Genuine Taste

Head Office: Québec

Sector: Agri/Food Tech & Ingredients

Genuine Taste is a B2B venture creating cultivated fat as an ingredient to improve the texture, taste, and nutrition of alternative meats. Putting the meatiness back in plant based sausages and burgers, Genuine Taste products help mimic the qualities that consumers love about traditional animal products – juiciness, mouthfeel, cooking functionality – at a significantly lower emission rate, while eliminating the need to harm animals. Alternative protein is considered one of the most important solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Genuine Taste uses leading edge technology to unlock the potential for accessible, alternative protein products to reduce the impact of the way we eat.

Good Food for Good

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

Good Food For Good is leading in the better-for-all food movement. Known for their low sugar, natural sauces and condiments, including their wildly popular ketchup (sweetened with just dates), the company meets the needs of people looking for healthy alternatives to their everyday meals. But the founders are about much more than that. With every purchase, Good Food For Good provides a healthy meal to fight world hunger, and so far has donated over 1.5 million meals. Recently launched in Whole Foods Market in the US and Walmart in Canada, the company is focused on expanding their product lines to meet the growing demand for nutritious, plant based meal options.

Green Paws Inc.

Head Office: Québec

Sector: Pet & Animal Products

Green Paws (Pattes Vertes) leverages the superfood, Moringa, to produce nutritious, natural and hypoallergenic pet food. Building on Moringa’s protein and antioxidant properties, Green Paws products claim to improve oral health, help joint health, promote a strong immune system, and contribute to healthy coat and skin. The formula was designed by canine health experts with the help of the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) and National Research Council Canada (NRC). Beloved by its customers, Green Paws won the Dog Food Functional Product of the Year at the Pet Innovation Awards two years in a row. The startup was recently selected in the IGA Business Accelerator, which results in distribution in 300 IGAs across Quebec in 2023.

Guests on Earth

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Household, Beauty & Personal Care

Guests on Earth are transforming daily cleaning routines with sustainable all purpose home care products. Their innovative home system consists of reusable aluminum bottles, and small format concentrated refills that reduce packaging and emissions. Their cleaners contain nine carefully selected naturally derived ingredients that are plant and mineral-based, nontoxic, biodegradable and free from preservatives. They also feature two signature essential oil blends that smell incredible, not chemical. A third-party carbon assessment of their supply chain found their refill vials save on average 1.7 kg (4 lbs) carbon emissions per use vs. conventional alternative cleaners and hand soaps. Since launching in March 2022, Guests on Earth have already secured 1000+ DTC customers and over 20 wholesale partners.

Heali Medical

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Household, Beauty & Personal Care

HEALI is a mainstream wellness brand focused on healing pain naturally and in style, so you can stay active and well, and look good. Their patent-pending, flagship product HEALI Tape is the first Kinesiology tape to contain two natural ingredients together: Menthol and Magnesium. Combined, these proven natural healing ingredients provide cooling relief for pain, and relaxation for muscle healing and recovery, at the same time. HEALI Tape can be found in major retail stores across North America such as Sport Chek, Rexall, and CVS, and online on Walmart and Amazon. The company appeared on Dragon’s Den in 2022 and was well received with four offers.

Healtea

Head Office: Québec

Sector: Food & Beverage

Healtea brings a refreshingly simple alternative to the beverage game with 100% all natural, organic beverages. Using just four ingredients, Healtea’s drinks are free from caffeine, additives, alcohol and preservatives. With refreshing flavours like ginger + chamomile, in both sparkling and flat varieties, they meet the tastes of a range of consumers. In 2022 they added new investors, underwent a rebrand, opened new sales and distribution channels, and found new co-packing partners. They look forward to expansion in 2023, including launching on Amazon, and listing with major Canadian retailers and food services companies.

Healthy Prickly Concepts Inc

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Food & Beverage

Healthy Prickly Concepts Inc. (HPC) manufactures handcrafted chips and pitas made from 70 percent fresh Nopal cactus and organic coconut flour. Nopal Cactus is a sustainable superstar that uses considerably less water than most traditional crops and is considered one of the best sustainable foods of the future. By using a climate-resilient crop with a high nutritional profile, HPC is helping consumers make better choices for themselves and the planet.

Herbaland Naturals, Inc.

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Supplement & Natural Health Product

Herbaland is an earth-friendly, B Corp certified company that manufactures and produces plant-based, high quality gummy supplements and snacks packaged in 100% compostable pouches. Made for everyone, including people with diverse dietary needs and preferences, their natural, plant-based vitamins are allergen-free, non-GMO, and contain low to no sugar. While making waves in the industry, Herbaland has maintained a commitment to people and planet, diverting over 10 tons of plastic from landfills and planting 350,000 trees through their partner Veritree. While based in Canada, Herbaland gummies are sold in over 40 countries worldwide. In 2023, they are planning to expand their product selection from just gummies and are set to launch probiotic powder sticks and on-the-go liquid pouches.

