Best of RC Show 2023: MENU’s Top Innovation & Revenue Generation Picks
With over 1,000 booths packed onto the tradeshow floor, the latest technologies, products, equipment and revenue-generating solutions for foodservice were on display at RC Show. While this list represents some of our favourites, there’s no replacement for attending RC Show in person to taste, smell and test-drive the products, brands and services you need to level up your business.
1. ACADIAN STURGEON & CAVIAR
Sustainably-raised Canadian sturgeon caviar and products.
Acadian Caviar has proven that Canadian sturgeon caviar ranks among the world’s best-known types of caviar (beluga, ossetra and sevruga), and can be sustainably produced without over-harvesting or damaging the environment. They use pristine Canadian water with native sturgeon species and sell live sturgeon, caviar, and sturgeon meat and products all over the world. Intrigued? Sign up for one of their tasting and educational experiences in Carter’s Point,
Nova Scotia.
Why we love it: They are Ocean Wise Life certified—not to mention that their caviar is outstanding.
Learn more at: acadian-sturgeon.com | @kingofcaviar
2. REJUVENATE BY PLANTAFORM
The future of indoor gardening from Canadian ag-tech innovators.
Elegant and easy to use, Rejuvenate by Plantaform is the world’s first smart indoor garden using advanced Fogponics, NASA’s latest agricultural technology. You can grow fresh herbs, vegetables and edible flowers all year round with this showstopping, Canadian-made indoor garden available in midnight black or frost white.
Why we love it: The sleek, space age design of Rejuvenate is the perfect example of form and function and brings agriculture right into the restaurant space.
Learn more at: plantaform.com | @plantaform
3. VANILLA & SPICE
Premium quality vanilla beans from Madagascar.
Born in Madagascar, childhood friends and Vanilla & Spice co-founders Nomena and Aina are intent on supplying Canadians with the highest quality vanilla beans and vanilla products. Highly sought-after, bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar feature a rich and creamy flavour with a sweet and buttery aroma and are well suited for many baking recipes and desserts. Their vanilla is sourced directly from small, local producers in Madagascar and then handcrafted into premium products in Toronto, Ontario. Wholesale offerings for foodservice available.
Why we love it: Vanilla & Spice offers wholesale pricing for foodservice and their pure vanilla extract is, in our opinion, unequaled.
Learn more at: vanillaandspice.ca | @vanillaandspicecanada | e: info@vanillaandspice.ca
4. HOPE AND SESAME
The first commercially available and certified sustainable sesame milk.
The Planting Hope Company is a woman-led and managed company known for crafting popular, sustainable plant-based products like RightRice, Mosaics veggie chips and Veggicopia snacks. Their latest offering, Hope and Sesame sesame milk is made using the nutrient-dense pulp left over from the sesame oil industry. Upcycled Certified™ and packed with nutrients, this toasty and delicious sesame milk is available in chilled and shelf-stable formats and comes in six flavours including their breakthrough Barista Blend!
Why we love it: It’s not only sustainably made, it’s completely delicious.
Learn more at: plantinghopebrands.com | @hopeandsesameco
5. BARBET SPARKLING WATER
Canadian-made, elevated sparkling water for the 0% ABV crowd.
Barbet was started by co-founders Andrea Grand and Katie Fielding to explore the potential of creating an inspired range of non-alcoholic beverages with the same moxy and sparkle as alcoholic drinks.
The beautifully-designed cans scream fun (and premium) and contain unique, stand-out flavours including Love Bite (pink grapefruit, ginger and juniper), Wild Card (blood orange, calamansi and a “flicker” of hot jalapeno pepper), and Light Wave (cucumber, pineapple and lavender).
Why we love it: It’s a no/lo mixologist’s dream that slaps right out of the can.
Learn more at: drinkbarbet.com | @drinkbarbet
6. FOGHAT COCKTAIL SMOKER™ (from Cuisivin)
Showstopping cocktail smoker to level up your bar experience.
Hand-turned from a solid piece of white oak, the Foghat cocktail smoker is designed to perch on a rocks glass or snifter. Bartenders simply add flavoured natural smoking fuel to the smoker to create an aromatic, cascading waterfall of culinary smoke to enhance the flavour of their cocktail or spirit creations. Cuisivin also offers the Foghat Smoked Cloche Set for smoked cheese platters and Foghat Smoked Charcuterie Kit for next-level boards.
Why we love it: The bartop presentation premiumizes the cocktail experience and the flavours are clean and complementary.
Learn more at: cuisivin.com
7. CHOPVALUE
A Canadian company that harvests used chopsticks to create beautiful furniture
and kitchenware.
ChopValue is the brainchild of Vancouver founder and CEO, Felix Bock. The certified B Corporation urban-harvests used chopsticks and re-engineers them into beautiful custom-designed furniture, flooring, installation walls, coasters and cutting boards engineered for daily use and built to last. The world’s first circular economy franchise, ChopValue has harvested over 100 million chopsticks for reuse in products expertly handcrafted in their microfactories for a minimal carbon footprint.
