Founded in 1889, Dare Foods has become a widely
recognized company with many beloved brands, focusing on
tradition, innovation and a commitment to quality. 

Dare Foods has been a cornerstone of Canada’s snacking culture for over 135 years. Founded in 1889, producing and selling cookies and candies from a small grocery store in Ontario, the family-owned and operated company has expanded, while maintaining its deep Canadian roots. Today, Dare Foods is known for more than just its beloved brands—it’s recognized for its Canadian heritage, quality, and innovation. 

An Authentically Canadian Company 

Headquartered in Ontario, Dare Foods operates five candy and bakery facilities across the country. The company employs over 1,000 Canadians, from coast to coast. Its lineup of products, including favourite brands like Bear Paws, Breton crackers, Whippet cookies, Boulangerie Grissol Baguettes and REALFRUIT gummies have become staples in households, whether in lunchboxes, on a charcuterie board or as a snack on the go. 

A Commitment to Quality and Made Better 

Dare’s commitment to quality is evident in its “Made Better” promise. Made Better is a commitment that ensures every snack is crafted with care, using only the best ingredients. This dedication to excellence has made Dare Foods a trusted name in Canadian homes for generations, with a product portfolio that spans cookies, crackers, candies, and fine breads. 

Innovation Meets Tradition 

While Dare Foods is deeply committed to preserving its heritage, it also prioritizes innovation. The company understands that today’s consumers expect snacks that align with their values and meet their always changing needs. That’s why Dare Foods has a dedicated team of experts working to create delicious peanut-free products that provide options for consumers whether they are plant based, gluten-free, low in sugar or free from artificial colours or flavours, ensuring that everyone can find a snack that meets their needs.  

Community Focus 

Dare Foods roots are truly Canadian. Their delicious range of cookies, crackers, candy and fine breads are made in five facilities across Canada. Given the range of communities they touch, they have always been committed to more than just great-tasting snacks but making a positive impact on the communities in which they operate. The company actively supports local charities and initiatives and is working towards more sustainable food products.  

Looking to the Future 

As Dare Foods continues to grow, its values remain steadfast: integrity, family, quality, innovation, and local. While it introduces new products to meet the needs of a diverse Canada, it never loses sight of the classics that Canadians know and love.  

At Dare Foods, we don’t just make snacks—we are part of Canada’s story, proud to be woven into the fabric of Canadian life. Whether it’s a snack for a school lunch or a treat for a family gathering, Dare Foods is proud to be there, for generations to come. 

To learn more about Dare Foods products and story, visit DareFoods.com. 

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Remember when stories were shared over cocktails instead of social media? 

New Mailroom Premium Vodka believes in the power of real, in-person connections – inspired by a time when the best plans were unplanned; friends meant more than followers; our
memories were authentic instead of archived and sharing stories happened over drinks, not data.  

In a world where digital communication dominates, Mailroom wants to bring back the energy of those authentic moments when people come together—face-to-face. They’re here to spark conversation, share great stories and remind everyone that socializing doesn’t have to happen behind a screen. 

Mailroom is not just a drink that mixes well with anything; its about getting people out of their routines, bringing them together. 

Canadian made, 2x gold medal award-winning premium vodka

Proudly owned by Canadians and
meticulously crafted in Ontario from hand milled Canadian Soft Red Winter Wheat, water sourced from Georgian Bay and distilled in a handcrafted copper still with 146 plates at Spring Mill Distillery in Ontario, a process that results in over 100x distillation. 

These locally sourced ingredients and
generations of expertise combine for a
perfectly balanced texture – creamy and smooth – with a crisp and incredibly clean
finish. 

Canadian Soft Red Winter Wheat, renowned for its unique flavour profile grown in Canada’s ideal conditions, is what gives this vodka its signature smoothness and rich mouthfeel.

With its earthy cereal undertones and fresh notes of spearmint with a hint of anise and cracked pepper, Mailroom premium vodka’s distinct character is exceptionally approachable and stands out when mixing in cocktails, savouring neat or simply enjoying over ice. 

