Good Food Revolution (GFR), and the company that publishes it (Gingerz Consulting), rely on the support of sponsoring members called Good Food Fighters. Please support the businesses and organizations listed below in all their good endeavours.
Good Food Fighter membership is by invitation only. To learn more about becoming one of our certified Good Food Fighters click here.
Recently Joined:
Icon Vins Fins is one of the fastest growing wine agencies in Canada. Assembled of Icon Wine & Spirits, Vins Fins and Lifford, our newly nationalized agency has been cultivating regional relationships between producers and the Canadian wine trade for the past 10 years. Management owned and operated, we drive impact through agility, market-leading brand development, meticulous service, and an inspired workplace.
The Case For Wine and Vinexx are pleased to offer a selection of exceptional wines to our valued clients.
In addition to a range of exclusive wines available on consignment, we offer a thoughtfully curated collection of value, fine, and classic wines at the retail level in Ontario. Our firms share a commitment to provide an outstanding experience every step of the way: product, people, and service.
Vinequity is a Canadian, federally incorporated not-for-profit organization founded by seven female wine professionals of colour. The organization has three main objectives: (1) to host a public online directory of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) in the Canadian wine industry; (2) to raise scholarship funds and award them to BIPOC applicants wishing to further their wine industry careers in Canada; and (3) to provide advocacy, resources, and support to marginalized people who have experienced barriers to advancing within Canada’s wine community. By achieving these objectives, Vinequity will help to ensure that people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour get equitable treatment and opportunities to access, grow and thrive as visible leaders in the Canadian Wine Industry.
New York Wine & Grape Foundation: The mission of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation is to promote the world-class image of New York grapes and wines from our diverse regions to responsibly benefit farmers, producers and consumers through innovative marketing, research, communication, and advocacy.
Drink Better is a drinks agency inspired by the family farm, and owned and operated by Kari Macknight Dearborn.
We celebrate the work of generations of committed grape growers, winemakers, distillers, botanists, and agronomists – and we share their work with you.
Our portfolio highlights fiercely independent businesses who hold on tight to tradition while also embracing sound technological innovation. These partners manage their companies and their land with respect and integrity and, using minimal intervention, produce wines and spirits with real character.
It is our mission to showcase farms and families, not factories – and promote the purchase of better wines and spirits in the Ontario market. Better quality, better tasting, better for the environment, better for local economies around the world. That’s the ‘better’ in DRINK BETTER. We focus on organic, biodynamic, and other sustainable operations, while delivering the most delicious small production wines and spirits from Canada and beyond. We truly believe this is the better way to drink.
Founded in 2018, Buyers+Cellars is Ontario’s newest boutique wine company.
Our business is wine: curation, sales, tasting, education. Our team has deep industry connections and know-how resulting from over 70 years of wine industry and hospitality experience. Our portfolio is focused on hand-crafted wines – made by passionate producers – that exemplify the fullest expression of a region’s terroir and style. Our elegant, sophisticated event space in Ottawa, opening Fall 2019, will be dedicated to wine tasting and education.
Discover #Uncorked Potential
Cloudsley Cellars is a boutique winery located in the heart of the Twenty Mile Bench appellation in Niagara, Ontario. With grapes sourced from some of Niagara’s best vineyards we aim to produce the finest representation of cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with minimalist intervention. Traditional techniques include the use of wild yeast and extended barrel maturation in French oak with a moderate use of new oak so as not to overpower the inherent characteristics of the terroir. Whether at a restaurant, at home or at the winery, we hope you enjoy our unique expression of Niagara.
FWM Wine, Beer and Spirits represents independent producers of fine wine, beer and spirits from around the world. Established in 2008, we are a top 15 wine agent out of 900 in Ontario, Canada. Our passionate team of knowledgeable staff shares our values of innovation, tradition and authenticity and applies them to the selling and marketing of our clients products.
DIONYSUS WINES & SPIRITS LTD was established in 1990 by current President, Alex Patinios. Originally started to fill a niche in the Canadian market by importing premium Greek wines, we are now one of the largest privately owned agencies in Ontario.
In 1994 our experience in the Greek category was extended to other regions and products in the world. We are now a well diversified agency, representing top producers from around the world. We have a well balanced portfolio of leading producers in their category.
Our portfolio is carefully built, and avoids conflicts or overlaps in order to be able to focus on the products of one producer. It is very important for us to represent only one quality supplier in any category to ensure that we provide the best service possible on behalf of that supplier.
