Sarah Goodman, Founder and CEO of BC-based superfruit snack-food brand Chiwis announced today that the company has secured $550,000 (CAD) in funding from new and existing investors including Fulmer and Co., Women’s Equity Lab, as well as private investors from the food, beverage, and tech space to help it continue its rapid expansion across Canada and beyond and bring the total capital raised to date to more than $1 million, with a 70% base of female investors.
With the additional infusion, entrepreneur and nutritionist Goodman will build a new production facility in the company’s home base of Squamish, BC, hire a team of full-time staff to help facilitate its continued growth into new and existing markets, and engage in research and development for new products and potential expansion of its popular line of vegan-friendly, healthy fruit-chip snacks.
As well as adding many strategic investors to this funding round, Goodman also brought on a new member of the Chiwis advisory board, former Smart Sweets Chief Operating Officer Cindy Bokitch. Bokitch helped Smart Sweets grow to an annual revenue stream over $100 million and previously served as Regional Vice President, Western Canada for Starbucks, as well as Vice President of Global Operations for lululemon. Bokitch will join Chiwis as Operations Advisor and assist with growth plans, hiring and operations and help the company continue its growth into a major player in the natural-snack category. Bokitch joins existing advisory board members President and CEO, Ener-C Richard Pollock, Director of Varshney Capital, Praveen Varshney, and Founder and CEO of Eve’s Crackers, Eve Laird.
The funding infusion is yet another milestone for the fledgling women-led company marking a wildly successful first year in business that saw the brand increase its line from two to five SKUs and place its products in more than 400 retail locations — all the while weathering supply chain issues, continued COVID-19 restrictions, and an onslaught of natural disasters, none of which slowed its momentum.
The 100%-natural, vegan-friendly, non-GMO snack food company launched in February 2021 with two flavours of fruit chips — original Kiwi and a Tropical variety of kiwi, pineapple and coconut chips. Last fall, Goodman added three new flavours to the fruit-chip family (Orange, Mango and Piña), that followed the company’s philosophy of utilizing often-discarded, fibre-rich and nutrient-dense rinds, cores and husks of fruit.
“To say it was a roller coaster launching a business during the past couple of years would be a huge understatement, but I’ve been so grateful to see the way customers and retailers have embraced Chiwis and shown their support for a small, independent, women-led business,” says Goodman. “This latest injection of capital will allow us to continue to grow the company, contribute to the local economy, and take the next step in the evolution of our brand.”
Originally available only in BC, health-conscious consumers and snack-food aficionados can now find Chiwis flavours on shelves in Whole Foods, London Drugs, Urban Fare, IGA, Fresh St. Market, Nesters Markets, Choices Markets, Foodland, Healthy Planet, Summerhill Markets, Organic Garage, Pusateri’s and other retailers and grocery stores across the country. Chiwis is North America’s first-ever kiwi-chip company and one that is women-owned and -operated and certified as such by WEConnect International.
For more information on Chiwis or to receive regular newsletters and stay up to date on all the latest developments, please visit chiwis.co
