In this episode of Friends of FEADies, Lindsay Toth sits down with Ashlyn Newlove, founder of SmartSip, for a one-year check-in on building a food business in Canada.

From early-stage development to 24 retail locations and over $200K in sales, Ashlyn shares the realities of scaling a CPG brand, including retail expansion, product development, and navigating distribution. This episode explores what growth actually looks like behind the scenes and the mindset required to keep moving forward.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, Lindsay Toth sits down with Nuala Bobowski, food scientist and co-founder of Fromage Protein Pops, to talk about the journey from research to retail and the mindset shifts that come with building a food business.

Nuala shares how her background in food science shaped the early development of the product, but also why technical expertise alone isn’t enough to succeed in the marketplace. The conversation also explores Nuala’s experience in the Seed to Scale Accelerator, where refining her message and pitch ultimately led to winning Best Overall Pitch.

Whether you’re a scientist, product developer, or founder navigating your own transition into entrepreneurship, this episode offers honest insights into what it really takes to turn expertise into a growing food brand.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, Nafisa Mahabub shares her journey into supporting food entrepreneurs and the experiences that shaped her passion for helping founders succeed. Drawing from her work inside accelerator programs, Nafisa discusses the real challenges entrepreneurs face, from making decisions in isolation to navigating financial clarity and investment readiness.

Together, we explore why community is one of the most powerful tools for sustainable growth, how feedback drives stronger businesses, and what separates founders who build momentum from those who stay stuck. Whether you are launching your first product or preparing to scale, this conversation offers practical insight and reassurance that you don’t have to build your business alone.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, host Lindsay Toth is joined by Greg McLaren, Managing Director of Farm Food Drink Inc., for a grounded and insightful conversation on what it truly takes to support and scale women-led food businesses in Canada.

Drawing on his extensive experience working across the food industry, Greg shares why women-led businesses are critical to food sovereignty and resilient local food systems, and why clear pathways, strong support structures, and access to the right information matter at every stage of growth. Together, they unpack the unique challenges women founders face when scaling, from production efficiency and financial tracking to market research and operational readiness.

This week on Friends of FEADies, Regan Michiels joins us to share the story behind Easy Snack Co., a brand built on the belief that nutritious food should be easy to enjoy, even on the busiest days. Regan blends her food science background with real-world startup experience to discuss the highs and hurdles of building a functional snack company from the ground up.

From packaging challenges and flavour testing to community support and game-changing learning inside FEAD’s Seed to Scale Accelerator, this episode offers friendly, honest advice for any entrepreneur ready to turn a great idea into a product people love.

Elysia Vandenhurk, Co-Founder of Three Farmers Foods, joins us to talk about the messy middle of marketing, where strategy meets intuition and discomfort sparks growth.

Elysia shares how trusting the process has been one of the most powerful lessons in both business and leadership. From testing new products and exploring consumer insights to navigating uncertainty in a competitive CPG landscape, she reminds us that growth rarely feels comfortable, and that’s exactly how you know you’re on the right path.

Whether you’re refining your brand, managing feedback, or stepping into something new, this episode is a reminder that self-awareness and patience are key ingredients in building something lasting.

Sondra Pern, Co-founder of Lake Life Caesar Co. sits down to explore how a beloved family recipe transformed into one of Western Canada’s fastest-growing Caesar mix brands. Sondra shares the unfiltered truth about entrepreneurship—from late-night bottling sessions and navigating food regulations to mastering public speaking and growing a social media community that actually buys. She credits much of her success to authentic relationships, pitch competitions, and support from places like the Saskatchewan Food Centre, which helped her scale from home production to commercial manufacturing.

Whether you’re launching your first product or managing a growing food brand, this episode is packed with relatable insights and hard-earned wisdom.

In this episode of Friends of FEADies, we sit down with Domenique Mastronardi, COO and partner at Beck’s Broth, to talk about the real work behind building a million-dollar food brand in Canada. From bone broth–based coffee and hot chocolate to scaling production and navigating the challenges of retail growth, Domenique shares what it takes to bring bold ideas to life in the food industry. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to grow a food brand from startup to seven figures, this conversation is packed with insights, honesty, and inspiration.