Small Business Spotlight - Soul Bite Foods Inc.

This Small Business Month, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade is thrilled to spotlight some of the region's most impactful small businesses making a difference locally and beyond. Today, we’re diving into the inspiring story of Soul Bite Foods Inc., a social enterprise with a mission beyond just food. Known for its unique vegan dishes with flavours from Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Soul Bite serves up award-winning comfort food and fights hunger and food waste across Canada.

A Journey Fueled by Purpose

In 2016, a group of dedicated volunteers came together to tackle two major global issues—hunger and food waste. What started in a single school, providing meals once a week grew into the Immigrant Link Centre Society (ILCS). This charity operates at 25 locations, delivering nutritious food to over 3,500 people monthly. With over $5 million worth of food rescued annually, ILCS has diverted tons of viable food from landfills, preventing 1,600 tons of CO2 emissions. As the need for resources grew, the idea of a social enterprise took shape, leading to the creation of Soul Bite Foods Inc.

Soul Bite’s vision is simple but powerful: turn sustainable practices and tasty, plant-based comfort food into a way to expand ILCS’s reach. The team dedicates 51% of its profits to support food programs that address food insecurity and fight waste, ensuring the cause remains at the core of its business.

Soul Bite’s Unique Lineup

For those who haven’t tried Soul Bite, their product lineup reimagines traditional recipes, creating vegan-friendly comfort foods like no other. Using straightforward ingredients—free of additives and cholesterol and filled with rich flavours—they’ve crafted dishes for retail and food service. The company has gained popularity, expanding across four provinces and found in stores like Whole Foods and Fresh Street Markets. Now, anyone can try these delicious meals by looking for Soul Bite in the deli and frozen sections.

Growth and Learning with the Trade Accelerator Program

The team recently completed the Trade Accelerator Program, a pivotal step that has armed them with valuable insights, connections, and strategies. This experience pushes Soul Bite to look beyond Canada as they set their sights on international markets like the UK, Europe, and Iran. Expanding globally aligns with their vision of increasing support for the ILCS mission, funding more projects directly benefiting those in need. Their growth will also support ILCS’s move to a new production facility in Coquitlam, amplifying their ability to deliver for the cause.

An Inspiring Future Ahead

In addition to taking their products worldwide, they’re eager to continue deepening their food recovery efforts, especially in spaces that can benefit from nutritious food options, like senior care homes and hospitals. But what sets Soul Bite apart is its commitment to a business model grounded in community and sustainability. Their products and operations support local B.C. farms, partner with community groups, and continuously strive to reduce food waste.

So, where can you try a taste of Soul Bite? Head to your nearest Whole Foods or Fresh Street Market, or visit their website to learn more about their journey and mission to impact the world positively.

Here’s a video capturing the heart and soul of Soul Bite Foods Inc.