It’s no wonder that it has won 2x Gold Medal Awards in 2024 in The Spirits Business Global Vodka Masters and The New York World
Spirits Competition. 

Message in a Bottle 

Share your memorable moments and become part of the story.

Mailroom has created unique and innovative packaging designed to encourage sharing great stories and spark conversation. Each bottle features a unique message written and shared by a Canadian.

You are invited to share your mail – aka your most memorable moments and favourite
messages – for a chance for your message to be featured on the bottle too!

Enjoy Responsibly.  Must be Legal Drinking Age. 

Come together and share stories over a Mailroom Premium Vodka cocktail today! 

The post Bringing Back the Spirit of In Real Life Connections with Friends appeared first on HiveInnovates.

Good Earth Coffee house is dedicated to quality coffee,
ethical farming, and creating welcoming spaces where
communities can gather, connect, and thrive.

Coffeehouses have always been more than just places to grab a latte or cold brew. They’re gathering places and community hubs — places where conversations spark, ideas are exchanged, and communities come together. At Good Earth Coffeehouse, that tradition is alive and well.  

“Many of our coffeehouses welcome community programs into their spaces — new parent groups, book clubs, open mic nights, games nights, and other opportunities to bring people together,” says Nan Eskenazi, who founded Good Earth Coffeehouse with her husband in Calgary in 1991. The coffeehouses, most of which are owned locally by franchisees, also contribute to community events by donating coffee or food, sponsor youth sports teams, participate in activities like riverbank cleanups, and support local food banks. This proudly Canadian brand is committed to community — as are the Canadians who support local and frequent Good Earth Coffeehouse locations. 

Buy local, shop ethically

For over 30 years now, Good Earth Coffeehouse has stayed true to its roots, serving ethically sourced coffee and fresh, house-made food while fostering this deep connection with local communities across Canada. 

Sustainability has always been at our core.

“Through partnerships with Canadian companies like Reunion Coffee — which sources from farms that prioritize ethical and responsible practices, ensuring our choices make a positive impact — and Pluck Tea, we bring the best of Canadian products to Canadians while supporting local entrepreneurs,” says Eskenazi. “And sustainability has always been at our core. We source Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, which ensures environmental sustainability and supports social programs that benefit farming communities.” 

Visit goodearthcoffeehouse.com to find a location near you. 

The post A Local, All-Canadian Coffeehouse That’s Good for the Soul appeared first on HiveInnovates.

How to find local food products when you’re shopping

Ontario has a rich agricultural history and heritage that is critical to the province’s economy. Our farmers grow and raise more than 200 high-quality food and farm products right here at home.

From fruits and vegetables to honey, plants and flowers; from meat, dairy and eggs to fish, grains and more – and whether fresh, frozen, processed, pickled or canned, Ontario’s farmers take pride what we can produce right across our beautiful province. 

Ontario’s farmers take pride in what we can produce right across our beautiful province.

Even in the midst of this snowy winter, there is a wide range of locally produced food available:   

Apples, carrots, potatoes and root vegetables, for example, are kept fresh through innovative storage technologies so we can enjoy them all winter long.  

There is a plethora of Ontario meat and poultry in our grocery stores, butcher shops, farmers’ markets and independent retailers, as well as a wide variety of eggs, and milk, cheese, cream, butter, yogurt and ice cream made from 100% Canadian milk.  

Ontario’s indoor produce sector provides tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, strawberries, and greens. Many frozen vegetables and fruit are also grown in Ontario, and local wineries, cideries, meaderies, breweries, and distilleries use Ontario-grown ingredients like fruits, hops, and grains. 

So, what’s the best way to buy and support local?  

Shop at local stores, on-farm markets and farmers’ markets. Websites and product locators can connect you with local markets, shops, farms and even home delivery companies that carry Ontario products. Many grocery stores also proudly carry Ontario- or Canadian-made items – watch for signage, logos and symbols.  

