Munching on Molecules

Time for another quarterly catch-up with your co-hosts, Christine Farkas, RSE, CRC and Lara Tiro.

In this "snackable" roundup, we share the key moments, industry gatherings, and forward-looking forums that shaped our winter and early spring in food innovation.

From San Francisco to Anaheim, we've been on the ground learning, connecting, and supporting growth across the food and beverage ecosystem. Here's a taste of what we've been up to:

• Trend spotting in full force: Winter Fancy Faire brought us face-to-face with what's next on shelf, including the rise of sensemaxxing and what it signals for product development and positioning.
• Community in action: The CFE Gathering and BCFT Suppliers Night reminded us why in-person connection in this industry is irreplaceable.
• The big shows: SCIFT and ExpoWest , CHFA Vancouver delivered its usual sensory overload of innovation, emerging brands, and category disruption, and we came back with plenty to unpack.
• Founder energy: Jake Karls of Midday Squares at Fasken for a candid conversation on the power of authenticity and storytelling and what it really takes to grow a food business from the ground up.

Looking ahead to Q2, we have a packed conference slate including the Dressings and Sauces Technical Meeting, ThaiFX and the CHFA Ottawa Regulatory Forum.

We have been sitting on some exciting news: Munching on Molecules is approaching its 100th episode! We are planning something special to mark the occasion mid-November. This show exists because of this community, and we want to celebrate that. 

Stay tuned, because this event is going to be worth the wait.

Hit play, grab a snack, and let's set the stage for a strong Q2!

We sit down with Alessio Monterosso, Founder of Ariana Naturals, for a conversation about personal healing, entrepreneurship, and building with purpose.

Founded in Ottawa, Ariana Naturals, started as Alessio’s personal search for solutions while navigating depression. The nationally expanding CPG brand of saffron-based tea products can now be found in 100+ retail stores across Canada.

A few highlights from the episode:

•  From personal struggle to purpose-led brand building

•  Why the right partners matter

•  Scaling with intention

•  A mission bigger than the product

Alessio shares what it really takes to turn personal adversity into entrepreneurial momentum and why building the right team, listening to customers, and staying relentlessly focused on innovation matters. 

Drink Saffron. Be Happy.

Links:

Discover Ariana Naturals at www.ariananaturals.com

Follow Ariana Naturals on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

In this special edition of Munching on Molecules, we’re joined by two members of the CHFA Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs team:

Sonia Parmar, VP, Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations

Jules Gorham, Sr. Director, Government Relations & Quebec Affairs

We get a sneak peek into the CHFA Ottawa Regulatory Forum, happening May 26–27, 2026. This immersive, standalone event brings CHFA members and industry face-to-face with policymakers, regulators, and key decision-makers.

The CHFA Ottawa Regulatory Forum is a chance for business leaders, Health Canada executives, and advocacy champions to share lessons learned, meet in the moment, and look to the future.

In this episode, we talk about:

- Why the Regulatory Forum creates space for meaningful dialogue, stronger industry alignment, and future-focused conversations. A can't miss opportunity for brands of all sizes.

- How CHFA supports members in navigating natural health product (NHP) regulations and compliance to foster growth in Canada.

- Important sessions, including the latest report from SafetyCall International, exploring how NHP safety outcomes compare internationally and what the data reveals about product risk, regulatory oversight, and enforcement approaches.

If you’re flying in early, don’t miss the wellness and networking activities on May 26, including:

🚴 Bike ride through Gatineau Park / 5KM Rideau Canal walk

🏛️ Supreme Court Tour

🛥️ Ottawa River boat cruise

Tune in for the insider’s guide to the CHFA Ottawa Regulatory Forum and why this moment matters now more than ever.

Online registration is open and closes on May 12: ⁠https://chfa.ca/event/2026-chfa-ottawa-regulatory-forum/

What if sustainability wasn’t just about packaging, sourcing, and supply chains, but also about creating healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces?

We sit down with Jennifer de Vera of Dawson College, whom we first met at CHFA Vancouver, for a fresh conversation on what it means to take a more human-centered approach to sustainability.

