New Canadians took pride in plating their unique food creations during a contest in Northumberland County on Tuesday (March 19) to impress grocers and retailers.
Four entrepreneurs from the second cohort of the Newcomers’ Food Entrepreneur Program pitched their products to a panel of judges at the Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC) in Colborne.
Kabirat Agunbiade and Dawood Abdulsalam of Ottawa won the 2024 Newcomers’ Food Entrepreneur Program Pitch Competition trophy and complimentary services from the OAFVC, valued at $500, for their ‘Harvestroot Blend’ beverage — a plant-based blend of coconut, tigernut, date, and ginger that can be enjoyed on its own or added to protein shakes, coffee, tea, and cereal.
The Northumberland County program is an important opportunity for new Canadians, said Mandy Martin, Township of Cramahe mayor and county councillor.
“On behalf of county council, I would like to congratulate all the participants who competed,” the mayor stated in a media release.
“It was inspiring to see how they have transformed innovative ideas into tangible, retail-ready products. This program is an excellent opportunity for new Canadians to share their skills and grow meaningful connections in the community to help them turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.”
Their products, developed through the six-week entrepreneurial program, were assessed based on creativity, taste, texture, cost, marketing, and presentation.
The Newcomers’ Food Entrepreneur Program, offered by Northumberland County Settlement Services and supported by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, is a free program open to new Canadians interested in turning their small-batch recipe into a scalable recipe for retail sale.
Throughout the program, participants learn how to finance, package, label, and market their food products, with the help of industry experts and OAFVC facilities and staff.
“The support from the Newcomers’ Food Entrepreneur Program and OAFVC was very helpful,” said pitch competition winner Agunbiade.
“When I first signed up for the program, I didn’t think I would actually get this far. The virtual education and training along the way was very helpful. The program was zero cost to be a part of and allowed me to get my product up and running. I am very thankful for this opportunity.”
The other competitors were Takahiro Takehana and Madoka Takehana of ‘Pastry Kukki’ in Cobourg with a Japanese gluten-free cheesecake, Sabrina Zaman and Nafis Muntasir of ‘& Natural’ in Bowmanville with a healthy drink powder, and Rajesh Kumar of ‘Pinni, Healthy Harmony’ in Toronto with nutritious and healthy nut protein balls.
For more information about the Newcomers’ Food Entrepreneur Program or other support available to new Canadians, contact Northumberland County Settlement Services at 905-375-7047.
The OAFVC is a not-for-profit small-batch food processing facility, developed by Northumberland County with support from the Ontario government, that offers production support to food entrepreneurs and farmers.
Businesses best suited for launching production at the OAFVC include those looking for economic sustainability through shared production and storage spaces, and those seeking a way to continue scaling up production while working out the details of moving into a suitable facility or partnering with a co-manufacturer, the county noted.
Participants work with clients who have a proven production process. The centre provides access to safe, clean, food manufacturing spaces and qualified production support staff.
“Clients join our network of food entrepreneurs and industry supporters whose unique experiences and resources help the OAFVC drive opportunities for innovation that benefit all,” the county said about the program.
To learn more about the services available at the OAFVC to support food entrepreneurs, visit oafvc.ca.
