Food and Beverage Atlantic marks biggest gathering yet at annual conference

Food and Beverage Atlantic (FBA) recently wrapped up its largest and most impactful industry conference and awards show to date, with 250 industry professionals gathering to celebrate Atlantic Canada’s thriving food and beverage sector.

The fourth annual conference & awards show brought together a mix of entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders from across the region – uniting under this year’s theme, Leading Evolution.

“This event showcased the strength, creativity, and resilience that define Atlantic Canada’s food and beverage community,” said Tammy Brideau, executive director of FBA. “The energy in the room made it clear: our industry is growing and thriving.”

The three-day event featured powerful keynotes from Graham Sherman, Mike Fata, and Suzie Yorke, who shared forward-looking strategies and real-world insights on scaling with ambition and sustainability.

Attendees left equipped with practical tools to drive growth in their businesses and in the sector at large.

A cornerstone of the conference, the FBA Annual Awards shone a spotlight on trailblazers raising the bar in Atlantic Canada’s food and beverage industry. This year’s winners included:

Rising Star Award: Shivani’s Kitchen, for their authentic ready-to-eat meals and sauces.

Mover & Shaker of the Year Award: Hope Blooms, for empowering youth through food, education, and entrepreneurship.

Innovator of the Year Award: INFUSD Nutrition, for making hard-to-absorb nutrients bioavailable and functional.

Storyteller of the Year Award: Work Water, for redefining clean energy drinks with natural, sugar-free beverages.

Exporter of the Year Award: Cooke Inc., for their global leadership in sustainable seafood.

Supplier of the Year Award: Navigate Food Safety Solutions, for strengthening food safety culture and audit readiness.

Foodies’ Choice Product of the Year Award: Distillerie New Brunswick Distillery, for captivating the judges in this live Dragon’s Den-style pitch with their Vodka Lemonade — recognized for its outstanding taste, flavour, presentation, innovation, and packaging. The winner also won $10,000 worth of data from NeilsenIQ.

These awards reflect the innovation, storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit fuelling Atlantic Canada’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in food and beverage.

The event’s success was made possible through strong partnerships, including presenting sponsor Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and support from Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“We are deeply grateful to our partners, presenters, and every attendee who joined us to make this our biggest year yet,” added Brideau.