• Farmers Markets Ontario – seasonal and year-round markets near you 
• Agritourism Ontario – farm-direct sales  
• Ontario Sheep Farmers – lamb and wool  
• Ontario Beef – beef 
• Ontario Pork – pork 
• Pick Ontario – locally grown flowers.   

Look for logos. Keep an eye out for different logos that will help identify locally grown or made food and farm products.  

• Foodland Ontario – Fresh product, dairy, meat and grains 
• Blue cow logo – 100% Canadian dairy 
• Ontario and Canada beef – locally raised beef 
• Egg Quality Assurance or red maple leaf – farm-fresh eggs 
• Ontario pork – Ontario pork products 
• Ontario turkey – Ontario-raised turkey 
• Ontario chicken – fresh Ontario chicken 
• Ontario veal – locally raised veal 
• Pick Ontario – Ontario-grown flowers  
• VQA logo – Ontario-grown wines

What about processed foods? 

On processed foods, “Product of Canada” means made in Canada with Canadian ingredients, and “Made in Canada” means final processing took place in Canada – sometimes with local ingredients and sometimes with a mix of domestic and imported ingredients.  

Buy Ontario all year long! 

Ontario farmers are strong believers in encouraging everyone to buy local, Ontario products.  

When you do, you’re not just buying what we produce, you’re also supporting HomeGrown Ontario communities, families, and jobs – and we appreciate it. 

To learn more about how you can buy Ontario all year long, visit homegrownofa.ca or check out @homegrownofa on Instagram. 

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Jaclyn Christie

Vice President of Marketing,
Payworks

Learn how Payworks grew from a Winnipeg startup into the country’s largest completely Canadian-owned provider of payroll, HR, and time management solutions. 

It’s been 25 years since Payworks co-founder Barb Gamey set out to provide Canadian employers with a homegrown solution for paying their employees accurately and on time — designed, built, and supported by a fellow local business. 

“The vision for starting Payworks was creating an alternative to the providers already in the space,” says Gamey. “At that point, I’d spent 15 years in the industry and saw the market consolidation taking place and the outdated technology being used. I could start with a clean slate, both in terms of our product and our level of customer support. Our service philosophy was then and remains very different than what’s generally available in the market.” 

Products built for Canadian employers 

Payworks was ready to compete: today, the company serves over 40,000 businesses of all sizes and industries across the country with a full suite of modern workforce management solutions, including payroll, HR, employee time and absence management, analytics, and more. Each customer is assigned a knowledgeable client service representative, and two Canadian data centres keep their data within our borders. 

Payworks remains privately held and 100 per cent Canadian-owned and operated. It’s also still headquartered in Winnipeg, as it has been since opening its doors — although those doors recently received an upgrade, as the company moved into a new 94,000-square-foot head office in late 2024. Payworks has grown to a thriving team of over 600 people in 12 Canadian cities, providing high-quality jobs in product development, information security, privacy and governance, customer relationship management, and more. 

Supporting Canadian communities 

Employees enthusiastically embrace Payworks’ purpose of “doing right by people.” Through its longstanding Pay it Forward program, which allows two paid days off per year to volunteer at charitable organizations about which they’re passionate, staff gave 2,200 hours back to their local communities in 2024 alone. The business supports over 250 organizations across Canada, and also partners with associations advocating for Canadian small businesses and their employees. 

“We’re proud to be the largest Canadian-owned provider of payroll, HR, and time management solutions, built by and for Canadians,” says Jaclyn Christie, Vice President of Marketing at Payworks. “To get here, we had to be intentional about fostering shared culture and values across our national team, investing in the agencies strengthening our communities, and helping Canadian employers as they start, run, and grow their businesses and navigate payroll legislation. We’re honoured to grow alongside our clients and to support them — not just with products built here at home, but also through significant investment into the causes and communities they love.” 

Find out how Payworks can work for you at payworks.ca. 

The post How Payworks’ Deep Canadian Roots Have Driven Its Success appeared first on HiveInnovates.