Foodtech Frontier 2025’s winners have collectively created over 1,700 jobs and invested more than $35 million in research and development in the past year. 

GUELPH, ON, October 1, 2025 – Today, the Canadian Food Innovation Network () has unveiled the winners of , the first program in Canada dedicated to spotlighting companies building transformative solutions for the food industry.

Foodtech Frontier marks a new milestone for Canadian foodtech, highlighting 25 fast-growing companies and 10 established leaders tackling critical global challenges in sustainability, food security, health, and supply chain efficiency. 

“Canada’s food sector is under pressure to adapt — groceries are more expensive, manufacturers face supply chain challenges, and small businesses are stretched thin. Yet, our country is also home to some of the most forward-thinking food innovators in the world. With Foodtech Frontier, we’re supporting the growth of these companies to strengthen our economy, create new jobs, and feed more people in a sustainable way,” says Dana McCauley, CEO of CFIN. 

As part of the awards program,  awarded $100,000 each to  and, providing a total of $200,000 in catalytic funding to accelerate their growth and impact.

Beyond funding for Cubbi and Dispension, all of the winners gain national recognition from CFIN and access to a powerful network of potential investors, partners, and customers to accelerate their growth. 

Economic Impact of the Foodtech Frontier 2025

Collectively, these companies are already delivering $440 million in total sales, have invested $35 million in R&D over the past year, employ 1,763 people, and have raised $256 million to date. These metrics highlight the role of Canadian foodtech ventures as economic drivers that invest in innovation and create jobs, positioning the sector as a key contributor to Canada’s competitiveness in the global food economy.

Winners of the Foodtech Frontier 2025

Established Foodtech Leaders

These companies are gaining rapid traction in local and global markets, positioning themselves as emerging leaders with innovative foodtech solutions.

•  (AC) – Sensor-enabled container monitoring systems
• (BC) – Nutrition tracking app built on verified data
•  (BC) – Vacuum-microwave REV™ dehydration technology
•  (BC) – Meal kits with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients
• (BC) – Turn-key freezing and processing systems
• (ON) – Medical nutrition products supporting surgery and recovery
•  (ON) – Closed-loop food waste solution, FoodCycler™
•  (ON) – Tech-enabled food halls for restaurant scale-up
• (ON) – AI-powered hyperspectral imaging for food safety
• (QC) – Stainless-steel sanitary equipment and processing systems for agri-food

Rising Stars

These companies are building innovative solutions for the food industry. While still early in market adoption, they show strong growth potential and are positioned to become future leaders in foodtech.

•  (AB) – All-in-one food service platform for businesses
• (AC) – Upcycling spent coffee grounds into nutritious ingredients
•  (AC) – Automated kiosks for canned beer and ready-to-drink beverages
•  (AC) – Biodegradable active packaging for seafood to prolong shelf life
• (AC) – Clean-label solubility tech for nutrients and adaptogens
• (BC) – Upcycled grape pomace into multi-function ingredients
•  (BC) – Mycelium-based protein ingredients
•  (BC) – Harnessing the power of microbes to develop sustainable solutions for food production, health, and environmental challenges
•  (BC) – AI-enabled seafood traceability and digital workflows
• (MB) – Digital transformation for food manufacturing
• (ON) – AI-powered autonomous robotic kitchens
• (ON) – AI automation for QSR back-of-house
•  (ON) – Reusable packaging platform
•  (ON) – Microscopic BioTags for traceability
•  (ON) – Fresh produce supply for small communities
• (ON) – Farm-to-fork commerce platform for buying and selling local food
• (ON) – Cultivated meat via cellular agriculture
•  (ON) – Scalable bioreactor systems
•  (QC) – AI pathogen identification platform
• (QC) – No-code AR training for manufacturing and industrial industries
• (QC) – Natural anti-Listeria biocontrol solution
• (QC) – Cell-based milk without cows
• (QC) – AIoT for cold chain and logistics
•  (QC) – Autonomous micro-factories for hyperlocal food production
•  (SK) – AI-powered price analytics for retailers

“From cutting-edge processing tools to smart AI solutions keeping our food safe, the companies we’re honouring today show how innovation can help the food industry grow strong in a fast-changing world — all while creating jobs, boosting the economy, and putting Canada on the map as a foodtech leader,” says the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Learn more about the Foodtech Frontier awards and the winners at .

The Foodtech Frontier Awards are made possible through the support of the Government of Canada, BDC, MNP, KPMG, and Redstick Ventures.

