Dates
Exploring New Paths to Market
Join us on Tuesday, May 26th, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM for the SW Food Summit 2026, a dynamic event designed to connect you with the heart of the region's thriving food and beverage ecosystem. You'll gain exclusive access to a powerful network of industry leaders, innovative resources, and actionable strategies to drive your business forward.
Keynote:
Emily O’Brien - CEO & Founder of Comeback Snacks
Emily O’Brien is an entrepreneur and the Founder of Comeback Snacks—a specialty popcorn company that challenges the status quo. After being sentenced to a four-year federal prison term following her arrest at Pearson International Airport, Emily set out on a mission to transform herself and make her time in prison as meaningful as possible. Using her entrepreneurial pre-sentence background and experience, Emily birthed the idea for Comeback Snacks (formerly ‘Cons and Kernels’)—a popcorn company that serves up bold and unique flavours alongside the even bolder mission of fighting the stigma surrounding those who have a criminal record.Her popcorn is now available in over 1200 locations in Canada and the US.
Through her trailblazing efforts, Emily is an example that positive change can happen within correctional institutions with passion, drive, and a positive mindset. Emily is determined to help remove the stigma surrounding people with prior convictions, as well as give them opportunities for reintegration through training, empowerment and education. As a leading voice in this unique movement, Emily is frequently called upon by media, including CBC, CTV, Global, Toronto Star, iHeartRadio, CHCH, VICE, and more. Emily was awarded the Business Leadership & Entrepreneurship award at the 2020 YWCA Hamilton Women of Distinction Awards , the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Women’s Empowerment Awards, and the 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Community Service in recognition of her dedication to social justice. Most recently, she was a finalist in the 2024 Meridian Bank Small Business Big Impact Awards, winner of the 2025 Diversity Award from Sobeys and also one of the Top 50 Global Women in Sustainabiity 2025.
For more on Emily, visit her website.
Why You Should Attend
The SW Food Summit isn't just another industry event; it's your gateway to unlocking the region's thriving food and beverage ecosystem. Step into a day where innovation meets opportunity, where you can directly connect with the key players—from influential founders and industry experts to vital support services in distribution, marketing, and product development. Discover how to leverage cutting-edge resources, and plug into the infrastructure that will propel your business forward. Unlike any other event, we're creating a powerful hub for collaboration and growth. Leave with invaluable insights, actionable strategies, and the connections you need to weather today's economic challenges and drive your success in Canada's dynamic food and beverage landscape.
Event Highlights:
- Connect with key players in the South West Ontario food and beverage ecosystem.
- Gain insights from industry experts and influential founders.
- Explore innovative resources, and infrastructure access.
- Learn strategies to navigate economic challenges and drive growth.
- Network with vital support services in the Networking Hall.
- Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring local producers.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
- Time: 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
- Registration:
- Food and Beverage Manufacturer - $25
- General Admission - $40 - Location: The Grove at Western Fair District, 900 King St, London, ON N5W 5K3
- Parking: Plenty of Free Parking Available
- Lunch: Provided from local producers
LinkedIn Page: Southwest Food Summit: Overview | LinkedIn
Enter the "Flourish Award" Competition - Best New Product 2026
The Flourish Award provides a platform for food & beverage businesses to showcase their products, generate excitement, and connect with industry leaders. The award recognizes the most exciting new food or beverage product launched in the past 12 months.
Application deadline: April 30, 2026
Criteria:
- Applicants must be a Canadian-owned small business in Southwest Ontario region, ideally in the food and beverage sector, with a focus on innovative consumer packaged goods (CPG).
- The product must have been launched or be set to launch in 2026, with a clear go-to-market plan and initial production capabilities.
- The product should demonstrate originality, solve a consumer need, and have potential to succeed in the marketplace.
Grand Prize valued at over $30,000 featuring services that will help scale their business:
From Fanshawe Centre for Research and Innovation:
New Product Packaging for 1 Product
1) Consultation with Dr. Nastaran Moghimi to identify and source sustainable packaging solution
2) Product testing (saturated fats, sodium, and sugar) to determine need for front-of-packaging labeling
3) Validation of sustainable packaging solution’s performance via shelf-life study with up to 5 time points
4) Packaging run of up to 1000 units with validated sustainable packaging solution
From True Leaves Consulting
Comprehensive Regulatory Compliance Package: Includes Nutrition Facts Table development, ingredient and allergen review, and packaging artwork compliance checks
From Winston Wilmont
Marketing and Communications Consultation Package (communications audit and consulting session, along with an analysis and recommendations)
From the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN)
One year free membership under the "CFIN Plus" tier. Get exclusive access to funding programs and events, and connect with the broader CFIN community, plus: exclusive NielsenIQ data insights, over $3,000 in perks from top partners, expert guidance and priority access to industry events and reports.
Enter Now: "Flourish Award" Competition Application - Best New Product 2026
Agenda
- - Registration/Networking/Tradeshow
Kickstart your day with valuable Networking & our vibrant Tradeshow
- - Welcome to the Grove
- - Intro to the Regional Food Ecosystem
- - Keynote - Emily O’Brien - CEO & Founder of Comeback Snacks
- Emily O’Brien is a Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Comeback Snacks, a specialty popcorn brand created after she served a four-year federal prison sentence. Inspired to turn her experience into something positive, she built the company to challenge stigma surrounding people with criminal records while promoting reintegration through empowerment, education, and opportunity. Her brand has grown to more than 1,200 retail locations across Canada and the U.S., and her advocacy and business leadership have earned national media attention and numerous awards recognizing her work in entrepreneurship, social justice, diversity, and sustainability.
- - Networking/Trade Show
- - Panel: New Paths for Food and Beverage Success
- Moderator: Cheryl Appleton - Canadian Women in Food
- Panelists:
- Leigh Armstrong - GFS Canada
- Craig Clifford and Kristian Crossen - Western University Hospitality Services and Procurement
- Shay Nulman - Co-Founder and CFO of Mantaro
- - Flourish Award Presentation
- Sponsored by: Fanshawe College, Winston Wilmont, True Leaves Consulting
- - Lunch (Top of the Fair)
- - Breakout Session
- Barcodes and Beyond: What You Need to Be Market-Ready Presented by Alain Picard- Advisor and Community Engagement with GS1
- - Breakout Session
- Tell Your Story, Grow Your Sales: Marketing for Food & Beverage Presented by Amanda DeVries- Founder of Eye Candy Design
- - Break
- - Breakout Session
- Co-Packing Without Chaos: How to Choose a Co-Manufacturer and Protect Your Product Presented by Martha Castillo- Food Industry Consultant and Educator with Fanshawe College and Conestoga College
- - Breakout Session
- The Long Game: Investment, Growth and Exit Strategies Panel Discussion
- Moderator: Amanda Richardson - Winston Wilmont,
- Panelists:
- Sean Bingley - FCC
- Drew Rankin- Founder of Parkway Food Group
- Domenique Mastronardi- President of Beck’s Broth
Title Sponsor:
Influencer Sponsor:
Flourish Award Sponsors:
In Partnership with:
