For a second straight year, a Coquitlam-based organization is up for a provincial honour for its dedication to providing cultural diversity to Tri-City shelves.
Soul Bite Food Inc. is one of five finalists shortlisted for the Premier's People's Choice Award by Small Business BC.
The group of newcomers represent 15 different nationalities and create frozen vegan and plant-based meals using traditional Middle East and eastern European cooking methods.
Soul Bite Food was also a finalist for the Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award in 2021.
The frozen food line was developed by volunteers and profits are used to support its founding group, the Immigrant Link Centre Society, which repurposes unused edible foods for local food banks instead of letting grocery stores throw it away.
The Premier's People's Choice Award is awarded each year to a B.C. small business that demonstrates loyal support from their community.
The $1,500 prize is won by gaining the most votes in an online ballot.
Soul Bite Food Inc. was one of more than 630 nominated businesses from close to 90 communities for the annual awards gala and is one of five remaining in its category.
"From the number of votes received, it’s clear that B.C. residents appreciate how much small businesses have been through these past two years, and once again, they’ve come forward to show their support and appreciation," explains Small Business BC CEO Tom Conway in a news release today (March 28).
"For these entrepreneurs, knowing they’re valued and appreciated by their communities is everything."
Soul Bite Food is up against the following four other finalists (in alphabetical order):
- Afrofusion (Kamloops)
- A Black-owned business that provides tasty African and western cuisine to the people of Kamloops and beyond
- Meraki Beauty Bar (Burnaby)
- Offers a range of cosmetic services, including permanent makeup, as well as training for new makeup artists
- Nature Bee (Saanichton)
- Produces beeswax wraps using locally-sourced materials to serve as an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastics
- Tardigrada Design Studio (Vancouver)
- Works with individuals and businesses to create multi-disciplinary designs that transform ideas into vibrant results
The winner is set to be unveiled during Small Business BC's virtual awards night on April 28.
Soul Bite Food's line of appetizers and meals are sold in the frozen and deli departments of several stores across the Tri-Cities, including:
COQUITLAM
- IGA (1410 Parkway Blvd.)
- Urban Gate (104-1158 The High Street)
PORT COQUITLAM
- Pomme Natural Market (2755 Lougheed Hwy.)
- City Avenue Market (120-2627 Shaughnessy St.)
- Pomme Natural Market (2755 Lougheed Hwy.)
PORT MOODY
- IGA (221 Ioco Rd.)
For more information, you can visit Soul Bite Food's website.