We are a dynamic company that believes in promoting brands with a view towards the long term. We have developed excellent relationships with all the key decision-makers at the LCBO. We also have a strong involvement in the industry as a member of DRINKS Ontario, the provincial trade association representing the interests of manufacturers, agents, importers, marketing groups, trade offices and distributors of beverage alcohol products in Ontario.
We are always looking for new marketing initiatives and ideas to increase both the sales and brand position for our suppliers. We consider all of our suppliers to be our partners and value their input and support. Our focus is on creating a positive presence in the Ontario market and establishing a solid foundation for long-term sales and growth.
All of our products are imported through the LCBO’s VINTAGES, General List or Specialty Services departments. We operate only in the province of Ontario. For information on other markets, please consult the supplier’s web site.
New Zealand Winegrowers is the national organisation for the country’s grape and wine sector, with around 850 grower members and 700 winery members. Established in March 2002, we are the only unified national winegrowers industry body in the world. Our mission is to create value for our members while conducting a wide range of tasks to support our members including but not limited to:
- advocacy at regional, national and international levels
- providing a global marketing platform for New Zealand wine
- facilitating world-class research on industry priorities
- giving the industry timely and strategic information
- leading the development of sustainable production practices
- organising sector-wide events
For more information regarding New Zealand Winegrower’s please visit our website www.nzwine.com or contact our Canadian Market Managers at info@nzwine.com
Founded in 1982, Select Wines has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. They are driven by the passion of their 100+ employees with a portfolio that is a curation of fine wines and category leading products.
Established in 1978, Lifford Wine & Spirits is a leading provider of home wine delivery in Ontario. Unique wines, by the case, delivery directly to your door.
The Case For Wine has been importing thoughtful and exciting wines for more than 20 years, founded in 1998 by Lloyd Evans and Terry Milne. The grower portfolio curated over the years is a list of top artisans from their specific regions, of real strength are the wines of Piedmont, Tuscany, Burgundy and the Loire Valley. In 2017 The Case For Wine was purchased by industry veteran Ruben Elmer and Partner Roberto Albis, the plan is to continue working with only the best growers in their field.
The Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is a pan-Canadian association, which brings together individuals within the sommelier profession, restaurant services, and other sectors of the wine industry. CAPS is affiliated with the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) headquartered in Paris and counting 54 member and observer countries.
Arterra Wines Canada has grown and evolved to owning and distributing 100+ wine brands, including seven of the top 20 brands in Canada. In the last five years, the company’s portfolio has received over 1,500 accolades and awards in national and international wine competitions.
Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Arterra Wines Canada operates eight wineries and over 1,700 acres of premium vineyards in Canada’s wine regions.
It owns and operates 164 Wine Rack retail wine stores in Ontario and sells wine kits and products for winemaking through its RJS Craft Winemaking brand. It employs approximately 2,000 full-time and part-time staff across the country.
Retailers and Wholesalers:
Olliffe: Purveyor of the Finest Meats Working with partners at the farm gate level, Olliffe provides the best meats, lamb, poultry and game from across Ontario and around the world. Our commitment to working with the finest supplying partners ensures unequalled quality for your home, cottage or event. The Team: the gang at Olliffe are known as foodsters. With nearly 35 years of business. Olliffe attributes much of the success to the happy faces serving you behind the counters. From the keenly knowledgeable counter staff, the acclaimed winning chefs to the approachable butchers who love to chat with customers, the Olliffe gang has a mission to make your next dining experience the finest.
Wineries:
Charles Baker Wines Since 2005 Charles Baker, a senior marketing executive at ultra-boutique Stratus Vineyards, has been making a terroir based Riesling with the help of Winemaker J.L. Groux and some wonderful fruit courtesy of Mark Picone of Mark Picone Culinary Studio fame. Charles has a long and illustrious career in the wine/hospitality business and is one of the most respected voices for Ontario wines.
Norman Hardie is both a person and a winery. His elegant Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are a favourite of Ontario collectors, sommeliers and critics. (His Riesling, Pinot Blanc and Melon de Bourgogne get snapped up pretty quickly too.) Hardie began his professional life in the hospitality business, and although he is now a farmer, a winemaker and a traveling salesman, he’s still welcoming and serving the public at his winery in the western end of Prince Edward County, where he likes nothing better to tell the story of his journey towards better and better wine.
Stratus Vineyards The Stratus winery, like our signature assemblage wines, is a composition – a whole greater than the sum of its parts. On their own, the individual elements are distinctly unique – a diversely planted vineyard with unusually rich soil; a sustainable facility that unites tradition and science to serve the winemaker’s art; and a retail gallery with adjoining tasting rooms that are both chic and welcoming. Working together, they create wines and experiences that are truly memorable.
