In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, Peter is joined by Amy Proulx of Niagara College Food and Beverage Innovation Centre. They explore what it really takes to move from concept to commercialization in today’s competitive food and beverage landscape. From formulation to scale-up, the journey from idea to shelf requires more than a great concept, it demands technical expertise, regulatory understanding, and a clear path to market.

We dive into the critical role of food science in building products that are not only innovative, but also safe, consistent, and commercially viable. From ingredient functionality and shelf-life stability to navigating regulatory requirements and label compliance, this conversation unpacks the often unseen work that underpins successful CPG products.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how founders and brands can better leverage technical resources to de-risk innovation and accelerate growth. Whether you’re refining a formulation or preparing for scale, the insights shared highlight how disciplined development and strong science can turn great ideas into products that succeed in market.

Learn more here:

https://www.ncinnovation.ca/innovation-centres/food-and-beverage

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Kirk Homenick, President of Naturally Homegrown Foods, to explore how rebranding and innovation are driving growth and reshaping the snack category. Under his leadership, the business has evolved from a niche brand into a national and international player, with brands like Hardbite and the newly launched Poptastic. Kirk shares how evolving a portfolio is essential to staying relevant in today’s competitive CPG landscape.

Kirk unpacks the strategic decisions behind rebranding Hardbite, from refining positioning to aligning with shifting consumer preferences around ingredients, quality, and sourcing. He also shares the thinking behind launching Poptastic, entering a relatively stagnant popcorn category with a fresh perspective and a focus on differentiation. From product innovation like root veg chips and avocado oil chips to expanding into new formats, this conversation highlights what it takes to lead category growth, not just participate in it.

We also explore how brands can balance legacy with innovation, and the role of disciplined strategy in scaling across multiple product lines. Kirk offers practical insights on portfolio management, brand evolution, and building products that resonate with today’s consumer, while setting the foundation for long-term growth.

Connect with Kirk:

Website: https://naturallyhomegrownfoods.com/

Hardbite: https://hardbitechips.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hardbite/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardbitechips/

Poptastic: https://poptasticpop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/poptasticpop/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@poptastic_pop

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, whose journey from incarceration to building a purpose driven brand is redefining what it means to make a comeback. Her story is a powerful example that your past does not define your future, and that resilience can be the foundation for something much bigger.

Emily shares how she transformed adversity into opportunity, starting Comeback Snacks from her favourite snack, popcorn, while in prison and building it from the ground up. Rooted in a mission of redemption, her work extends beyond her own story by creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with criminal backgrounds. From early challenges to gaining traction in the competitive CPG space, she offers an honest look at what it takes to start over and build a brand with purpose.

We also explore the intersection of purpose and profitability, and how businesses can create real change while scaling. Emily’s story is a reminder that second chances aren’t just personal, they can be a powerful driver of innovation, connection, and long-term success.

Connect with Emily:

Website: https://comebacksnacks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comebacksnacks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comebacksnacks/

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Cathline James, founder of Wise Bites, a purpose driven snack brand redefining what it means to be truly inclusive in food. Built on the belief that everyone deserves access to safe, nutritious options, Wise Bites has carved out a unique space in the better for you category with products that are free from the top 11 allergens while still delivering on taste and function.

What started as a personal mission has grown into a forward thinking brand focused on long term health, accessibility, and innovation. Wise Bites isn’t just reacting to trends, it’s anticipating them, creating products designed for a more inclusive future of food where functionality and flavour go hand in hand. From early product development to scaling into retail and food service, the brand has stayed rooted in its core purpose: allergen free snacks that make you feel good and taste good.

Cathline shares how seeing what others don’t has shaped her approach to building Wise Bites, from identifying gaps in the market to creating products that meet real, underserved needs. This conversation explores what it takes to lead with purpose while building a scalable business, and how Wise Bites is proving that the future of snacking isn’t just better for you, it’s smarter, more inclusive, and built to last.

