Munching on Molecules

What happens when a lifelong connection to food turns into an annual gathering built around farmers, producers, and local buyers? In this episode, we sit down with Shauna Fidler, to talk about the evolution of Basin Food Expo (FABx26) and this year’s theme: The Business of Food: Fermenting Ideas. Shauna’s own food journey started early, from wrapping cookies in her aunt’s shop to eventually buying...

In this episode, we sit down with Alice Couderc, co-founder of Atome Bakery, a Vancouver-based French-inspired bakery creating ready-to-bake frozen artisan breads and pastries. Alice moved from France to Canada in 2018, while her co-founder, Lucas Navilloz, found himself seriously missing French bread. So he started making his own. What began as a personal solution evolved into Atome Bakery, built...

We chat with Parry Aftab, agrifood community builder and founder of PEI Food Strong, Canadian Source to Supper, and PEI Good Eats, to explore how community, local food and practical action can help build a more resilient food system. Parry spent decades as a lawyer specializing in cyberlaw, cybersecurity and online safety, working with organizations and governments around the world. Then COVID cha...

What if tackling one of the world’s biggest micronutrient challenges started with something as simple as what goes into the cooking pot? In this episode, we sit down with  Dr. Gavin Armstrong, founder and CEO of Lucky Iron Life , to explore the science, social impact and the journey behind Lucky Iron Fish. Gavin entered university planning to pursue finance before an interdisciplinary course took...

In this episode, we sit down with Mehnaz Tabassum, CEO of NL Eats and Food Forward Summit, to talk about the journey from building an online food community to launching a nonprofit and creating a national platform bringing together people across Canada's food system. Mehnaz shares how NL Eats evolved from a grassroots community into an organization focused on food access, connection and system...

We are on site in Coquitlam, BC with Shaun Ashworth, Co-Founder, Owner, and President of Associated Labels and Packaging. Shaun takes us behind the scenes of their packaging operations and shares why great packaging is about so much more than what we see on the shelf. Associated Labels and Packaging began in 1980 when Shaun’s father took a chance on a printing company, starting with letterpress pr...

Grinta began on the sidelines. As parents of four active children competing across multiple sports, Sonia and Jaspaul saw firsthand how long games, tournaments, travel, heat, and physical exertion could affect young athletes. They recognized a gap in the market: parents were looking for hydration products they could feel confident giving their active children. Named after the Italian word for “gri...

Dr. Jason Bush, Chief Scientific Officer and Jason Leibert, Chief Growth Officer, from Solnul ®  join us to explore the science and commercialization behind an upcycled prebiotic fibre made from potatoes. Solnul ®  is a resistant starch ingredient produced in Carberry, Manitoba using a co-product from potato processing. Through a proprietary process, Solnul ®  converts this potato co-product into...

Chef Connor Flynn, also known as The Preserving Chef, shares with us the world of food preservation and why it’s about so much more than extending shelf life. Connor’s journey started close to home, cooking alongside his grandmothers and building an early appreciation for food, family, and tradition. From there, his path took him through professional kitchens, Red Seal certification, teaching, sob...

Janet Helou is the CSO and Wine Scientist at Glimmer Wine, a BC-based, women-owned non-alcoholic sparkling wine brand.  With a background spanning science, R&D, sales, food science, and wine, Janet helps lead Glimmer from both sides of the business: developing the product and supporting commercial sales. As a Certified Food Scientist and WSET Level 3, she brings a rare blend of technical exper...

We talk with Gord Sterritt, CEO of Authentic Indigenous Seafood and Executive Director of the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, to explore the deep connection between fisheries, food security, sustainability, and Indigenous-led food systems. As a member of the Gitxsan First Nation, Gord brings a rich perspective shaped by community, culture, conservation, and years of experience workin...

What does it take to build a contract manufacturing operations capable of serving CPG brands on both sides of the border and scaling with them all the way to Costco? We sit down with Preet Bhullar, COO and Co-Founder of Blue Ocean Group. The conversation was recorded on-site at their brand-new innovation hub in Blaine, Washington. What began in 2012 as a 2,000-square-foot tea operation in Surrey,...