Jenn shares her journey from entrepreneur to sustainability leader. After 16 years founding and operating Ethan’s Playground, a successful pre-school in Montreal, she now helps drive Dawson​'s Office of Sustainability movement, supporting volunteers, nurturing campus gardens, and helping build community across all levels of education.

We also explore Jenn’s upcoming speaking engagement at the CHFA Regulatory Forum (May 26 & 27, 2026), where she’ll challenge attendees to think beyond the usual sustainability conversation.

Her session reframes sustainability through an institutional and systems lens, bringing sustainable practices into the workplace to support happiness, health, and productivity.

Jenn also explains what it means to be a Sustainable Happiness Facilitator, where she finds inspiration in this work, and how collaborating with students has helped shape stronger programs and deeper community connection.

It’s part sustainability rethink, part community-building story, and part invitation to imagine systems that help people thrive.

Links:

Dawson College, Office of Sustainability: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/about-us/meet-our-team/

CHFA Regulatory Forum, May 26 & 27, 2026: https://chfa.ca/event/2026-chfa-ottawa-regulatory-forum/

What happens when a supplements skeptic ends up leading a Canadian natural health company with clinically backed, patented ingredients? In this episode of Munching on Molecules, we sit down with Michael Bentley, President of SierraSil® Health Inc., to talk about leadership, credibility, and the role of natural health products in Canada.

We interviewed Michael live on location at the Multivac Innovation Center after first meeting him at CHFA Vancouver, where his topical spray drew us into the SierraSil booth. With experience across personnel and safety, sales and marketing, and operations management, Michael brings a wide-ranging perspective to both business leadership and the natural health sector.

Michael shares how he went from being a "supplement skeptic"  to taking the reins at SierraSil, and what he has learned along the way. We also get into SierraSil’s three product lines, the importance of Canada’s natural health industry, and a few personal stories, including his first Sun Run (after quitting running due to sore knees).

In this episode, we discuss:

• Michael’s path from supplements skeptic to President of SierraSil®

• What sets SierraSil® apart and an overview of its three product lines

• Why Canada’s natural health industry plays such an important role

• Michael’s reflections on leadership, including taking the reins at SierraSil

This episode offers an insightful look at leadership, credibility, and innovation in Canada’s natural health sector.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on natural health innovation, industry leadership, and the unexpected paths that shape a career.

Learn more about:

SierraSil® Health Inc.: https://sierrasil.com

Canadian Health & Fitness Institute: https://chfi.fit

Canadian National Health and Fitness Day: June 6, 2026

Let's Move Canada Challenge: https://letsmovecanada.com

What does it look like to build a proudly Canadian snack brand from a farmers’ market table all the way to owning your own production facility?

In this episode, we sit down with Sheena Russell, Founder & CEO of Made with Local, for a behind-the-scenes conversation on building a CPG brand rooted in real food, local sourcing, and a whole lot of persistence.

Made with Local started at a farmers’ market in 2012, with Sheena selling bars made with simple ingredients that actually tasted good. People bought them, loved them, and kept coming back. In this episode, Sheena shares the journey from those early market days, to working with a contract manufacturer, to eventually building her own manufacturing facility just north of Halifax.

As an East Coast–based brand with deep roots in locally sourced Canadian ingredients, Made with Local stands out for more than just its products. Sheena opens up about the realities of launching and scaling a food business, the challenges of manufacturing, and what it means to stay committed to your values while growing a brand in today’s CPG landscape.

We get into:

• Starting at the farmers’ market and learning directly from early customers

• The transition from handmade production to working with a contract manufacturer.

• What it took to build and operate a manufacturing facility in Nova Scotia

It’s part founder story, part manufacturing journey, part CPG reality check, and fully grounded in what it takes to build a brand that’s made in Canada and made with purpose.

MADE WITH LOCAL

In this recap episode, Munching on Molecules looks back on Expo 2026 to capture the energy, standout conversations, and biggest trends & themes shaping the future of food.