FREDERICTON, NB, Oct. 1, 2025 /CNW/ - SmartSkin Technologies, a global leader in manufacturing intelligence, has been named one of Canada's 10 Established Foodtech Leaders in the inaugural Foodtech Frontier 25, presented by the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN).

Foodtech Frontier 25 celebrates the most innovative and impactful food technology companies in Canada. Selected from dozens of applicants across all ten provinces, SmartSkin was recognized for pioneering container twins and a real-time analytics platform that reshape how food and beverage manufacturers manage line performance—reducing breakage, preventing downtime, and advancing zero-defect production.

"Improving productivity is something Canada is trying to unpuzzle in general and it's the key that will unlock growth in the food sector. SmartSkin's innovative container twins and proprietary software help manufacturers save valuable time and money by providing actionable data that helps them improve productivity. Compound this benefit for Canada with the company's strong export success and it's obvious why SmartSkin Technologies earned their spot as an Established Foodtech Leader on CFIN's Foodtech Frontier 25."

— Dana McCauley, CEO, Canadian Food Innovation Network

"SmartSkin is redefining the standard for how modern production lines should operate," said Kumaran Thillainadarajah, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, SmartSkin Technologies. "By embedding container twins into the process, we give manufacturers the intelligence to prevent downtime, cut waste, and achieve zero-defect production. This recognition reflects our team's commitment to helping manufacturers set a new standard for operational excellence."

Thillainadarajah will formally accept the award during the Foodtech Frontier 25 Atlantic Showcase, hosted by CFIN on October 15, 2025, at the Volta Incubator in Halifax, NS.

Zero-Defect Manufacturing: Proven Outcomes for Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical Producers

SmartSkin's container twins and analytics platform are used by 150+ of the world's largest food and beverage plants and by the top pharmaceutical companies globally. Integrated directly into manufacturing operations, SmartSkin delivers real-time process intelligence that pinpoints the sources of container damage, prevents downtime, and drives continuous efficiency improvements—with measurable results, including:

• $180K–$600K in annual savings via reduced downtime, proactive maintenance, and elimination of external service costs.
• Eliminated leakers after changeovers, even with frequent height/diameter adjustments.
• Pinpointed high-risk pressure zones at 1,600 cans/minute, protecting container integrity at maximum line speed.
• 100% reduction in QA holds due to line damage, ensuring uninterrupted production.

These outcomes underscore SmartSkin's role in helping manufacturers achieve flawless execution and advance toward zero-defect production.

33 years of FACHPACK: from conveyor technology manufacturer to automation expert

Life-Act showcases sophisticated system integration

TRAPO celebrated 33 years of presence at FACHPACK: Its portfolio has grown in line with the requirements of the packaging industry. Starting out as a pure conveyor technology company, it has become an expert in intralogistics automation. Today, the think tank from Gescher-Hochmoor is a sought-after partner on equal terms: a system integrator with an enormously extensive product portfolio of its own.

“TRAPO's unique selling point is its automation expertise, both for intralogistics requirements in the production environment and for warehouse logistics. This forms the basis for perfect, smoothly functioning interfaces between production and warehousing,” says Enrico Pes, Managing Director Sales & Operations, confirming the enormously positive feedback from FACHPACK visitors.

In its anniversary year, TRAPO presented the live performance “Dancing with Robots,” which was just as popular as the buzzer that allowed trade fair visitors to request “Sweets for Friends.” TRAPO traditionally serves up complex intralogistics automation layouts with a wink. This time, the performers called for “Rock'n Roll Babe”: two interacting robots that demonstrated perfect carton and crate handling.

The compact class articulated arm robots could not have been more different in terms of performance and tasks:

• A cobot (TCP series) equipped with a suction gripper, which is recommended as an entry-level model for automated palletizing and humanizes workplaces where palletizing and depalletizing are currently still done manually. The exhibit at the trade fair was equipped with a maintenance-friendly suction gripper. Delivered on just two pallets, the collaborative robot can be used flexibly within intralogistics, where its precise palletizing performance is required.
• A high-performance industrial model from the HRS series (High-Speed Robot System) plus fork gripper.

The joint task: palletizing and depalletizing crates and cartons alternately. A task that requires the highest precision, especially when stacking the crates precisely on top of each other. The changeover between full and empty pallets was handled by a flexible robot that operates autonomously in the smallest of spaces.

System integration: Top solutions
for every automation requirement

At the same time, TRAPO demonstrated its expertise as a system integrator with its own smart production portfolio, which is specifically supplemented by specialists for customer-specific solutions. The compact hardware and software systems developed in the TRAPO technical center and installed worldwide are based on a modular system. Thanks to the modular design, there are numerous possibilities for meeting the individual automation requirements of the packaging industry. Integrated into the live demonstration alongside conveyor technology and articulated arm robots was a low-maintenance gripper from Schmalz, plus an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) from partner OMRON, equipped with an AMR top module from supplier MOVELI.

