B.C.’s boldest food innovators take centre stage at the 2025 Rise Awards
Bottom (L-R) Atome Bakery, Lucas Navilloz and Alice Couderc; St. Jean’s Cannery, Steve Hughes; Tocha Foods, Matthew Tong and Viggy Venkat. Photos by Picnic Creative for BCFB.
On November 20, 2025, nearly 400 of British Columbia’s passionate and innovative food and beverage gathered at the Rocky Mountaineer station in Vancouver, B.C. The occasion? BC Food & Beverage’s (BCFB) 18th annual Rise Awards, an event that recognizes the province’s inspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs, products, and processors.
From trailblazing seafood producers to snack visionaries and wine leaders, the evening showcased the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit that defines B.C.’s thriving circular food system.
2025 Rise Awards winners: Showcasing B.C.’s entrepreneurial spirit
An emotional highlight of the evening was the induction of Buy BC Member St. Jean’s Cannery into the BC Food & Beverage Hall of Fame. With more than six decades of excellence in sustainable seafood processing, St. Jean’s continues to be a benchmark for craftsmanship and innovation in B.C.’s coastal food industry.
2025 Rise Awards: Indigenous Led Business of the Year
2025 Rise Awards: Innovation
2025 Rise Awards: Product of the Year (Gold)
Buy BC extends a heartfelt congratulations to all 2025 winners and finalists. This year’s winners reflect the diversity of B.C.’s dynamic food and beverage landscape—from emerging startups redefining their sector to established brands leading with purpose. Among the following 17 Rise Awards winners, 11 are proud Buy BC members.
2025 Rise Awards winners:
- Hall of Fame Inductee – St. Jean’s Cannery (Buy BC)
- Product of the Year (Gold) – SURGE™, VEGAIN Nutrition (Buy BC)
- Product of the Year (Silver) – Bake-from-proof Traditional Sourdough Loaf, Atome Bakery (Buy BC)
- Product of the Year (Bronze) – Tocha Original, Tocha Foods (Buy BC)
- Doug Ramsay Award of Excellence – Karen Flavelle, Purdys Chocolatier
- Best in Brand – SmartSweets
- Emerging Business of the Year – Atome Bakery (Buy BC)
- Innovation – Mountain Munchies Inc. / Enercheez (Buy BC)
- Export – Blume (Buy BC)
- Indigenous Led Business of the Year – Sriracha Revolver (Buy BC)
- Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – Tami Nasu, withinUs™ Natural
- Sustainability – Joosy – Fresh Direct Produce (Buy BC)
- Social Impact – GnuSanté Creations (Buy BC)
- Leadership – Janik Livera, Maverick Estate Winery (Buy BC)
- Circularity – Greater Vancouver Food Bank
- People’s Choice – Purdys Chocolatier
- Outstanding Workplace – Health & Safety – Olympic Dairy, Lactalis
For the full list of 2025 Rise Awards winners and finalists, visit bcfb.ca/rise-awards.
Find the 2024 winners on the Buy BC blog.