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A London-based snack company is now set to be stocked on Walmart shelves across the country after scoring a win at the retail giant’s first-ever Canadian Growth Summit.
Peacasa, known for its chickpea-based chips, was one of the standout products at the event, where 120 Canadian companies were invited to pitch their products directly to Walmart buyers for a shot at a coveted “golden ticket” to get their products on the shelves at one of Canada’s biggest retailers.
Walmart’s Growth Summit, held July 9, 2025, in Mississauga, Ont., was designed to give Canadian entrepreneurs direct access to decision-makers inside the big-box chain. The event featured keynote presentations, supplier panels and a surprise appearance by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who praised the province’s small business community.
Walmart Canada’s chief merchandising officer Sam Wankowski kicked off the event by emphasizing the company’s commitment to buying local and helping small brands scale. For Peacasa, this event was an opportunity to show how a London-made product could compete on the national stage.
"The demand for Canadian products and food made from real nutritional ingredients is at an all-time high. I love to see Walmart embracing the demand they are seeing from their shoppers and creating opportunities to work with them for companies like Peacasa,” says Aaron Johnstone, CEO and co-founder of Peacasa. “It was an energizing event - I had a pleasure chatting and learning from many people on the Walmart team!”
Peacasa chips are like a healthier potato chip. Their recipe is inspired by Socca, a Mediterranean street food, and delivers eight grams of plant-based protein per serving. Made with simple ingredients and packed with flavour, the chips come in Sea Salt, Honey Dijon, and Salt & Vinegar.
“We're working on two delicious new flavours that I'm personally very excited to start snacking on!” says Johnstone. “We have our eyes set on expanding to international markets like the US in the future.”
While the product has international roots, its journey to store shelves is unmistakably local. Peacasa was developed, tested, and scaled at The Grove, an agri-food innovation hub located at Western Fair District that provides early-stage food companies with commercial kitchen space, mentorship, and business development support.
“Working with the Grove was a pivotal moment for Peacasa. It gave us a home to grow in and allowed us to make Peacasa's unique products that no one else could make for us,” says Johnstone. “We've been lucky to have support from a number of London organizations since we started including LEDC, London Small Business Centre, TechAlliance, True Leaves Consulting, and more.”
From culinary startups to major food manufacturers, London is home to a thriving agri-food cluster supported by institutions like The Grove, Fanshawe College’s Centre for Research and Innovation and Foodpreneur Advantage run by the Small Business Centre with support from LEDC. The ecosystem has made London a destination for food product innovation, sustainable packaging research and scalable manufacturing.
"Starting in London was a key advantage. We started with a much cheaper lease than we would have in Toronto, which allowed us to build a custom production line that was big enough to have strong unit economics,” says Johnstone. “This gave us time to grow into our factory's capacity and meet price points retailers and consumers were shopping for.”
With shelf space secured and national distribution underway, Peacasa is now preparing to scale production and build out its team, while staying rooted in London’s food-focused ecosystem.
"We're looking forward to planning out Peacasa's launch with Walmart Canada. Peacasa's mission is to make healthy snacks more accessible and working with Walmart will allow us to take a pivotal next step in that mission,” says Johnstone. “After getting selected, my mind immediately goes to the logistics of working with such a large customer. It's important to take a moment to look back and appreciate everything that my co-founder Victor, our investors, advisors, supporters, and team members have put into getting here.”
Peacasa chips will soon be available at select Walmart Canada locations and online, with availability varying by region. They're also currently sold across Canada through retailers including Whole Foods, Superstore, Sobeys, Fortinos, Longos, Healthy Planet, Amazon.ca, Costco.ca, and natural food stores across Ontario and beyond. For the most up-to-date list, visit peacasa.ca/where-to-buy.