There were also new features for autonomous loading and unloading of trucks with the TLS 3600: the TRAPO loading system basically consists of the autonomously operating vehicle plus dock. The dock plus vehicle is available both as a fixed installation and as a mobile version – mounted on wheels or rails. Consequently, it can be used either as a 1:1 solution or to serve multiple loading hatches.

AI-supported safety tools and
software for precise positioning

Numerous meetings had already been arranged in the run-up to the trade fair – and the TRAPO team was impressed by the quality of the visitors, including those who dropped by spontaneously. The sales team showcased these capabilities at the TRAPO Experience Hubs, exclusive lounges where interactive presentations and real-world videos provided compelling answers to the top topics in individual automation.

Also on display: TRAPO's own palletizing software, TRAPO Pack, for freely selectable stacking patterns that can be configured by the user and saved for subsequent palletizing processes. This is a fundamental contribution to the packaging industry, as perfect layer formation and palletizing help to proactively save packaging materials.

TIM, the TRAPO Intelligent ME system, offers transparency thanks to image recognition and new safety tools. The 3D coordinates collected by TIM from cameras in machines and systems are transmitted to the robot control system and used for evaluations of ME systems and services such as predictive maintenance.

At the end of a successful trade fair, the TRAPO team is now tackling the development and implementation of customized automation solutions for newly acquired contacts and existing customers!

Winnipeg, MB, Sept. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Protein Industries Canada announced five projects focused on expanding the availability or use of Canadian-grown and -processed ingredients. Part of the Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain program, the projects will provide Canadian families with a wider selection of locally made food options, while also ensuring a more secure domestic food supply.

“The resilience and success of our agrifood supply chain are vital to Canada’s economy,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “By harnessing the potential of Canadian crops and ingredients through innovation, Protein Industries Canada is helping to overcome trade-related challenges while ensuring access to high-quality, locally sourced food and creating lasting economic opportunities from coast to coast.”

“Our farmers and producers work tirelessly to produce reliable, high-quality food. By including more homegrown ingredients in the products Canadians buy every day, these projects will support our farmers, strengthen our economy, and help keep our food system strong and secure in the face of global uncertainty,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

“Protein Industries Canada has been an invaluable partner pushing innovation and competitiveness in Canadian plant-based protein and today’s announcement promises to unlock even more of our agrifood’s sector’s immense growth potential. By helping companies use local crops, we cut shipping costs, keep supply chains close to home, and create good jobs in rural communities,” said the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development.

Launched in response to concerns around trade-related tension, the Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain program will help Canadian agrifood companies use more Canadian products, lessening reliance on imports. This means a more resilient domestic supply chain, with more food products made with Canadian ingredients, for Canadians.

“By supporting Canadian companies in finding innovative solutions to tariffs and other trade challenges, our Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain program is helping keep Canada competitive in the global food market,” Protein Industries Canada Board Chair Tyler Groenveld said. “The development of these new, Canadian-sourced and -processed ingredients and food products is more than an opportunity to utilize more Canadian crops here at home. It’s an opportunity for Canada to come closer to seizing its $25 billion agrifood potential, strengthening our economy, creating new jobs and securing our domestic food supply chain.”

The five projects announced today span Canada’s agrifood sector, representing companies from Ontario and British Columbia, and the ingredient manufacturing and food processing industries. The new ingredients, foods and beverage commercialized as a result will boost the use of Canadian protein crops, supporting farmers while offering families across the country a wider variety of options at the grocery store.

Examples of the products that will be launched as a result of these projects include:

• Earth’s Own Foods will be transitioning its US-based soybean supply to source directly from Canada, creating a fully Canadian soy-based beverage and providing consumers with a great tasting, high-protein Canadian-produced dairy alternative.
• Oat & Mill is replacing their US-sourced pea protein with new Canadian protein ingredients, supporting local farmers while improving the sustainability of their products.
• Cedar Valley Selections is reformulating their pita chips to include Canadian pulses, reducing the chips’ oil absorption during production to create a healthier, more sustainable snack for Canadian families to enjoy.

A total of $1.3 million has been invested into the five projects, with Protein Industries Canada committing $615,000 and the companies committing the remainder. Information about each of the companies and their projects is available in the attached backgrounder.

Attachments:

backgrounder-supplychainprojects.pdf

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