Hiruy Girmay founded 13 SUNS Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine, an Ethiopian eatery that serves traditional and fusion vegan dishes inspired by East African recipes. Its 100% plant-based kitchen follows sustainable practices for a greener planet and healthy lifestyle. The restaurant aims to make Ethiopian cuisine more accessible to Ontario customers while educating them on the rich history behind Ethiopian cuisine and culture.Their inaugural product is BerbèQ Sauce, which embodies the flavours of berberé spice blends but is versatile enough to be used on almost anything, from pasta to salads, burgers, soups, stews, and much more. It's the first in the market, proudly representing a large East African population within the Greater Toronto Area. Learn more about 13 SUNS Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine at https://www.13sunscafe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/13sunsvegan/

Adesholaju Omoniyi-Alabi founded Beta Foods in Ottawa, inspired by her love of cooking Nigerian food. Seeing no representation of her West African food in the mainstream grocery store, she wanted to bring jollof rice to the masses. The celebrated time-consuming dish, which usually takes 2-3 hours to cook from scratch, is reduced to 30 minutes using a BetaFood sauce base. Learn more about BetaFood at www.betafood.ca

Professionally trained accountant turned holistic nutritionist and herbalist, Dola Jibodu founded Natritional Wellness Co., a premium, small-batch food producer. They use ancestral cooking techniques and recipes to create gut-healing bone broths and wholesome animal fats. The result is the best alternative to home-cooked, locally sourced, organic foods that are flavourful, nourishing, and delicious. Shipping is available across Canada via www.natritionalwellness.ca.

Clinton Redhead is the co-founder of The Sea Moss Guy Inc., a 100% wildcrafted, naturally harvested, and sun-dried product from the Caribbean Sea. Sea moss is a nutrient-dense algae that holds 90% of the minerals and vitamins our bodies need for proper function. With products sold in both dried and their famous tasteless pre-made sea moss gel, each provides customers with accessible and affordable options to live a healthy lifestyle. Learn more about The Sea Moss Guy Inc. at www.mossupyourlife.ca.

Moss Thrive is a family-run business with co-founder and matriarch Dianne Thompson at the helm. Interested in improving people's health using natural products and ingredients, the family, based in Ottawa, began creating sea moss products. https://www.instagram.com/mossthrive/

HealX Foods founder and CEO Biola Oluwajuyigbe believes that "Fast Food doesn't have to be unhealthy." Using vegetables as their base ingredient, Healx Foods makes satisfying and healthy food products comparable in taste, flavour, and texture to the original version. Their Cauliflower French Fries and Cauliflower Tortilla Chips are natural, vegan, gluten-free, and free of additives or artificial gum. Learn more about HealX Foods at www.healxfoods.com.

Chantelle Selkridge is the socially conscious mompreneur of Rooted Bush Tea, a Caribbean wellness company that makes small-batch, pesticide-free, loose-leaf herbal teas. Honouring the traditional and therapeutic properties of tea through ancestral healing, Rooted Bush Tea features herbs such as blue vervain, sarsaparilla, lemongrass, soursop and moringa in their ingredient list. Learn more about Rooted Bush Tea at www.rootedbushtea.ca

The Greenhouse Eatery is a small organic family-run farm founded by Audrey McDonald. It prides itself on producing high-quality produce and products while educating the public about local food initiatives, environmental stewardship, and reducing carbon footprint. Their hero crop is black garlic, which is grown and caramelized in their facility. They produce a delicious black garlic gourmet dressing, black garlic powder, and caramelized black garlic all on their own. Learn more about The Greenhouse Eatery at https://the-greenhouse-eatery.square

Michael Burgess is the founder and CEO of Nerpy's Inc., an all-natural, gluten-free, vegan hot sauce and seasoning company. Known for its heat and flavour, Nerpy uses Scotch Bonnet Peppers as a critical ingredient. Their hot sauces can be used on various foods, such as pasta, curries, eggs, and even beverages like Caesars. Their seasonings can double as marinates for chicken, lamb, tofu, chickpeas, seafood, and many more. Nerpy's products are available in many retailers across the GTA, including Metro and Sobeys, and online at www.nerpys.ca. Nice It Up!

