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
The
grand prize is supported by the contributing partners including Innovation PEI,
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