🍁 Rooted in Canada | Part 3: How Food-Tech, Sustainability, and Emerging Founders Are Shaping the Future of Local Food in Canada
By: Lindsay Toth
We’ve reached the final chapter of our Rooted in Canada series. In Part 1, we explored why Canadians are reaching for local food more than ever. In Part 2, we looked at how food innovation centres are helping producers scale up responsibly.
Now it’s time to look ahead. The local food movement is not just growing, it is evolving. Across the country, innovative tools, sustainable practices, and new leadership are shaping what comes next for Canadian food.
Smart Tools That Help Local Brands Compete
Technology is opening new doors for food entrepreneurs. A great example is BetterCart Analytics, a Saskatchewan-based company helping food producers and retailers make smarter pricing decisions. Their platform pulls in over three billion product records and 27 million pricing updates every week. That kind of data gives businesses the edge they need to price competitively and plan strategically.
It is not just about pricing. Food-tech also includes tools that track inventory, predict demand, and improve transparency. With consumers increasingly asking where their food comes from, digital solutions like QR code packaging and traceability systems are quickly becoming must-haves for any brand that wants to stand out.
Packaging That Puts the Planet First
Canadians are thinking more critically about packaging. As the push for sustainability grows, food businesses are stepping up with eco-conscious solutions.
In Ontario, Freshr is creating compostable packaging from agricultural by-products. These containers break down quickly and safely, reducing the environmental impact of food waste and packaging combined.
Vancouver-based good natured® offers plant-based packaging options that are designed for both durability and compostability. Brands like Eco Guardian and Evanesce are also helping companies across the country shift to biodegradable and recyclable materials, making it easier for local products to reflect local values.
Together, these innovators are helping ensure that what is good for the consumer is also good for the environment.
A New Generation of Local Food Founders
Across Canada, a growing number of food entrepreneurs are building businesses rooted in purpose and community. Many of them are women, newcomers, and founders from underrepresented communities who are reshaping what local food can look like.
Organizations like Foodpreneur Lab are making this possible by offering tailored support for Black, Indigenous, and racialized entrepreneurs. From product development to pitching, they help founders bring bold ideas to life.
Canadian Women in Food is another leader in this space, creating visibility and resources for women-led food businesses across the country.
I can’t mention supports for women in food without mentioning us at FEAD. If you’re not familiar with everything we offer, take the time to tour around our website to better understand all the FREE resources available. Some of our resources are limited to members, just sign up for your free FEAD Membership to be able to access everything our resource site has to offer!
We are also seeing exciting new brands pop up that bring something entirely fresh to the table. In Kitchener, engineer-turned-ice-cream-maker Ajoa Mintah launched Four All Ice Cream, which uses local ingredients and science-backed recipes to deliver a clean and traceable treat. In Vancouver, Tayybeh started as a community pop-up and has grown into a full-fledged catering and retail brand. Along the way, it has empowered dozens of Syrian women through employment and storytelling.
These businesses prove that the future of food in Canada will be both diverse and driven by values.
Why This Moment Matters
Every shift we’ve explored throughout this series points to one clear message. Local food is not a passing trend. It is a movement that is becoming stronger, more sophisticated, and more sustainable by the day.
Technology is helping local businesses stay competitive. New packaging solutions are lowering environmental impact. And a new generation of founders is building food companies that reflect the communities they come from.
The result is a more resilient and inclusive food system that benefits everyone involved.
What Comes Next
If you want to support the future of local food in Canada, here are a few ways to start:
Try products from brands using compostable or recyclable packaging.
Explore local businesses that are contributing to the local economy.
Support BIPOC and women-led food businesses through organizations like Foodpreneur Lab, Canadian Women in Food, FEAD Canada.
The choices we make every day shape the kind of food system we want to see tomorrow. Local food is here to stay, and it is ready to grow, with the help of innovation, inclusion, and people like you.
Thank you for following along with the Rooted in Canada series. We are just getting started!