Website: https://wise-bites.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisebitescollectionsinc/
Pinterest: https://ca.pinterest.com/wisebites0565/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WiseBitesInc

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Carolyne McIntyre Jackson, co-founder of Crave Cupcakes, a nationally recognized, award-winning bakery brand that has grown from a single neighbourhood shop into a multi-channel business across Western Canada.
What started with a simple goal, serve really good cake made from real ingredients and a commitment to from-scratch baking has evolved into a beloved brand known for quality, consistency, and connection. Today, Crave Cupcakes has seven bakery locations, café extensions under CeCe’s Coffee Shop, and a growing CPG presence in major retailers, while still using the same recipes and real ingredients it started with.
Carolyne shares how Crave has scaled thoughtfully, layer by layer, without compromising on product integrity, brand values, or customer experience. This conversation dives into what it really takes to scale a food brand without compromise. From staying hands-on as you grow to translating a fresh bakery experience into packaged products, Carolyne shares how Crave has built a brand that’s not only crave-worthy but built to last.

Website: https://www.cravecupcakes.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cravecupcakes/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cravecupcakes
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cravecupcakes
Pinterest: https://www.tiktok.com/@cravecupcakes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crave-cookies-cupcakes/

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Jennifer Frame, a marketing and innovation strategist with more than 18 years of experience across retail, FMCG, luxury, and technology in both Canada and Europe.
Originally from Nova Scotia and now based in Geneva, Switzerland, Jennifer has built a career helping brands sharpen their positioning, clarify their growth strategy, and expand with confidence. Her experience spans global leaders like Procter & Gamble and Manor AG, as well as high-growth startups, giving her a unique perspective on what it truly takes to scale across markets.

As Co-Founder of Seajai Collective, Jennifer now helps Canadian companies enter the European market while supporting European businesses in expanding internationally. Her work focuses on strengthening brand, marketing, and commercial fundamentals before chasing growth. In our conversation, we explore what brands often overlook when entering new regions, the cultural and commercial nuances of European markets, and why successful expansion starts with strategic clarity, not just ambition.

This episode is a must-listen for founders and food brands considering export, international partnerships, or scaling beyond their home market — and for anyone who believes growth should be intentional, strategic, and built to last.
If you’d like to connect with Jennifer, reach out via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-frame-327b273b/, or at jennifer@jenniferframe.com.

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Peter Neal, co-founder of Neal Brothers Foods and a passionate advocate for mental health and human-centred leadership.

For more than three decades, Peter has helped build one of Canada’s most respected family-owned CPG brands, known for their signature tortilla chips and salsas which has grown to encompass over 50 products including Crank Coffee. Alongside growing Neal Brothers Foods, he also took on the complex challenge of distribution in Canada, forming Jonluca Neal, a leading natural food distributor representing over 200 brands across the country.

In our conversation, Peter shares how Neal Brothers evolved from a small family venture into a national Canadian brand, and how core values like integrity, authenticity, and care have guided every stage of growth. We explore what it really takes to scale in Canadian retail, why strong brand foundations matter, and how owning both brand and distribution creates strategic advantage.
We also touch on Peter’s commitment to mental health advocacy and why resilience, people-first leadership, and open conversations about well-being are essential for long-term success in today’s food industry.

This episode offers insight not just into building great products, but into building a brand that stands for something. Whether you’re a food entrepreneur, CPG founder, or industry leader, this conversation delivers perspective, inspiration, and practical lessons for the long haul.

https://www.nealbrothersfoods.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nealbrothers/
https://www.facebook.com/NealBrothersFoods
https://www.linkedin.com/company/neal-brothers-foods/about/

https://jonlucaneal.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/jonlucaneal/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jonlucaneal/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-neal-161076202/

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with John Ernst, a next-generation leader from Terra Beata Farms, one of Atlantic Canada’s most recognized cranberry growers and processors. After graduating from the Smith School of Business with a passion for entrepreneurship, John stepped into the family business during a period of rapid growth and hasn’t looked back.

Over the past six years, he has played a key role in expanding Terra Beata’s reach across retail, food service, and export markets, while also contributing to acquisitions and capital projects that continue to shape the company’s future. John’s perspective blends formal business training with hands-on experience in agriculture, manufacturing, and brand development within the agri-food space.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to join a family business at a pivotal moment, how Terra Beata has evolved from a cranberry farm into a value-added food brand, and the realities of scaling operations while staying true to their roots. This episode highlights the balance between tradition and innovation, and what’s required to grow a legacy brand into its next chapter.

Website: https://www.terrabeata.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerraBeataCranberries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrabeatagoodness/

Email: John.Ernst@TerraBeata.ca

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
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Thanks for listening!