[News] Winners Announced for the BC Food & Beverage Awards 2023

I was invited to the sold-out BC Food & Beverage Awards ceremony yesterday, and what a celebration of BC-made food & beverage products! Set at the beautiful Rocky Mountaineer Station, hundreds gathered to not only celebrate food and drinks produced in British Columbia, but to also recognize trailblazers and businesses that are making an environmental or social impact.

Here is the list of winners and their award acceptance:

Gold Product of the Year: Blueberry Maple Craft Cacao Bar, The GOOD Chocolatier

Silver Product of the Year: No.006 Oyster Shell Gin, Copperpenny Distilling Co.

Bronze Product of the Year: Butterless Chicken Sauce, Naked & Saucy

The ten Product of the Year nominees were:

Blender Bites 1-step Frappe Caramel Collagen, Blender Bites
Raspberry Earl Grey, Callister Craft Soda
No.006 Oyster Shell Gin, Copperpenny Distilling Co.
Mojito, Edna’s Non Alcholic Cocktail Company
Coconut Ciabbatta, Glutenull
Blueberry Maple Craft Cacao Bar, The Good Chocolatier
Coffee Toffee Bar, Hazel’s Ice Cream
G.O.A.T Curry, KULA Foods
Butterless Chicken Sauce, Naked & Saucy
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Panela Lemon

Woman Entrepreneur of the Year: Karen Danudjaja, Blume Supply Inc.

Indigenous Led Business of the Year: Spirit Bear Coffee Company

Hall of Fame: Hon’s

Sustainability: Freybe Gourmet Foods

Social Impact: The GOOD Chocolatier

People’s Choice: Grandpa J’s Seasonings

Outstanding Workplace – Health & Safety: Kicking Horse Coffee Co.

Leadership: Patt Dyck, Cannery Brewing

BC Craft Brewers Guild, Executive Director, Ken Beattie, accepted the award on behalf of Patt Dyck.

Innovation: Daiya Foods

Export: Chewters Chocolates

Emerging Business: Blume Supply Inc.

Circularity: Farming Karma Fruit Co.

Best in Brand: oomé

The cocktail reception after the ceremony featured BC made, local products provided by Avafina Organics and vendors of COHO Collective Kitchen. Highlights for me were definitely the fresh pasta by Pastaggio, charcuterie by Crack On, and the vegan, gluten-free donuts by Oh Yas! Goodies.