And the winners are…

On November 20th at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station we came together to celebrate the incredible achievements of BC’s food and beverage community at the 18th annual Rise Awards. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the Rise Awards such a memorable night.

Find out who took home top honours!

2025 Winners!

Hall of Fame Inductee – St. Jean’s Cannery

Doug Ramsay Award of Excellence – Karen Flavelle, Purdys Chocolatier

Best in Brand – SmartSweets

Circularity – Greater Vancouver Food Bank

Emerging Business of the Year – Atome Bakery

Export – Blume

Indigenous Led Business of the Year – Sriracha Revolver

Innovation – Mountain Munchies Inc./Enercheez

Leadership – Janik Livera, Maverick Estate Winery

Outstanding Workplace – Health & Safety – Olympic Dairy (Lactalis)

People’s Choice – Purdys Chocolatier

Social Impact – GnuSanté Creations

Sustainability – Joosy – Fresh Direct Produce

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year – Tami Nasu, withinUs Natural

Product of the Year Gold – SURGE™ by VEGAIN Nutrition

Product of the Year Silver – Bake-from-proof Traditional Sourdough Loaf by Atome Bakery

Product of the Year Bronze – Tocha Original by Tocha Foods

2025 Finalists

Award Categories.

Learn more about the award categories that we celebrated November 20th.

Celebrating Excellence in Food & Beverage Branding

This award recognizes a company that has built an outstanding and memorable brand — one that resonates deeply with consumers, stands out in a competitive marketplace, and communicates its values through every touchpoint.

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Recognizing Commitment to the Circular Economy

This award highlights a company that has embedded circular economy principles into its operations — reducing waste and designing for reuse and sustainability.

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Spotlighting a Promising Newcomer

This award is given to a young company that shows exceptional promise, innovation, and business potential. It’s about recognizing brands that are gaining attention, growing quickly, and showing leadership early in their journey.

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Recognizing Success in Global Market Expansion

This award honours a company that is excelling in foreign markets, expanding BC’s global footprint, and achieving significant export success.

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Recognizing Companies with Boundary-Pushing Products

This award celebrates companies that create innovative, original food or beverage products that stand out for their exceptional creativity, and potential to shape the future of the industry.

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Recognizing Individual Excellence in Leadership

This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates a commitment to mentorship, inclusion, and sector-wide leadership through both example and action.

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Celebrating the Brand Consumers Can’t Stop Talking About

Voted on by the public, this award highlights a company with undeniable consumer appeal, brand loyalty, and product excitement.

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Apply to Compete for Top Honours.

Product of the Year is a dragons den-style competition where the top 10 finalists present their food or beverage products to a panel of 5-6 judges. Finalists have 30 minutes to prepare their product and 10 minutes to pitch. Judges will then deliberate and select the top 3 finalists, who are announced at the awards evening for the ultimate prizes of Gold, Silver and Bronze.

The 10 finalists will be notified in August with the competition taking place on October 15th, 2025! Applications close July 10th, 2025.

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Honouring Purpose-Driven Business Models that Create Lasting Community Value

This award recognizes a company that demonstrates a deeply rooted social mission and continuously works to better its community through initiatives, internal practices, and stakeholder relationships.

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Honouring Environmental Leadership and Responsible Practices

This award recognizes a company that has shown exemplary dedication to sustainability and measurable environmental progress.

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Recognizing an Outstanding Female Leader

This award celebrates a woman business owner who is leading the way in BC’s food and beverage industry — inspiring others through entrepreneurial drive, innovation, and community leadership.

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Direct Awards.

The following awards are selected by an independent commitee and are not part of the public nomination process. These honours recognize outstanding contributions and leadership within the industry.

For the Doug Ramsay Excellence award: This honorary award is presented in memory of Doug Ramsay, a deeply respected and beloved leader in the industry. With a remarkable 40-year career spanning roles at Konings, Sysco, and most recently 13 years at Premium Brands, Doug left an enduring legacy marked by his compassion, curiosity, and unwavering commitment to the human side of the business. His support for both the industry and the Association was a source of inspiration to many, reminding us all of the purpose and impact of our work. This award is presented to an individual who reflects the contributions, leadership, and the profound influence Doug had on those around him.

This prestigious award recognizes a company or individual that has made a lasting and transformative contribution to the BC food and beverage sector. Recipients are pioneers who have demonstrated decades of innovation, resilience, and leadership — helping to shape and grow the industry while building a brand of enduring quality and reputation.

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Celebrating Indigenous Entrepreneurship

This award honours an Indigenous-owned company that exemplifies business excellence, cultural integrity, and community leadership.

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Recognizing Excellence in Workplace Wellbeing and Safety

This award honours an organization that prioritizes health and safety, demonstrates innovative practices, and fosters a safe, supportive work environment.

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