A Mechanism for Resiliency and Business Growth
Provision Coalition Inc., a team of food and beverage industry sustainability experts, recently partnered with Sobeys to launch Sobeys’ R-Purpose MICRO (RPM), an intensive 12-week start-up boot camp to help small local food and beverage companies put purpose, sustainability and circularity at the heart of their business model.
As part of Our Food Future's response to COVID-19 and the plan to support an inclusive green, social and economic recovery, R-Purpose MICRO was developed to accelerate growth and build resiliency for small food and beverage businesses based in Guelph and Wellington County.
Now with participants nationally, Provision Coalition’s R-Purpose MICRO is a fast-growing initiative that is empowering and enabling small food and beverage companies from across Canada to grow their businesses on a foundation of sustainability.
Making an Impact
In the last nine months, Provision Coalition has graduated over 65 companies from their R-Purpose MICRO program. Examples of early impacts include: 65% have increased their revenues; 50% have secured new distribution deals; 40% have created new strategic partnerships; and 100% are implementing their circularity plans.
Cher Mereweather, the CEO of Provision Coalition said, “We recognize that one way to help accelerate a circular food economy is to work with large companies, but we also recognize the disruptive power of the start-up. We are proud to enable smaller, micro-sized food and beverage companies to embed purpose, sustainability and circularity at the heart of their business models when they are still small, so that they can grow faster and make more of an impact, with zero waste and a regenerative mindset already in their DNA.”
Demo Day
Many of the participating companies that were part of Sobeys’ first cohort are also members of the Ontario Made program, including: Abokichi, Cherry Lane, Coppa di Gelato, Culture Shock Kombucha, Eat My Shortbread, Fraktals, Goodums Food, Happy Pops, Louise Prete Food, and Nature Knows Inc.
Last month, these suppliers showcased how they make food sustainably in a virtual pitch competition. The event marked the graduation of these companies from the first cohort of Sobeys’ R-Purpose MICRO.
Sobeys’ RPM Spring Cohort
If you are a Sobeys supplier and interested in joining the next cohort of food and beverage companies ready to disrupt the food system, please reach out to Provision Coalition ( info@provisioncoalition.com ). The Spring Cohort of Sobeys' R-Purpose MICRO begins May 27, 2021 and is limited to 20 participants. Secure your spot before it’s too late!
RPM Remote
Do you want to grow your business while doing more good for people and the planet, but take the program completely at your own pace? R-Purpose MICRO Remote is Provisions’ newest business boot camp that can be started at any time and is designed to take 10 weeks. Through a combination of online learning, assignments, and virtual coaching sessions, Provision Coalition will walk you through how to embed purpose, sustainability and circularity into your business to drive growth, build resiliency and transform your company into the business of your dreams. Ontario Made members can register for RPM Remote using the code "ontariomade" to get $100 off your course fee. Register here today.