News

February 23, 2017

Marouns Garlic Paste wins $30,000

photo credit: Brian L. Simpson

Island food entrepreneur, Ryan Abdallah, won the $30,000 grand prize in the Food Island Partnership Food Xcel program.  Ryan was awarded the prize for his product, Marouns garlic paste, at the Startup Zone for the Food Xcel program during the final pitch day.

Ryan Abdallah focused his time throughout the Food Xcel Program on his new product, Marouns garlic paste, based on a family-recipe used at Cedar’s Eatery in Charlottetown. Ryan has created a garlic paste that has more flavour, is easier to use, and has a longer shelf life than current products on the market.

Food Xcel is an initiative of the Food Island Partnership along with many key funding partners including Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Prince Edward Island Agriculture and Fisheries, Innovation PEI, NSERC, and Springboard.

“Congratulations to each of the seven participants in the Food Island Partnership Food Xcel program for putting yourself and your idea forward in this innovative opportunity. I am pleased to announce that ACOA supported this program with a $15,000 contribution from the Agency’s Business Development Program to support new and early stage food entrepreneurs to potentially advance their food business idea,” Sean Casey, Member of Parliament for Charlottetown.

 “Food industry innovators like the nominees in the Food Xcel program help strengthen our reputation as Canada’s Food Island,” Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Heath MacDonald said. “Our ability to be a world leader and a mighty force in the food industry is dependent on our ability to create new and exciting products that open new markets, increase exports, expand our economy and support our primary producers.”

The grand prize is supported by the contributing partners including Innovation PEI, Canada’s Smartest Kitchen, Bio I Food I Tech, Insight Marketing, Startup Zone, Emergence, Bio Enterprise, and Sku Food. The winner receives mentorship support, office space, project support, and marketing from these partners.

Food Island Partnership began the Food Xcel program with 39 island entrepreneurs in November and, during the 12-week program, was narrowed down to seven finalists to compete at the final pitch day.

As Canada’s Food Island, Prince Edward Island is developing a reputation for a world-class food cluster with high quality raw ingredients, product development expertise and facilities, and responsive government partners. For more information, visit www.foodislandpei.ca.

Media Contact:

Morgan Martin
Food Island Partnership
902-969-5279