Join us as Dr. William Yan shares his extensive experience in food safety, nutrition, and regulation in Canada. He brings a thoughtful perspective on the importance of science-based frameworks alongside industry collaboration to protect consumers while also creating space for innovation.  In this episode, we dig into: Health Canada’s regulatory framework  Pre-market assessment vs post-market compl...

Angela Santiago is the CEO and Co-Founder of Little Potato Company, a business she started alongside her father 30 years ago.  The Little Potato Company's origin story is one of those rare ones that feels almost too good to be true. Angela's father, drawing on nostalgia for the small potatoes he had grown up eating in the Netherlands, had a simple idea: what if Canadians could fall in love...

What does it take to turn a homemade kombucha obsession into a growing beverage brand? We sit down with  Kristin Zerbin, founder of Hoochy 'Booch Kombucha , for a candid conversation about her journey from DIY kombucha brewing to building a vibrant, growing beverage company. Kristin shares how her personal gut health challenges sparked her interest in kombucha, and how that passion and curiosi...

What does it take for an international food brand to successfully launch in Canadian retail? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Miller, Founder of MarketReady, a consulting business built to support global food manufacturers navigate and enter the Canadian retail market successfully. Scott's work focuses on closing the knowledge gaps that can quietly sink an otherwise promising launch. Sc...

We sit down with Simran Kaur, Sales Manager for Western Canada at Jiva Organics, for an honest conversation about navigating the Canadian CPG and retail landscape. Simran shares her unconventional journey from managing national accounts at Zomato in Delhi to building retail relationships across Western Canada. Simran brings a grounded, people-first perspective to an industry that can often feel tr...

In this episode, we sit down with Chef Steph Baryluk, a Red Seal Indigenous Chef, educator, and one of Canada's most compelling voices in food. A proud Teetl'it Gwich'in from Teetl'it Zheh (Fort McPherson) in Treaty 11 Territory. Chef Steph grew up in the Arctic, where hunting, fishing, and land stewardship shaped everything about how she understands food, community, and cooking wi...

What if regulatory expertise was not just a compliance checkbox, but a core part of how you build a brand, make a business case, and grow in the Canadian natural health products industry? In this episode, we sit down with Sharan Sidhu, CEO and Director of Regulatory Affairs at Salix Sciences, for a candid conversation about her journey through natural health products industry, regulatory affairs,...

Time for another quarterly catch-up with your co-hosts, Christine Farkas, RSE, CRC and Lara Tiro. In this "snackable" roundup, we share the key moments, industry gatherings, and forward-looking forums that shaped our winter and early spring in food innovation. From San Francisco to Anaheim, we've been on the ground learning, connecting, and supporting growth across the food and bever...

We sit down with Alessio Monterosso, Founder of Ariana Naturals, for a conversation about personal healing, entrepreneurship, and building with purpose. Founded in Ottawa, Ariana Naturals, started as Alessio’s personal search for solutions while navigating depression. The nationally expanding CPG brand of saffron-based tea products can now be found in 100+ retail stores across Canada. A few highli...

In this special edition of Munching on Molecules, we’re joined by two members of the CHFA Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs team: Sonia Parmar, VP, Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations Jules Gorham, Sr. Director, Government Relations & Quebec Affairs We get a sneak peek into the CHFA Ottawa Regulatory Forum, happening May 26–27, 2026. This immersive, standalone event bring...

What if sustainability wasn’t just about packaging, sourcing, and supply chains, but also about creating healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces? We sit down with Jennifer de Vera of Dawson College, whom we first met at CHFA Vancouver, for a fresh conversation on what it means to take a more human-centered approach to sustainability. Jenn shares her journey from entrepreneur to sustaina...

What happens when a supplements skeptic ends up leading a Canadian natural health company with clinically backed, patented ingredients? In this episode of  Munching on Molecules , we sit down with Michael Bentley, President of SierraSil® Health Inc., to talk about leadership, credibility, and the role of natural health products in Canada. We interviewed Michael live on location at the Multivac Inn...

What does it look like to build a proudly Canadian snack brand from a farmers’ market table all the way to owning your own production facility? In this episode, we sit down with Sheena Russell, Founder & CEO of Made with Local, for a behind-the-scenes conversation on building a CPG brand rooted in real food, local sourcing, and a whole lot of persistence. Made with Local started at a farmers’...