The Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN) recently honoured 35 winners of Foodtech Frontier, dedicated to celebrating food industry transformers focused on sustainability, food security, health or supply chain efficiency.
“Our country is also home to some of the most forward-thinking food innovators in the world,” said CFIN’s chief executive officer Dana McCauley. “With Foodtech Frontier, we’re supporting the growth of these companies to strengthen our economy, create new jobs and feed more people in a sustainable way.”
As part of the awards program, Redstick Ventures awarded $100,000 each to Cubbi and Dispension, providing a total of $200,000 in catalytic funding to accelerate their growth and impact.
Cubbi is an all-in-one foodservice platform. Dispension market automated kiosks for canned beer and ready-to-drink beverages.
Collectively, these companies are already delivering $440 million in total sales, have invested $35 million in R&D over the past year, employ 1,763 people, and have raised $256 million to date, the network said in a news release.
“These metrics highlight the role of Canadian foodtechventures as economic drivers that invest in innovation and create jobs, positioning the sector as a key contributor to Canada’s competitiveness in the global food economy.”
The winners honoured at an event at the University of Guelph are:
- SmartSkin Technologies (AC- i.e. Atlantic Canada)) – Sensor-enabled container monitoring systems
- Cronometer (BC) – Nutrition tracking app built on verified data
- EnWave (BC) – Vacuum-microwave REV™ dehydration technology
- Fresh Prep Foods (BC) – Meal kits with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients
- FPS Food Process Solutions (BC) – Turn-key freezing and processing systems
- Enhanced Medical Nutrition (ON) – Medical nutrition products supporting surgery and recovery
- Food Cycle Science (ON) – Closed-loop food waste solution, FoodCycler™
- Kitchen Hub (ON) – Tech-enabled food halls for restaurant scale-up
- P&P Optica (ON) – AI-powered hyperspectral imaging for food safety
- Qualtech (QC) – Stainless-steel sanitary equipment and processing systems for agri-food
