GFBYGF is an online snack boutique which provides tasty, quality, and beautiful treats founded by Gaelle Fodjo and inspired by her faith in God. Rooted in sharing with the community, Gaelle specializes in making CHIN CHIN, a popular west African snack made of lightly sweetened dough fried and cut into different shapes. While typically associated with Nigeria, the Cameroon native learned how to make these snacks from her mother, who would prepare them for religious and celebratory events throughout the year. GFBYGF chin chins are perfect as a topper on ice cream or yogurt, in a salad as a sweet crouton on its own, or as a satisfying crunchy snack.

Janelle Jordan is the Founder and Chief Protein Officer of Fusion Fit Foods. While working as a personal trainer and nutrition coach over the years, she heard clients tell her about their struggles with cravings for high-sugar and sodium snacks, which interfered with their health goals. This inspired her to create a snacking solution that was delicious and nutritious to satisfy both their inner foodie and align with a healthier eating lifestyle. After diving deeper into holistic and nutrition studies, Janelle created protein-rich, plant-based, macro-friendly snacks for the “fit foodie” — an epicurean who values and aspires towards living a holistically healthy lifestyle, particularly nourishing the body with natural, whole foods high on flavour, yet low in SOS ingredients (sugar, oils, salt). In addition to its health factors, Janelle is also committed to using eco-friendly, sustainable packaging for her products.

Evis Chirowamhangu grew up as the sixth of nine children in a township called Nyanga, north east of the capital city of Zimbabwe. Her mom was a teacher, and in Zimbabwe, teachers get paid only once a month. It was always a special time in her household. Once in a while, her mom would buy a meat pie as a treat. She would cut it into nine pieces to make sure each child got a taste. And that taste stayed with her all these years. When she moved to Canada, she couldn't find anything like Zimbabwean meat pies on the market. Remembering how it tasted; so delicious, so flaky, just gooey, savoury goodness. So she set out to make one. Evis experimented and cooked up a storm – she even got spices directly from Zimbabwe – until she achieved that unforgettable flavour. And knew she had to share it with more people. That’s how Mnandi was born. It’s a little piece of Zimbabwe, made with love.

Hoping to join the ranks of other gluten-free grains such as quinoa, amaranth and millet, Fatimatou Barry is bringing Fonio to Canada Originally from Guinea, Fatimatou moved to North America and longed for the taste of fonio in her diet. She began importing the healthy rice substitute for herself and, in 2019, launched Tchelal Foods with her sister. From there, the pair began to process the grain in alternative celiac-friendly formats, including fonio flour. Its nutty flavour lends itself well to baked goods making it a great all-purpose flour substitute for making pancakes, muffins, bread, and much more. This African seed which has been dubbed the 'world’s fastest-growing grain' is the perfect side dish, in soups, stews, stir-fries, and salads.

Never run out of flavour again! Tameika Laing is the hot sauce connoisseur and culinary genius behind Meika’s. Her Jamaican and Trinidadian heritage makes her no stranger to the distinctive flavours, spices and salts synonymous with West Indian food. As a Humber Collage culinary alum, her products are the result of the masterful blending of herbs and spices that excite the palate, organically enhancing the taste of food. Influenced by world travel and culinary secrets learned from various cultures, Meika’s is infused with what makes food sumptuous all over the world. She strongly advocates for healthy living and natural and wholesome food, not the man-made processed fare that masquerades as nourishment today. A strong family foundation, as well as an appreciation of the integral part that great food plays in building community, makes love the key ingredient in every Meika’s product.

Founded by Nerissa Karacic, World Moss is Canada's first and leading exclusive sea moss company based in Toronto. Sea Moss is a nutrient-dense red algae seaweed that contains over 90% of the minerals from which the human body is made. It is incredibly versatile and, in gel form, can be used topically or in food and drink. Karacic started creating products in 2019 when she kicked off her own health journey. After hearing one of her favourite holistic healers mention the benefits of sea moss, she decided to try it; her experience was so positive that it inspired her to start a business. Captured in its organic, wild form sourced straight from the Caribbean Sea (Jamaica, St. Lucia), Indian Sea (Tanzania, Africa), and Bay of Fundi (New Brunswick, Canada), World Moss provides sea moss gels, sun-dried sea moss, sea moss infused drinks and spices. They connect with locals who source the sea moss, diving, sun drying, and packaging. Once received in a local facility in Toronto, Karacic's team clean the sea moss further and processes it into various products.

As a busy wife and a mother of two, YAWDI’s owner Veneise George always searched for quick, easy, and healthy meal options for her family. YAWDI’s is a collection of versatile, internationally inspired condiments consisting of all-natural premium ingredients without compromising on taste. Available at many retailers, including Sobeys and Loblaws, the line includes mustards, pepper jelly and specialty condiments. Her marinade series was inspired by her passion for travelling and the belief that food never tastes the same once it leaves its country of origin. With this in mind, Yawdi's brand was established and launched with the goal of bringing global tastes to your kitchen!

Inspired by Trinidad's Culinary Culture, Erica's products are tantalizing with Caribbean flavours. Products are handmade using fresh, all natural ingredients with no artificial colours or flavours. Developed using artisan skills and passion of making East and West Indian Condiments in Trinidad and Tobago. Erica's Hot Sauce and Kuchelas were established in 2001 and sold by groceries in Trinidad. In July 2018 Erica's Authentic Caribbean Foods re-established in Toronto, Canada with three signature products; Hot Pepper Sauce, Mango Kuchela and Tamarind Kuchela sold in stores throughout the GTA.

DJL Kreative Kitchen, is a Canadian-based brand with a Caribbean flavour that creates high-quality products while aiming to change the way people see food.