HOPE Pet Food

Head Office: Ontario

Sector: Pet & Animal Products

HOPE Pet Food is creating the future of pet food with nutrient-rich ingredients that drastically reduce the environmental impact. Removing livestock and fish ingredients from pet food is the single, most impactful change we can make to reduce the environmental impact of pet food. HOPE’s evidence-based approach uses nutrient-rich ingredients from plants, insects, algae and fungi to produce livestock and fish-free pet foods that are natural, nutritious and sustainable. By the end of 2023, HOPE’s products will be readily available in pet specialty retail across Canada.

iLOLA Inc.

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Food & Beverage

iLOLA is revolutionizing the Tea industry by creating the first and only loose leaf Tea Disc without any artificial or sugary bindings. Tea is the most highly consumed beverage in the world next to water, and yet 99% of all teabags have elements of bleach and or microplastic. By using a probiotic binding, iLOLA is not only adding to the health of tea drinkers, but they are removing the negative elements found in teabags from our bodies and our planet. Since launching in just 2022, iLOLA has been featured on Oprah’s Christmas list, they won USA Today’s top10 foody gifts, and can be found in store at Neiman Marcus.

INCA Renewtech

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Bioproducts

For decades INCA’s innovation team has created and manufactured bio-composite auto interiors that make cars lighter, safer and more energy efficient. Today, INCA has expanded its focus to include RVs, boats, and consumer products like kids’ toys, furniture and single use cutlery. Their products will use hemp grown exclusively in the Canadian Prairie. Hemp sequesters three times more carbon than trees, and regenerates quickly without the need for much water. By utilizing renewable resources rather than petroleum, fibreglass, wood, or offshore-sourced natural fibre, INCA will reduce plastics pollution, sequester carbon, preserve rainforests and help Canada retool its economy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

Jack59

Head Office: Alberta

Sector: Household, Beauty & Personal Care

Jack59 is on a mission to provide personalized haircare that doesn’t harm the planet. Their line of 12 shampoo and conditioner bars are all-natural, with no synthetic chemicals and completely biodegradable. Each bar lasts for 80+ washes eliminating 3 average size plastic shampoo bottles. The company has grown sales 560% in the past 24 months, and is expanding both their team and their production capacity with a move to a new facility planned for 2023. This indigenous-owned business is giving back to their communities through scholarships for indigenous students, as well donating a portion of proceeds from their new Dreams line for children.

Keto NewfS Inc.

Head Office: Newfoundland and Labrador

Sector: Food & Beverage

KetoNewfS prepares healthy, plant based, keto-friendly meal service options for people interested in a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Driven by the founders own challenges with weight loss, the company offers meal kit options and more to support others with their health and nutrition goals. In their new facility, which will break ground in 2023, they are committed to innovative ways to upcycle foods, lower water consumption, and use cellular food designs to produce their products. Expanding beyond the B2C space, they also offer copacking, private labeling and R&D services to companies wishing to produce their own keto-friendly, sustainable foods and products.

KidStar Nutrients

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Supplement & Natural Health Product

Helping families raise happy, healthy kids, KidStar Nutrients® offers a line of natural, research-backed supplements that parents and caregivers can trust and that kids love. Their products are formulated and manufactured free of unnecessary fillers, artificial sweeteners/colours, added sugar and harmful preservatives. KidStar upholds the highest sustainability practices, including meeting Non-GMO standards, supporting local, organic producers in a shift away from commercially grown ingredients and monoculture farming, and using recyclable plastic packaging or glass. In 2022, KidStar expanded distribution into national retailers such as Whole Foods, Sobeys and Loblaws. Some of their products can be found online at Amazon Canada where KidStar’s Amazon storefront has just been launched.

Kindred Cultures Inc.

Head Office: British Columbia

Sector: Supplement & Natural Health Product

Kindred Cultures produces a rainbow of tasty, uncarbonated probiotic kefir water that are 100% plant-based and made with the finest organic ingredients. Meeting the growing interest in food and beverages targeting gut health, they are the only manufacturer in North America to produce uncarbonated, naturally fermented probiotics, setting them apart from domestic and international competitors in the category. From production to delivery, Kindred Cultures upholds rigorous sustainability standards, including waste management (water, packaging, synthetic & organic materials, etc), reusing or recycling glass packaging, and using electric vehicles for sales and delivery. In 2022, Kindred launched nationally with Whole Foods, and secured Western Canada distribution with Horizon and Sysco Canada. They have plans for expansion into Save on Food stores across Canada in 2023.