In this episode of Recipes for Success, we sit down with Joshua Counsil, engineer-turned-entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and co-founder of Good Robot Brewing and The Beverage Factory.

Raised by murder mystery dinner theatre owners, Joshua brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and storytelling to the world of food and beverage. In 2014, he and his friends left behind their engineering careers to launch Good Robot Brewing, a quirky brewpub in the North End of Halifax that has since grown into three award-winning hospitality venues and a wholesale brand recognized across Canada.

Most recently, Joshua and his partners opened The Beverage Factory, a $6.5M co-manufacturing facility producing everything from wine to energy drinks for dozens of Atlantic Canadian companies.

In this conversation, Joshua shares his insights on building businesses that balance community, creativity, and scale. From the leap of faith that started it all to the complexities of launching a large-scale production facility, this episode offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs who want to grow while staying true to their roots.

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
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Thanks for listening!

In this episode of Recipes for Success, we’re joined by Gary Hughes, Local Program Specialist at Sobeys, who has spent over 27 years growing with the company and building a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed in grocery retail.

Gary began his career as a clerk at a Garden Market IGA and worked his way up to Store Manager, before moving into buying and category management roles overseeing multiple categories across Sobeys, Safeway, and IGA in Western Canada. In 2017, he joined the newly created Field Merchandising team with a mission close to his heart, helping local products come to life on Sobeys shelves across the Prairies.

With a lifelong passion for small business, Gary now works with hundreds of entrepreneurs and startups, guiding them through the process of getting their locally made products into grocery stores. In this conversation, he shares insights on what retailers are looking for, how local suppliers can stand out, and the steps that can help small producers expand from community-based sales into larger retail opportunities.
If you’re a food entrepreneur looking to grow your retail presence, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who knows both sides of the shelf.

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of Recipes for Success, we sit down with Kristyn Carriere, co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks and a food innovator with over a decade of experience shaping some of the world’s best-known chocolate brands. Before launching her own venture, Kristyn worked in Europe with global leaders including Cadbury, Milka, Green & Black’s, and Godiva, where she mastered the art of product development and international market launches.

In 2019, Kristyn returned to Canada and, alongside her sister Leanna, created 7 Summits Snacks, a women-owned Canadian brand that merges performance nutrition with premium chocolate. What started as a bold idea has grown into a company with products in over 200 retailers across Canada, supported by national distribution and plans to expand into the U.S. in 2025.

Kristyn shares her journey of translating global experience into local entrepreneurship, the challenges of scaling a better-for-you snack brand, and how 7 Summits is committed to sustainability, empowering women in business and sport, and redefining chocolate’s role in functional nutrition.

If you’re a food entrepreneur looking for inspiration or a chocolate lover curious about innovation in the category, this conversation is packed with insights on building a brand with purpose, passion, and plenty of adventure.

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!