THE NEW WAVE
The world is changing, and that includes our food. Climate change, pressure on our resources, and growing consumer awareness are forcing producers to innovate, prioritizing wellness, sustainability and ethical practices along the way.
By rethinking kitchen staples and ingredients and offering fresh approaches to supply and demand, these Canadian companies are leading the way.
Balzac’s Coffee Roasters
Female-led coffee company Balzac’s Coffee Roasters was the vision of president and founder Diana Olsen, who spent 18 months in France after graduating and was inspired by the celebration and tradition of coffee there. She wanted to bring the same experience home to Canada, and in 1993 she travelled to San Francisco to learn the craft of coffee roasting and bean selection at the West Coast Specialty Coffee Training Institute. In 1996, the first Balzac’s café opened, in Stratford, Ontario. There are now 14 locations across the province.
Continuously committed to reducing its environmental impact, Balzac’s roasts beans using an eco-friendly roaster that reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent. “Local,” “natural,” “sustainable” and “artisanal” are the four cornerstones of the company’s business practices, and as such Balzac’s uses 100 percent organic and local dairy products; fair-trade organic cocoa, sugar and espresso coffee; and organic local juices, apple cider and maple syrup. Chosen tea brand Kusmi Tea uses biodegradable tea bags made from natural corn fibre. Guests can also