A talented musician, Deneeck Hibbert added food entrepreneur to his list of interests when he founded Plant Bias. This innovative vegan catering company provides a high-quality, nourishing, plant-based experience through meal prep, tasting parties, and specialty products such as soups and salad dressing. Follow his journey on TikTok @Guac2menice

Chef Christopher Loney founded Honey Guru Inc., an e-commerce food business specializing in handcrafted sauces, pure Honey, and flavoured /herb-infused Honey. Their all-natural handcrafted gourmet Honey Bar-B Jerk Sauce blends Jamaican flavours with the sweetness of local Ontario honey, capturing a taste that is anything but traditional.

Made in small batches, the Ketcha Fyah Pepper Sauce captures the vibrant tropical flavour of Jamaica with Pineapple and spices to create a refreshingly unique island hot sauce. The !Triple Treat Honey is infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise, a flavour combination perfect for sauces, glazes, pastries, and more. The Honey Immune Booster is a spoonful of sugar needed to help the medicine go down. Combining garlic, ginger, rosemary, and mint with a touch of mint has positive immunity benefits that can ease digestion, especially when paired with hot liquids. The Fusion Fire Honey is infused with the sweet aroma of Scotch Bonnet Peppers and tantalizing Chile flakes. Purchase products at www.honey-Guru.com.

With over 20 years in the industry, chef Kareema Beckles has launched Caribbean Gourmet Spring Rolls, a delicious fusion take on a classic appetizer. Chef Kareema's Gourmet Caribbean Spring Rolls are the perfect vehicle for island nostalgia, featuring ackee, boiled saltfish, and seasonings wrapped and frozen. Enjoy these tasty snacks, deep-fried or baked. Learn more by following @iamchefkareema

Hajia Mama Foods is a small-batch, female-owned food company that sources its main ingredients from Ghana. As a busy working mom juggling a career and family, founder Farouza Gumery wanted to create pantry staples that would make cooking in the kitchen easy and efficient. Inspired by her Ghanaian roots, her line includes gluten-free sauces and porridge mixes. The hero product, Hausa Koko, is an aromatic, lightly spiced porridge mix made from fermented millet grains, which are naturally gluten-free and nutrient-dense. Shop Hajia Mama Foods products and try out recipes at www.hajiamamafoods.com.

Milton Foods—Galt Bakery is a health-focused snacking company proud to give gluten-free a good name! Inspired by her own health struggles with gluten and dairy, entrepreneur Felicia Lekan-Salami acquired Galt Bakery in 2020. When Felicia felt the improvements in her health, she knew she had to share this with her community.

Operating in the heart of Galt, Ontario, these handmade snacks feature 7 SKUs, including baked cookies, crackers, bars, and pies. They use only high-quality organic and non-GMO ingredients that we can pronounce. Galt Bakery products are sold at Sobeys, independent retailers across Ontario and Costco. https://www.galtbakery.com/

Chef Jai Bittles, founder of Spike Your Food Inc., makes Caribbean-fusion comfort food, specializing in cocktail patties with more filling than dough.

By putting a unique spin on classic food favourites and combining them with different cultures, the chef creates flavours as diverse as the people of Toronto!

He prides himself on producing handmade patties that are flavour and texture-forward. Minimal to no ground meat or breadcrumb fillers are used in production; only halal beef and chicken are used, echoing a new standard for Jamaican patties. Learn more about Spike Your Food at https://spikeyourfood.com/

Kadeisha Richards is a talented chocolatier who creates chocolate and pastry creations for dessert enthusiasts. Koko Chu's brand aims to challenge the public's view of chocolate as a commercialized, cheap, sweet treat. Using ingredients such as tree nuts, teas, and fruits, Kadeisha fuses unique flavour combinations with chocolate made from diverse origins. Find out more about Koko Chu at https://koko-chu.square.site/

Kalmplex is a dynamic multimedia visual artist and CEO of Kalmplex Snax, a vegan, gluten-free dried fruit experience with no added sugar or preservatives. Focused on creating healthy snacks, Kalmplex uses dehydrated fruit such as pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc. and tops them with a spicy miso chilli glaze. https://www.instagram.com/kalmplexsnax/

Karen Dawkins founded Any Reason to Bake, a female-owned dessert company based in Milton, Ontario, featuring custom-made-to-order cakes & sweets for every occasion. Inspired by their mother's recipe, Karen specializes in Jamaican black rum cake and is the creator of their beloved Black cake donuts. https://www.instagram.com/anyreasontobake/

