Southwest Food Innovation Summit fuels growth for Ontario agri-food entrepreneurs

Designed to help small to medium agri-food companies grow their businesses, the Southwest Food Summit was held on Tuesday. Gerry Dewan reports.

The region’s burgeoning agri-food sector received a significant boost Tuesday as the 2026 Southwest Food Innovation Summit convened at The Grove, an agri-food business incubator located within the Western Fair District.

The summit, held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., brought together more than 250 entrepreneurs, industry leaders and supporting agencies with the core mission of fostering business growth for small and medium-sized enterprises utilizing Ontario-grown products.

Organizers emphasized the event’s role in nurturing the local food ecosystem and highlighting the importance of collaboration.

“Summits like this help provide that fodder that continues to grow these companies and help achieve scale, create employment and economic impact,” stated Kapil Latotia, president of the London Economic Development Corporation, noting London’s recent success in attracting international agri-food businesses, and underscoring the parallel importance of cultivating homegrown talent.

“It’s like the perfect recipe,” Latotia explained. “None of these ingredients work in isolation. So, we need the infrastructure, the workforce capacity, the innovation culture and so much more for all these companies to come together and create an ecosystem of support that makes London shine in terms of our food and beverage scene.”

The Grove, serving as the summit’s host, exemplifies this supportive environment, housing innovative startups like Peacasa Snacks. Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer Victor Courarie-Delage shared the company’s remarkable trajectory, adapting a chickpea recipe from the south of France.

“My heritage is from the south of France, so I loved the simplicity of the meal from the stock and wanted to bring it back to Canada,” Courarie-Delage explained.

Since launching in late 2022, Peacasa Snacks has experienced substantial growth, with major national expansions on the horizon.

“We actually have some big news,” Courarie-Delage announced. “We’re launching in Walmart nationally in August, and we’re launching Costco roadshows in July and September.”

He attributed much of their success to the mentorship and guidance received at The Grove and from other business agencies, noting that “Some of those mentors ended up becoming investors, actually, and helping us develop new products. Other ones helped us a lot with regulations and navigating the whole food compliance side.”

The summit also featured a keynote address from Emily O’Brien, CEO and founder of Comeback Snacks, a specialty popcorn company with a powerful social mission.

O’Brien shared her unconventional journey, which began after serving a four-year federal prison sentence. Driven by a desire for a fresh start, she experimented with popcorn recipes during her incarceration, eventually launching her business and prioritizing the hiring of individuals with prior convictions.

“Marketing and ad people. If you want someone to open a letter, send it from prison,” O’Brien quipped to the audience, illustrating the unique approach that led to her success.

Her business has expanded to more than 1,200 retail locations across Canada and the U.S., and she continues to advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding former inmates.

“You just have to believe. Believe in yourself,” O’Brien urged attendees, emphasizing perseverance in the face of adversity.

Attendees participated in networking sessions, tradeshows and breakout discussions covering topics such as market readiness, marketing strategies, co-packing and investment.

The event also included the ‘Flourish Award’ competition, designed to showcase new food and beverage products. Organizers expressed their intent to expand the summit in the coming year, further solidifying London’s position as a key hub in Ontario’s vibrant food and beverage landscape.