Avi Gill and his family
Avi Gill and his family receive the Silver Product of the Year award for Farming Karma.
BC’s best food, beverage and natural health products were highlighted and celebrated at the annual BC Food & Beverage Awards Night.
From the Innovation Award to Product of the Year, the 2022 award winners were crowned in front of a crowd of over 400 people.
From soy-free tofu and bannock to vegan honey and sparkling pear soda, BC is home to some of the world’s most innovative food and beverage products, not to mention the entrepreneurs and industry leaders who make them.
Back in-person for the first time since 2019, the awards were handed out with Vancouver’s Big Mountain Foods’ Soy-Free Tofu securing the coveted Gold placement for Product of the Year.
Farming Karma’s Pear Soda from Kelowna won Silver Product of the Year, while Purdy’s Chocolatier’s Hawaiian Black Salt Caramels took home Bronze.
“The award is a reminder of our journey, the challenges and the victories along the way, said Avi Gill of Farming Karma. “When we launched in January 2020, we were a farming family that didn’t have any background in food manufacturing, product development, marketing, packaging, selling, or any of the other things that go along with putting a product in the market.
“With consistent hard work, believing in ourselves, and tremendous support from our community and mentors, we were able to develop a product that we were proud of. To be recognized for that; it’s a dream come true.”
In business since 1996, Left Coast Naturals was this year’s inductee into the BCFB Hall of Fame.
“There were so many deserving nominees this year for all the awards, and in our first year with online voting our finalists received 17,000 votes to select this year’s winners”, says BC Food & Beverage CEO James Donaldson. “Each of the finalists and winners exemplify passion and leadership in driving success for themselves and the businesses they work for. They were really reflective of the diversity we have in our industries community as well and they all are deserving of this great recognition.”
Other winners at the award presentation included:
- Best in Brand – Fatso
- Emerging Business – Yoggu!
- Export – Dan D Foods
- Indigenous Owned Business – Locality Brewing
- Innovation – Big Mountain Foods
- Leadership – Aaron Chin of Organika
- Outstanding Workplace – Health & Safety – Vancouver Island Brewing
- People’s Choice – Panela Lemon
- Social Impact – Cascadia Seaweed
- Sustainability – Soul Bite Food
- Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – Jade Hermann of Yoggu!
