Small Business Success Stories

Cantoo City

Painting a Success Story in the Art Supplies Market

People often say to follow your passion, and that’s exactly what Sherry Gu did. Upon diving back into the art world, Gu noticed a significant gap in the market for affordable, high-quality art supplies. Determined to make art accessible to all, she launched Cantoo City in 2022, with a mission to create easy-to-use art kits for everyone-not just professional artists.

Saltwinds Coffee Company

Combining the Past and Present in a Cup of Coffee

Coconuts, coffee beans, and exotic spices once arrived in Canada on wooden ships, with the sea breeze infusing the beans for a smoother, sweeter flavour. Founded in 2022 by Dr. Laura Richard, a New Brunswick native with a PhD in chemistry, the company is inspired by this historical coffee journey.

Fromagerie du Presbytère

The Big Cheese in a Small Quebec Town

Jean Morin uses local cow and sheep milk to produce award-winning cheeses approved by Québec Vrai. Heritage and craftmanship inspire his products, while community inspires his business model.

Firebarns

Hot Dog! Firebarns Ignites the Hot Sauce Industry

Pierre-Olivier Drouin and Frank Menard identified a gap in the condiment market and stepped up to give Canadians a home-grown choice for hot sauce.

PowerPlant Superfoods

The Magic of Mushrooms

When Matt Dean Pettit wanted to start a company that uses the natural healing properties of functional mushrooms, his pre-existing relationship with GS1 Canada came in handy. Now he sells a variety of coffees and seltzers designed to naturally boost the immune system.

Sitti Social Enterprise

A Clean Slate for Refugees

Noora Sharrab is the co-founder of a small business empowering women through self-determination. Early on, she had problems that stemmed from buying barcodes off a third-party website. Sharrab said, “I only wish someone told me earlier, just go with GS1 from the beginning.”

Fire in the Kitchen Spice Co.

Variety Is the Spice of Life for One Entrepreneur

From the early days in his mother's kitchen to listing products with major grocery retailers, Christian Horner has relied on a love of food and confidence in his products.

Isabelle Huot, Docteure en nutrition

Isabelle Huot Finds Recipe for Success With GS1 Canada

With her product information safely stored in GS1 Canada's product registry, Isabelle can easily share her product data seamlessly with existing and new trading partners from one central location.

Spirit Bear Coffee Company

Respecting Tradition While Embracing Innovation

In the future, the company sees the business going beyond UPC codes and into more GS1 standards as they re-enter grocery and pursue specialty grocery and other market opportunities.