Vanilla & Spice is a Black-female-owned business which works directly with small farmers in Madagascar to offer Canadians the most sought-after vanilla beans in the world. Co-founders Nomena and Aina are childhood friends born in Madagascar who made Toronto their home 15 years ago. In 2019, Nomena travelled back to Madagascar and met small vanilla growers seeking to enlarge their horizons. Big importing corporations from North America work mostly with large producers who dominate the export market. The biggest challenges faced by small growers are geographical distance, the language barrier and cultural differences. Seeing an opportunity to support small vanilla growers and bridge the gap, the two women decided to launch Vanilla & Spice. Their products are available for retail at www.vanillaandspice.ca or wholesale via 100km Foods.

Robyn is a passionate baker and the founder of R.J.'s Sweets 'n Stories. After a life-changing car accident left her struggling with depression and anxiety, Robyn found solace in the kitchen and turned her love of baking into a business. In 2020, she left her career as a college professor to follow her dreams and start R.J.'s Sweets 'n Stories, fusing her Jamaican culture and French, German, and Italian influences in baking.

With vegan and gluten-free options for cakes, and cupcakes, Robyn's treats are more than just delicious – they come with a quote or story to inspire and encourage others on their journey toward positivity. She knows firsthand the power of small reminders to believe in oneself and chase one's dreams and wants to share that with her customers. At R.J.'s Sweets 'n Stories, stories and treats are no longer guilty pleasures but the start of a journey toward motivation and self-improvement.

R.J.'s Sweets 'n Stories products are available online at www.rjssweetsnstories.com.

Shante has always had a passion for baking (thanks mom!) and wanted to turn her passion project into a business, so she spent all of 2020 recipe testing, developing and sourcing the best quality plant-based ingredients. She had countless all-nighters trying to figure out how she could create 'better for you' cookies that still tasted amazing.

Today, she is proud to say that she has created a variety of delicious vegan cookie flavours that not only have a great texture, are flavourful but most importantly incorporate quality ingredients that you can feel good about eating. She absolutely loves creating these vegan treats and having others experience them too.

Their mission is to help people make smarter nutrition choices as they go about their busy lives. Nutra Delight shakes can be incorporated into most adult diets, even those that are restrictive. They are dairy free, vegan, gluten free, keto-friendly, lactose free and contain no added sugar. Best of all they contain ingredients you will feel proud about putting into your body - top quality organic ingredients plus 26 essential vitamins and minerals.

Started in 2020, Robinson Sauces is an homage to owner Robert’s family name featuring fruit-based sauces and dry rubs.

Chef Karen Pringle founded Hummingbird Patties in 2019; a plant-based online shop serving vegan Jamaican patties to the GTA. These made-to-order patties feature a scratch-made pastry filled with various plant-based flavours: black bean and squash, spinach & cauliflower, curry chickpeas and potatoes and their best seller spicy lentil. Her patties can be ordered frozen from their website or purchased ready-to-eat at various events throughout the city.

Looking to create a more inclusive social experience for non-drinkers, entrepreneur Juliana Nwanali founded Dadumie Mocktail in 2021. Named for her daughters, Nwanali's focus is to create a variety of experiences by crafting signature mocktails, each with its own unique flavour. The line is entirely non-alcoholic and ready to drink from the bottle; poured over ice or frozen and crushed in a blender.

One More Cocoa started as an idea that blossomed into the sweet factory built by chocolatier Kenesha Lewis. Inspired by the Jamaican Proverb One, one coco full basket, a reminder that success cannot be achieved overnight, Lewis persevered with her dream and opened her first retail shop in Whitby in 2021. Her creations satisfy chocolate traditionalists with 60% Venezuelan Dark Chocolate, milk and white bars as well as tickle your inner child with unlikely flavours such as cereal, eggnog and birthday cake. Offering creative and delicious products while incorporating her Jamaican heritage, Lewis collaborates with fellow entrepreneurs to produce unique experiences for her customers.

Infusing flavours from her home country of Jamaica, Suddie’s Kitchen founder Sherine Sutherland creates custom island teams year-round. As a hotel and hospitality worker, she was laid off for six months during the pandemic and decided to use that time to launch her business. She is proud of her strong Jamaican heritage and specializes in making sweets that reflect her culture such as black cakes, sweet potato pudding, and cornmeal pudding.

Not just the heat, but the flavah! A native to the island of Dominica, Antoinette Charles-Owen (affectionately known as Nettie) began her journey as an entrepreneur later in life by chance. Nettie’s Nah Joke Hot Peppersauce originated in her kitchen in 2013 due to a bountiful harvest from a few hot pepper plants she had found at her local nursery and planted in her kitchen garden. Not one to waste food, she put her love for cooking to work and made her first batch of pepper sauce. Using the ingredients from her garden reminded her of her fondly of her own mother growing up. Over the years, she has fine-tuned her recipe and developed three deliciously hot flavours: Original, Mango Tango, Merry Cranberry and a fourth flavour on the way. The name 'Nah Joke' comes from a common Jamaican saying inspired by her husband, which means 'Serious' Peppersauce.

Starting a brand, as an immigrant-black woman, in one of Canada's most challenging industries (meat production) is no small task, but for Balkisu Aliyy, it was a way to connect with her culture. A popular street snack from Western Africa, kilishi is made of a dried form of suya, traditional smoked spiced cow, sheep or goat meat). Missing the great-tasting jerky from her childhood, Balkisu turned to old family recipes and added a few culinary twists. In 2019 Elustra Food Inc was born, and its first product line Kilishi Spicy would be the perfect high-protein snack riveling any beef jerky on the grocery store shelves. The 100% Halal products are available in original spicy, mild, curry and Tandoori flavours, each with a distinct flavour complimented by their signature ingredient, peanut butter.