Local Spotlight: Big Mountain Foods

Kimberly Chamberland founded Big Mountain Foods in 1987, and her daughter Jasmine Byrne joined in 2013 to become Chief Operating Officer. They have focused on product innovation while remaining true to their core value of creating food that they would proudly serve their own families. Big Mountain Foods creates a variety of plant-based products ranging from crumbles, burgers, (Soy-free) tofu, links, bites & cheese. All their products are Certified Vegan, free from common allergens, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Be sure to stop by their Local Spotlight Pop-up in Dining Commons at lunch on July 12th, to try out their delicious Veggie Patties, Soy-Free Tofu, and Cauli Crumble. 

What inspired you to start Big Mountain Foods?

Coming from 3 generations of committed and strong women entrepreneurs and being raised a vegetarian, I started my own small cafe in Kitsilano and sold one of the very first veggie burgers in North America in the 80s. It was so good, a regular customer who also turned out to be a retail buyer from a large retail chain suggested that I make the veggie patties a packaged food and committed to taking it on as a product. Serendipitous as it is, Big Mountain Foods has come a long way since launching in 1987, including being completely common allergen free, as both my daughters have either gluten and dairy allergy. My daughter, Jasmine, is now part of the team and all our products are now available in over 4500 stores (and growing) across North America, and we’ve established ourselves as one of the most innovative plant-based brands, while also continuing to be local ambassadors supporting BC food and beverage initiatives

What advice do you have for aspiring foodpreneurs?

It’s really all about the food for me as a lifelong foodpreneur. Create food that, while it doesn’t have to be completely original, has your own distinct brand and touch to it. Everything else will follow, because people gravitate towards authenticity, especially in food. 

What advice do you have for SFU students who aspire to have their own business one day?

Longevity is the name of the game. Big Mountain Foods wasn’t my first foray into the food business, and wouldn’t have been possible if not for the lessons I learned from previous ventures. Historically, 20% of business fail in their first year - that’s 1 in 5 businesses, and while it may sound discouraging at first, and while I’ve come to learn that most entrepreneurs aren’t successful their first time around, the knowledge they take with them on their next ventures make it even more likely for them to ‘succeed’ in the long run.

What’s coming up next for you?

We continue to innovate as we grow.  We’re partnering with the youth and educational institutions to research, market, and put into effect ways to repurpose food waste (upcycling) and overall reduce our carbon footprint. 

Where can people find you?

You can find our products at almost every major Canadian retailer, like Real Canadian Superstore, Save on Foods, Safeway, Whole Foods Market, IGA, Nester’s Market

Keep up with Big Mountain Foods:
Bigmountainfoods.com
Instagram & Facebook 

Want to get involved with Big Mountain Foods?

Calling all co-op students for the 2023 Fall term! We’re now accepting applicants in Marketing, Business, and the sciences (Food Science focused), you can send over your CVs to hello@bigmountainfoods.com