Tri-Cities food producer wins award for ongoing community support

Coquitlam's Soul Bite Food is the people's champion of B.C. small businesses. Here's why

Soul Bite Food Inc. has vegan plant-based appetizers stocked on shelves across the Tri-Cities and continues to pledge unused foods to the Immigrant Link Centre Society.

Soul Bites a new appetizer line in the Tri-Cities

Alaia Fayad, Igor Bjelac, Reihaneh Mirjani and Ali Haeri are behind Soul Bite Food Inc. , a line of frozen appetizers based on Persian and Serbian family recipes that support a Coquitlam food rescue non-profit group. | Soul Bite Food Inc.

Soul Bite Food Inc. and its vegan, plant-based appetizers have benefited the Tri-Cities through its donations to food banks and its non-profit organization that supports new immigrants.

Now, the Coquitlam-based company has won the hearts of small businesses from this past year.

Small Business BC awarded Soul Bite with the Premier's People's Choice Award, beating out four other finalists for the annual honour in a virtual ceremony on Thursday (April 28).

The $1,500 prize is handed out each year to a B.C. small business that demonstrates loyal support from their community by gaining the most online votes.

"It takes a community to grow a small business. It also takes a community to win the Premier’s People’s Choice Award," Soul Bite says in a social media post following the win.

"We are so grateful to our community for allowing us to reach this milestone."

Soul Bite funds projects dedicated to fighting hunger and combating food waste around the world by donating 50 per cent of profits through the Immigrant Link Centre Society (ILCS), which is the company's charitable organization.

"Viable food that goes unsold, including surplus perishables, day-old goods or items near the best before date, is collected from grocery stores free of charge and provided to low-income families and refugees in transition," reads a description from Small Business BC about its newest people's champion.

"ILCS has grown to 25 locations with nutritious food delivered 7 days a week to more than 3,500 people per month, moving over 900 tons of food annually."

Soul Bite's specialty products are a blend of Eastern European and Middle Eastern cuisine.

The company is represented by 15 different nationalities — including dozens of volunteers — and uses traditional cooking methods to bring its boxed foods to local store shelves.

Last year, Soul Bite was a finalist for Small Business BC's Best Immigrant Entrepreneur Award.

Its line of appetizers and meals are sold in the frozen and deli departments across the Tri-Cities, including: