the Summit was the announcement of the 2026 Flourish Award – Best New Product Competition winner. Congratulations to Forest City Microgreens and founder Santiago Ramirez for capturing top honours with “The Green Hour,” a new lineup of three all-natural salad dressings. As the winner, Santiago Ramirez will receive a prize package valued at more than $30,000 in professional services and support designed to help accelerate the growth of his business. We look forward to watching his continued success in the months ahead.
Earlier in June, I also had the opportunity to attend Venturepark Summit 2026 in Toronto, where entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and industry leaders gathered to discuss emerging trends and opportunities shaping Canada’s innovation economy. Events like Venturepark provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships, and gain insights that can ultimately benefit the food and beverage businesses Foodpreneur Advantage supports throughout Ontario.
Both summits reinforced two critical lessons that every food entrepreneur should keep top of mind. First, business owners must be mentally prepared for growth before it arrives. Scaling a business requires different skills, systems, and leadership approaches than launching one. Second, entrepreneurs must develop a deep understanding of their unit economics. Knowing exactly what it costs to produce, distribute, and sell your product—and ensuring that what you are offering truly solves a customer need—remains fundamental to sustainable growth and profitability.
Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that the Foodpreneur Advantage Scale-Up Program will begin accepting eligibility applications on August 11th for the Fall 2026 cohort.
The Foodpreneur Advantage Scale-Up Program is specifically designed for food and beverage manufacturers, producers, and distribution businesses that demonstrate strong growth potential. This highly competitive four-month program provides participants with access to industry experts, customized workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and peer-to-peer discussion circles focused on the challenges of scaling successfully.
Participants will receive training and support in areas including food safety and traceability, production process optimization, shelf-life testing, labelling regulations, product development, packaging, retail sales strategies, broker and distributor relationships, marketing and branding, buyer readiness, and cash flow management.
Businesses interested in applying should have been generating revenue for at least one year, achieved a minimum of $50,000 in annual sales, maintain at least 10 active wholesale accounts, and demonstrate a clear vision for scalable growth.
I encourage interested businesses to connect with their local Foodpreneur Advantage Local Delivery Small Business Enterprise Centre to learn more about available resources and to explore next steps.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Foodpreneur Advantage program and the incredible entrepreneurs who make Ontario’s food and beverage sector one of the most dynamic and innovative industries in the country. We look forward to supporting your continued growth and success throughout the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
By Phil Singeris, Program Coordinator, Foodpreneur Advantage