British Columbia is making its mark on Canada's foodtech scene. The Canadian Food Innovation Network unveiled the winners of its inaugural Foodtech Frontier Awards this week, and nine BC companies made the list—including several from Vancouver.
The awards recognize companies tackling everything from sustainability and food security to supply chain challenges. Among the local winners are familiar names like Fresh Prep Foods alongside innovative startups working on everything from mycelium-based proteins to AI-powered seafood tracing.
"Canada's food sector is under pressure to adapt — groceries are more expensive, manufacturers face supply chain challenges, and small businesses are stretched thin," says Dana McCauley, CEO of CFIN. "Yet, our country is also home to some of the most forward-thinking food innovators in the world."
The awards recognized 10 established foodtech leaders and 25 rising stars. Among the established leaders, Fresh Prep Foods in Vancouver is known for its meal kits with locally sourced ingredients. The company has built a reputation for sustainable packaging and B Corp certification since its founding in 2015. Also named established leaders were FPS Food Process Solutions in Richmond, which manufactures turn-key freezing and processing systems, EnWave in Delta with its vacuum-microwave REV™ dehydration technology, and Cronometer in Revelstoke, a nutrition tracking app built on verified data.
British Columbia's rising stars represent diverse innovations across the foodtech landscape. Vancouver-based Maia Farms is developing mycelium-based protein ingredients, while Renaissance BioScience harnesses microbes to create sustainable solutions for food production, health, and environmental challenges. ThisFish provides AI-enabled seafood traceability and digital workflows. Crush Dynamics, based in Summerland, upcycles grape pomace into multi-function ingredients.
Collectively, this year's 35 winners are delivering $440 million in total sales, have invested $35 million in research and development over the past year, employ 1,763 people, and have raised $256 million to date.
"From cutting-edge processing tools to smart AI solutions keeping our food safe, the companies we're honouring today show how innovation can help the food industry grow strong in a fast-changing world — all while creating jobs, boosting the economy, and putting Canada on the map as a foodtech leader," says the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Beyond recognition, all winners gain access to a network of potential investors, partners, and customers to accelerate their growth. The awards are made possible through support from the Government of Canada, BDC, MNP, KPMG, and Redstick Ventures.