From emerging brand innovations to sharp insights on product development, ingredient trends, and what it really takes to stand out in today’s CPG landscape, this episode highlights the ideas and momentum coming out of the show floor.

Listen in for our key takeaways, the trends, products, and conversations that left a lasting impression.

Brands we interviewed:

Aelo

Kessho

Dr. Bee

Little Latke

Living Tree Foods

O'kra

Anne's Toum

River Valle Specialty Farms

The Lucky Ox

Mamame

Purplesful Snacking

Smolbol

Whims Delight

A special thank you to the brands who graciously gifted swag (see the very end) and samples along the way. Your generosity added an extra layer of fun to the experience and gave us even more to explore beyond the booth conversations.

Sunshine Buns

Wildwonder

Maazah

Females in Food

Wedderspoon

Host Defense Mushrooms

Yumi

Jonny Pops

If you were at Expo 2026 too, tell us: what brand, booth, or innovation stood out most to you?

We welcome Matthew Skinner, CEO of Wide Open Agriculture (WOA), to explore the business and science behind lupin protein and regenerative food systems.

From a finance career to food entrepreneurship, Matthew’s path into the industry was anything but conventional. Driven by a passion for sustainability, he now leads Wide Open Agriculture, championing lupin as a high-protein, low-impact ingredient with remarkable potential.

In this episode, we discuss:

- What makes lupin protein a nutritional and functional powerhouse.

- The many valorization pathways of lupin that opens the door to novel formats.

- The importance of regenerative agriculture in building resilient supply chains

- Why consumer education is key to lupin’s future success

This episode offers a timely look at innovation rooted in sustainability and regenerative food systems. 

 Learn more about Wide Open Agriculture: https://wideopenagriculture.com.au

This week, we’re joined by the one and only, Christine Couvelier, executive chef, culinary trendologist, and founder of Culinary Concierge, for an inspiring look at a life fully immersed in food.

Christine’s passion is unmistakable. With over four decades of experience, she’s helped shape global food strategies, launch beloved consumer products, and guide brands in translating culinary trends into innovative offerings. From her early days in a famed Toronto Italian kitchen to leading product development at President’s Choice, guiding future tastes at Cara Operations, her global reach with Unilever, being part of the future of culinary education at George Brown College, leading a culinary cultural revolution at Maple Leaf Foods or her time with Trendi to tackle the food waste/food rescue hurdles and looking at what’s possible ~~ Christine’s journey is both remarkable and deeply rooted in curiosity.

In this episode, we explore:

• How a lifelong love of food became a global consulting career.

• The process of identifying, testing, and translating food trends into retail hits.

• Why she believes the future of food is food rescue .

And of course, no conversation with Christine would be complete without her signature call to action: Taste, Taste, Taste.  Knowing your customer’s taste profile is not just a nice-to-have, it is the foundation of successful food innovation.

If you work in food strategy, product innovation, or culinary branding, Christine’s insights will leave you both inspired and energized.

Learn more about Culinary Concierge: https://www.culinaryconcierge.ca

In this special on-the-ground episode, Munching on Molecules heads to CHFA NOW Vancouver to capture the energy of the show floor.

We ran our Fast 4 Interviews series with the brands and booths exhibiting at the event, spotlighting the innovations, origin stories, and go-to-market realities shaping Canada’s natural, organic, and better-for-you space.

 Listen in to hear the Fast 4 Interviews and meet the brands shaping what’s next.

If you were at CHFA NOW Vancouver too, tell us: what booth or product stopped you in your tracks?

Fast Four Interviews:
1. Ariana Naturals
2. Farm Credit Canada (FCC)
3. Canadian Pine Pollen
4. OSH!
5. Health is Wealth
6. The Good Chocolatier
7. Mindful Fud
8. Protea
9. Riverside Natural Foods- Made Good
10. SmartSip Cream Co.
11. Fromage Protein Pops
12. Cure Superfoods
13. Drink BEHY
14. PNP Pharmaceuticals
15. Not Bad Snacks
16. PommeMD
17. Rviita