YSpace is excited to welcome the 14 participating companies in this year's Food Accelerator cohort. The program is designed to provide food and beverage ventures with the resources and support they need to be competitive in their respective markets. Get to know the 2024 Food Accelerator cohort below!
Aunt Sybil's delivers the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean through a lineup of all-natural frozen entrées. Recognizing the challenge modern families face in balancing time and nutritional needs, this brand offers a convenient solution with authentic Caribbean meals ready in minutes. Each meal is crafted from nature's finest ingredients, ensuring a delicious, enriching dining experience that enhances family life by making it healthier, easier, and richer.
Learn more here.
Benny introduces a groundbreaking energy drink designed with health in mind, featuring 37 times less sugar and enriched with functional mushrooms and herbs to boost memory, focus, and mental health. Developed in collaboration with a top naturopath, each can of Benny's flagship energy drink delivers a full daily dose of adaptogens, ensuring long-term benefits for your well-being.
Cafézia revolutionizes the coffee experience by infusing organic, fair-trade coffee with tasteless herbs that not only enhance the flavor but also reduce common side effects like heartburn, jitters, and insomnia. This unique blend promotes clarity and focus, offering a smoother, more enjoyable coffee experience that caters to both taste and health.
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Chakra Nutrition offers three different bubble tea protein flavours, in 1lb and 2lbs quantities. Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps with muscle growth, muscle recovery, and keep you satiated. Their bubble tea flavours offer a healthier alternative to traditional bubble tea drinks which are high in calories and sugars. Additionally, Chakra Nutrition offers a unique twist to traditional protein flavours, going beyond the typical chocolate or vanilla options available in the market.
Learn more here.
DJL Kreative Kitchen elevates the culinary landscape with its artisanal jerk sauces, including the Mango Jerk Sauce, showcased at Toronto's Drake Hotel. These sauces blend traditional Caribbean flavors with unique elements like Sorrel Barrel-Aged Rum and Dragon Stout Beer, earning widespread acclaim and television features. Innovations such as the Cognac and Coffee-infused Jerk Steak Sauce redefine food perceptions, introducing luxury ingredients and culinary experiences previously unavailable in their market. DJL Kreative Kitchen's commitment to achieving a luxury standard akin to Michelin Star certifications distinguishes them as pioneers in the culinary industry.
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Mindful Monk is dedicated to crafting healthy chocolates with numerous benefits. They have redefined the chocolate industry by handcrafting their treats with monk fruit juice, a natural sweetener that satisfies the sweet tooth without any added sugars, sugar alcohols, or stevia. Mindful Monk is on a mission to redefine snacking, believing that the foods enjoyed should nourish the body and soul. Their commitment to clean, nutrient-rich ingredients ensures that every bite is a moment of mindful indulgence. Key benefits of Mindful Monk chocolates include being diabetes-friendly, keto-friendly, plant-based, sweetened with monk fruit juice, 100% natural, and nutrient-rich, providing a source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. With only one gram of sugar per piece, naturally sourced from nut butter, Mindful Monk offers a guilt-free indulgence option for mindful consumers.
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Oomé is a premium smoked tofu company, offering ready-to-eat, naturally smoked products processed locally. They prioritize strong design and branding to capture consumer attention, ensuring their products stand out. Committed to clean ingredients, Oome provides Non-GMO Project verified and locally sourced options whenever possible. Their dedication to sustainability is evident as they hold plastic-negative certification, setting them apart as leaders in eco-conscious tofu production.
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Oh My Okra offers a nutritious, crunchy vegetable snack crafted from wholesome okra pieces using simple, health-conscious ingredients. Made in British Columbia and verified by the Non-GMO Project, these snacks are gluten-free, nut-free, and exceptionally high in fiber. Employing vacuum dehydration technology, Oh My Okra retains over 80% of the nutrients found in fresh okra. Ideal for healthcare practitioners and individuals managing diabetes or high blood pressure, this guilt-free snack supports better blood flow and offers a healthier, unique snacking alternative.
Learn more here.
Plant Baby, Canada's pioneering plant-based milk tailored for toddlers. With many parents transitioning to plant-based options for their little ones, Plant Baby fills a crucial gap in the market. Our allergen-free formula, rich in plant-based protein, calcium, healthy fats, and probiotics, provides essential nutrients for toddler growth. Versatile and convenient, Plant Baby can be used as a milk replacement or nutritional booster in various meals. Nourish your toddler with a cleaner, healthier alternative proudly made in Canada.
Learn more here.
Paz Bakery introduces a Canadian twist on a traditional Brazilian snack, offering gluten-free products that resonate with the essence of Brazilian culture. Crafted in small batches with seven wholesome and easily pronounceable ingredients, their ready-to-bake treats are frozen to maintain freshness and boast an extended shelf life. Paz Bakery’s mission is to introduce the Canadian public to this lesser-known ethnic food, allowing customers to effortlessly impress with their shareable delights
Learn more here.
Save Da Sea, headquartered in Victoria, Canada, is a pioneering plant-based seafood manufacturer committed to crafting wholesome alternatives. Their products, found in stores across Canada, are free from toxins and microplastics commonly found in conventional seafood. Positioned in the refrigerated plant-based section, Save Da Sea offers three distinct options. Their two smoked salmon varieties, original and dill & caper, are ingeniously crafted from carrots, boasting a mere nine ingredients each, including locally sourced bull kelp for authentic ocean flavor. Additionally, their tuna salad, made from jackfruit and vegan mayo, provides a convenient, ready-to-eat option enriched with Omega-3s from flax oil and protein sourced from chickpeas and pea protein.
Learn more here.
Spyce Girlz specializes in crafting all-natural, preservative-free spice blends that elevate both taste and health. Their mission is to provide consumers with a more approachable and accessible option for enhancing everyday meals. Beginning with their cult-favorite Taco Seasoning sold at local farmer’s markets in Ottawa, Spyce Girlz has garnered widespread acclaim, expanding their presence to major grocery chains across Ontario such as Farm Boy and Longo’s. With plans for nationwide expansion underway, their innovative products have gained recognition through multiple news features and earned a coveted spot on the stand-by list for Dragon’s Den.
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TheHealTea specializes in crafting truly all-natural, organic, and caffeine-free ready-to-drink beverages that empower consumers to embrace a vibrant and mindful lifestyle. With lower sugar content than soft drinks, superior health benefits compared to sparkling water, and a taste surpassing kombucha, TheHealTea offers a satisfying alternative to traditional beverages. Their versatile creations can be enjoyed as a nonalcoholic option or used as a fantastic mixer in cocktails, catering to diverse preferences and occasions. With TheHealTea, experience the ultimate beverages for a life filled with vitality and empowerment.
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Yofiit is a pioneering plant-based milk company revolutionizing the industry with their innovative products. Their flagship offering boasts an impressive 10 times more protein than most other plant milks, with minimal sugar and no fillers, all while delivering exceptional taste. Designed to serve multiple functions – from enhancing baked goods and coffee to being enjoyed as a nutritious beverage – Yofiit’s plant-based milk transcends traditional boundaries, expanding into the realm of nutrition shakes. Leveraging cutting-edge food technology and deep intellectual property, Yofiit creates category-defining products that resonate with modern consumers’ desires for both health and taste. With a focus on quality and innovation, Yofiit is reshaping the landscape of the multi-billion-dollar plant-based milk market.
Learn more here.
A huge thank you to our sponsors: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada/ Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada, Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, and Government of Canada.