Wine Agencies:
In 1995 Steven Campbell purchased Lifford Wine & Spirits. As a seasoned restaurateur of twenty years, Steve was passionate about wine and jumped at the opportunity to acquire a small but excellent portfolio of Californian, Australian and Italian wines. Steve’s next task was to expand the portfolio to include wines from many more countries and at various price points. Now, thirteen years later, Lifford represents more than sixty meticulously chosen producers from all over the world, a truly international collection of some of the most prestigious and successful wineries. Guided by Steven’s passion and expertise, the dynamic Lifford team has forged a unique identity in the wine trade and has become one of Ontario’s most favoured suppliers of wine to the hospitality industry.
The Living Vine imports distributes only Organic and Biodynamic wines across Canada through our various monopoly liquor control boards and private stores. Most of our products are certified by a recognized international body or are renowned and respected for the natural wine making philosophy. Their commitment is to deliver world class offerings from iconic producers/growers whom happen to use Organic,Biodynamic or extremely sustainable philosophies to grow grapes and make wine.
Nicholas Pearce Wines is a leading importer, sales distributor, and marketer of international handcrafted wines in Ontario, Canada.
For over a decade, the agency has introduced a growing selection of iconic labels and rising stars to sommeliers and private clients throughout the province.
Their passionate team and producers continue to inspire some of the country’s best wine lists and cellars.
Noble Estates Wine & Spirits Noble Estates has a 25 year history of supplying fine wine and spirits to the LCBO and Restaurants in Ontario. We are lucky to represent leading producers from around the world like Champagne Laurent Perrier, Rocca delle Macie, Fontanafredda, Bottega, Tedeschi, Cavit, Umani Ronchi and Planeta.
Profile Wine Group A coalition of three wine merchants: Barrique Wine Imports, VinVino Wine Merchants, and Du Chasse Wines and Spirits. Profile Wine Group is one of Canada’s premier wine and spirit agencies. Based on a unique and diverse portfolio, an uncompromising commitment to quality, and a standard of service second to none.
The Vine In the spring of 2000, Rob Groh & Anne Jasper began building a portfolio of premium, family-owned wineries. Our shared passion for the wines of Italy and California defined the search for some of the most distinctive, authentic wines of those regions. We are proud to note that years later, we have maintained most of those relationships, while developing one of the most comprehensive portfolios of premium wines in Ontario. Along the way we joined forces with Cave Spring Cellars, one of Ontario’s finest wineries.
Woodman Agencies Our company specializes in the importation, distribution, sales, and marketing of fine wines and spirits in Ontario through the LCBO. Woodman Wines and Spirits Inc. was founded in 1990. Russell Woodman, the principal and senior consultant has, for over 30 years, successfully built and grown the wine business for brand owners the world over.
Community Organizations
Ocean Wise is a Vancouver Aquarium conservation program created to educate and empower consumers about the issues surrounding sustainable seafood. Ocean Wise works directly with restaurants, food-services, retail outlets and suppliers to ensure they have the most current, scientific information regarding seafood and to help them make ocean-friendly buying decisions. One of GFR’s very first video podcasts was featured around Ocean Wise.
The Ontario Hostelry Institute was established in 1997 by the leaders of the hospitality-tourism industry in Canada, the Institute has sought to raise the standards of professional post-secondary hospitality programs in our colleges and universities while serving as the advocate for the industry in matters relating to professional culinary, hospitality and tourism education, training and apprenticeship.
The Stop is located in Toronto’s west end, The Stop works to increase access to food in a manner that maintains dignity, builds health and community and challenges inequality. From its origins as one of Canada’s first food banks, The Stop has blossomed into a thriving community hub where neighbours participate in a broad range of programs that provide healthy food, as well as foster social connections, build food skills and promote engagement in civic issues. Among the busy initiatives are community kitchens and gardens, cooking classes, drop-in meals, peri-natal support, a food bank, outdoor bake ovens, food markets and community advocacy. In 2009, The Stop opened The Green Barn, a sustainable food production and education centre with a 10,000-square-foot greenhouse, commercial kitchen, classroom, sheltered garden and composting facility. School visits and an after-school program offer hands-on opportunities for children to learn about the food system. Underlying all of The Stop’s efforts is the view that food should be a basic human right.
Terroir a hospitality symposium that brings together the innovative and creative influencers of Canada’s hospitality industry including chefs, food writers, wine and food experts and business leaders. Our symposium attracts people who are serious about the business of hospitality and who are looking to constantly develop and refine their careers. Terroir is a non-for-profit committee of industry professional that put on an annual symposium that is about education, networking, sharing collective resources and building a community that helps to strengthen our industry.