Big Mountain Foods, a plant-based foods manufacturer, has received over $1.4M in Canadian federal funding to increase production capacity of its locally-sourced, whole-food alternative proteins. The company says the funds will also help commercialize a new soy-free, chickpea-based tofu.
“Investing in businesses like Big Mountain Foods 2 is establishing Canada’s position as a global leader in this industry”
The investment is part of the AgriInnovate Program, an initiative to support increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian agri-business. With the new funding, Big Mountain plans to add custom, automated robotic equipment to improve production volume and efficiency. The brand will also begin to commercialize a new tofu product made from 100% Canada-grown and milled chickpeas.
Towards that end, the company reveals it is commissioning a Vancouver plant capable of producing up to 2 million pounds of tofu every year.
Using whole foods
Based in British Colombia, Big Mountain Foods is a women-owned and operated brand that produces innovative and vegetable-forward products such as Cauliflower Crumble, Lion’s Mane Mushroom Crumble, and Broccoli Veggie Grounds. In 2022, the brand unveiled soy-free, protein-rich tofu made from fava beans, which it called a first-to-market innovation.
“The new facility is inclusive of upcycling, with a goal to be zero-waste,” said Jasmine Byrne, President of Big Mountain Foods 2 Ltd. “The feedback on the tofu has been very positive, with recent listings in Whole Foods and many other retailers. We are proud to have developed a tofu product that has similar taste, texture and functionality as traditional soy tofu that is higher in protein.”
Establishing leadership
Commenting on the investment, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau said supporting Big Mountain Foods helps strengthen the country’s position as a plant-based protein leader.
“Plant-based foods are growing in popularity as Canadians are increasingly looking for options to incorporate greater variety into their diets,” said Bibeau. “Investing in businesses like Big Mountain Foods 2 is establishing Canada’s position as a global leader in this industry, while increasing consumer choice of alternative protein options.”
