1. Bela Peko
Are you ready for a revolution? A sweet revolution, at that! That’s what founder and CEO of Bela Peko, Danielle Paquet, was looking to do when she started her company in 2019. Inspired by the recently updated Canada Food Guide, which emphasized plenty of fruits and vegetables, she went on to create a line of ready-to-bake dessert mixes that include a 1-cup (250 ml) bag of vegetable purée. There’s chocolate-beet brownies, spicy caramel and parsnip cake and so much more.
Photo Credit: Bela Peko
2. Carrément Tarte
For entrepreneuse Katell Burot, co-founder and CEO of Carrément Tarte, butter is the name of the game! Her food company sells ready-to-serve gourmet treats, both sweet and savoury. Whether it’s a delectable chocolate pie you want or a hearty mushroom quiche, the secret to her popular foods is the rich and flaky crust. For a taste, you can pick up at their Montreal space or order online.
Photo Credit: Bénédicte Brocard
3. Grazy
Are Grazy desserts the best plant-based products in the country? That’s what the company’s founder and president, Maude St-Pierre, hopes to offer. Soon available at various points of sale across Canada, vegan comfort food will reach new heights with tasty frozen desserts made from Canadian gluten-free oats. Keeping both our taste buds and the planet happy is no easy feat, but we think this company has got it in the bag!
Photo Credit: Copyrights © GrazyTM
4. Distillerie Fove
There’s nothing quite as Canadian as maple syrup. As for acerum, it is a distinct maple eau de vie that is manufactured exclusively here in Quebec. And Corinne Cluis, founder of Distillerie Fove, has the art of distilling alcohol from maple syrup down to a science (She does have a PhD in molecular biology, after all). The company not only sells white and amber acerum, but a brown rum is available at the SAQ as well.
Photo Credit: Étienne Bay
5. Les Filles Fattoush
It’s very easy to fall in love with this local business. Co-founded by Adelle Tarzibachi, originally from Syria, Les Filles Fattoush sells tasty products like za’atar seasoning, pomegranate molasses and pita chips. They also have a ready-to-eat service that employs newly-arrived Syrian women as cooks, not only to share their culinary talents with customers but also to help them meet new people and integrate into Canadian society.
Photo Credit: Sébastien Sauvage
6. Cookie Stéfanie
Making a gluten-free treat is never an easy feat, but the Old Montreal bakery Cookie Stéfanie has got it down to an art. Opened in 2012, owner and president Linda Cheng recently took over the reins after falling in love with their products. The shop has become a city staple, offering delectable celiac-friendly treats like cookies, muffins and cupcakes, and Cheng appreciates that they’re delicious products that can be enjoyed by both those with gluten sensitivity and those without. She hopes to one day make them available to everyone across Quebec, Canada and beyond!
Photo Credit: Agence signé François Roy
7. OOYA Infusions
Energy drinks are extremely popular, but often include harmful ingredients that can raise your blood sugar and blood pressure. Charline Patry and Mathilde Léger founded OOYA Infusions with the intention of creating a more natural and healthful alternative. Goodbye synthetic caffeine and say hello to guayusa, a plant native to the Amazon rainforest that releases natural caffeine and antioxidants when infused. An energy boost without all the hidden dangers? We approve!
Photo Credit: OOYA infusions inc.
8. Bonbon Collections
Bonbon Collections sells various vegan and allergen-free treats; yes, we’re talking all 10 priority allergens, including nuts, eggs, dairy, soy and wheat. That’s a relief for many people who deal with allergies on a daily basis, including Olivia, daughter of the company’s founder, Thao Nguyen. She takes this mission very seriously; the factory is an allergen-free space that avoids cross-contamination by imposing strict protocols on staff, partners and suppliers, all to ensure peace of mind for customers and their families.
Photo credit: Bonbons collection
9. La Fourmi bionique
In the past, the word “granola” was often synonymous with bland or boring. But Montrealer Geneviève Gagnon, founder and CEO of Fourmi Bionique, knows that’s not the case. Her company makes tasty, good-for-you granola blends (they even have keto-friendly versions) with only the best local ingredients, and that’s something to cheer for.
Photo Credit: Nathalie Charron
10. FinFinoix
When it comes to vegan cheeses (a.k.a. fauxmage), they can be hit or miss. But the wares sold by FinFinoix, owned by Marie-Christine Potvin Bouchard since 2018, definitely fall into the former category. The company sells artisanal cashew spreads for your morning bagel, rivalling your usual cream cheese. With flavours like chive, lemon and even chipotle, they really are delectable.
Photo Credit: Mélisse Atelier et Agence High5
11. Ô Plant
The future of agriculture in city is vertical farming (which is the growth of crops in stacked layers indoors for space-efficient farming). And the woman behind Ô Plant, Sarah Farley Gélinas, knows this. The space is located in Montreal near the Olympic Stadium, and everything in the environment, from lighting to oxygen levels, is perfectly controlled. Their microgreens and baby greens are available in over 100 restaurants across Quebec.
Photo Credit: Ôplant