Chef Marc Kusitor, founder of Choptime Catering, has over ten years of experience in the food industry. Pikliz is his first product. He was inspired to make it after seeing a need for Haitian products in grocery stores. Pikliz is a spicy Haitian cabbage condiment similar to kimchi or sauerkraut. The cabbage is finely chopped and mixed with onions, carrots and hot peppers; the mixture is then pickled with vinegar, citrus juices and other dried spices to bring out a tangy, acidic and umami flavour that compliments almost any meal. The crunchy components are perfect for burgers, sandwiches, soups, and rice dishes. The pickled liquid can make Aioli, Marinades, or cocktails like Caesars, Bloody Marys, and Spicy Margaritas.https://www.instagram.com/choptimecatering/

Michael Mosuwaifo is the proud founder of Naija 2 Kanata, operating as House of Tigernut. This black-owned Toronto-based food company is excited about promoting global sustainability using tigernuts, striving for zero waste, fair trade and ethical sourcing.

Tigernuts are vegan, lactose, gluten, and nut-free. They are classified as tubers (not nuts) and are rich in fibre, vitamin E, calcium, and other essential vitamins and nutrients. This beverage, processed into a creamy milk alternative, is suitable for tea, coffee, and cereal or enjoyed over ice. The pulp from the milk is excellent flour for baking bread and other pastries. For more information, please visit www.houseoftigernut.com

Mmbatho Mtimkulu founded Selina's Tea, an authentic South African tea brand based in Ottawa, Ontario, named after her grandmother. Hailed as 'a hug in a mug from grandma,' her teas also share in grandma's ethos: full of warmth and character flavour. They aim to showcase fair-trade and Indigenous foods and experiences from Africa; they currently offer Rooibos tea, a unique South African blend. https://www.instagram.com/bathoandco/

Muna Mohammed founded Eight50 Coffee, an Ontario-based, purpose-driven coffee company with deep roots in Ethiopia. Named in honour of the year coffee was discovered (850 AD) and to pay homage to coffee's birthplace and its founder (Ethiopia), Eight50 Coffee was born. To enhance the home coffee brewing experience, they provide an array of online coffee learning tools, premium-quality coffee equipment, and curated artisan textiles that are high-quality, functional, and meaningful—made in countries where they source coffee. Their products are available online and in Sobeyes across the province. Learn more at https://eight50coffee.com

Chef Rachel Adjei founded The Abibiman Project to celebrate the diverse and unique flavours of the African continent. She offers uniquely crafted pantry products, allowing customers to transform their homes into authentic African kitchens. Her spice blends spotlight the palates of specific regions, such as Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa, and honour the stories and flavours of those who created them. Learn more about Chef Rachel https://www.theabibimanproject.com

Resa Solomon-St. Lewis is a Chemical Engineer, an award-winning Chef and the Founder of Baccanalle, a Caribbean Lifestyle foods company. Based in Ottawa, Chef Resa offers artisan options that suit various lifestyles, such as Halal, vegan, gluten-free and more.

She uses her unique professional training to explore and create products that are deeply connected to her West-Indian culture, such as her Cranberry-Sorrel (Hibiscus) Compote, Roasted Tomato Choka Sauce, and Rum and Raisins Butter Tart. Learn more about Baccanalle at www.baccanalle.com

Tombra Muje, founder of Tonyé Munchies, is one smart cookie! Inspired by baking shows, she embarked on a mission to make chin chin, a well-loved West African crunchy cookie, healthier than its traditionally fried counterpart.

By baking these hand-cut party snacks, she offers a unique texture experience with the same great taste as the original method. Currently available in Vanilla, Coconut, Coconut Chili, Chocolate and now Chocolate Chip, these and other delicious baked goods are custom-made to order in Toronto, ON. Learn more about Tonyé Munchies at tonye.munchies@gmail.com

Chap Chap Snacks founder Tetia Bayoro began her business to help her community tap into nostalgia one small bite at a time. Inspired by childhood snacks found in the Ivory Coast, Chap Chap Snacks is designed to celebrate the fusion of food, fond memories, and a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Their 14 SKUs include chocolates, pastries, dried fruit, nut butter, and chips. They believe cultural fusion creates a beautiful tapestry that reflects the beauty in our differences. Start your journey at www.chapchapsncaks.com