Why we love it: ChopValue offers a b2b design program for restaurants and other business and shows what design thinking can do to solve some of the industry’s toughest sustainability challenges.
Learn more at: chopvalue.com | @chopvalue | contact: scott_torontoeast@chopvalue.com
8.YO-YO COOKIES
Iconic cookie from New Zealand and Australia perfected for the Canadian market by two PEI-based ex-pats.
Yo-Yo Cookies are as iconic in Australia and New Zealand as s’mores are to Canadians. Brought to the Maritimes by two New Zealanders who have been making them in their restaurants for 17 years, these delicious butter shortbread sandwich cookies are filled with all-butter buttercream in six flavours: original vanilla, salted caramel, red velvet lusciousness, espresso pumpkin spice, oh my chocolate and zesty lemon. Available in bags or in two-cookie packages.
Why we love them: With 100% real Canadian butter as the second ingredient, these cookies are an easy and unique dessert menu or welcome offering.
Learn more at: yoyocookies.ca | @yoyo.cookies.canada
9. PURA VIDA BIOPLASTICS STRAWS
Bio-based, compostable and reusable drinking straws.
Stronger than conventional single-use plastic straws, Pura Vida straws are made from a bio-plastic compound created from non-GMO cereal flour (maize) and biodegradable polymers. They are home or restaurant compostable, breaking down at about the same rate as other food or yard waste into a nutrient rich humus that can be used as natural fertilizer. Cherokee Nation-owned, Pura Vida is also invested in educating consumers on the harm plastics cause to the terrestrial and marine environment and wildlife.
Why we love them: Pura Vida straws provide a next-generation sustainable, reusable, bio-based solution that stands up to both hot and cold serves.
Learn more at: puravidabioplastics.com | @puravidabioplastics
10. BOTRISTA (from Kevito Group)
Automated, turnkey craft beverage program that minimizes overhead to optimize profitability.
Botrista is a sleek, elevated solution for operators interested in offering a premium craft beverage menu without the operational and labour costs of a full bar program. Their DrinkBot automates the dispensing and mixing of ingredients to deliver high-quality, customized craft drinks in just 10 seconds from order to pour. Botrista’s vast library of craft drink options includes infused teas, lattes, iced coffees, lemonades, sparklings, mocktails and more.
Why we love it: Botrista automates the creation of elevated seasonal menus from a tiny, five-square-foot footprint!
Learn more at: botrista.ca | @botrista_bev | contact: sales@kevitogroup.com
11. ECO GUARDIAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC SOLUTIONS FOR FOODSERVICE
Fibre-based foodservice packaging and plant-based cutlery options.
Eco Guardian has won many awards for their groundbreaking sustainability innovation, including Sobeys Plastic Waste Challenge. They offer a complete line of compostable, fibre-based takeout containers, dinnerware and trays, compostable PLA cups, and plant-based cutlery that can help operators address the upcoming single-use plastics ban in style.
Why we love it: Eco Guardian products replace plastic with sustainable, compostable materials that also meet the demands of form and function, from sushi to burgers.
Learn more at: ecoguardian.com | @ecoguardianinc
12. SPATULA FOODS
Flash-frozen, chef-created meal kits delivered across Ontario.
SPATULA delivers fully-prepped, flash-frozen dishes to consumers from their growing roster of culinary creators. Dishes are cooked to 90% readiness, then flash frozen to lock in nutrients, flavour and quality for customers to simply heat and eat. Restaurants and foodservice operators can apply to retail SPATULA frozen dishes or join the company as affiliates or chef partners.
Why we love it: SPATULA was co-founded by Chef Wallace Wong and Ian Weng, former strategic lead at Uber Eats Canada, and features dishes created by notable chefs and restaurants that receive royalties on each signature SPATULA dish ordered.
Learn more at: spatulafoods.com | @spatulafoods
13. PUDGYBOY’S MINI DONUTS
Donuts on demand for up to 300% profit (based on SRP).
Pudgyboy’s mini donuts are not only delicious, they’re a brand with major appeal, excellent profitability and comprehensive marketing collateral support. The company’s foodservice program is geared to meet operator needs, with donuts shipped frozen for fast service on-demand—just air fry, deep fry or oven-heat them to serve. Available in four signature sugars: Cinnamon sugar, Oreo sugar, Icing sugar, and Frootloops sugar.
Why we love it: The heat-and-eat format reduces labour and waste while increasing revenue.
Learn more about Pudgyboys at: pudgyboys.com | @pudgyboys
14. CARDINAL FIRECOOKER
The world’s first mobile BBQ-Smoker-Grill-Open-Pit-Oven on wheels.
The Cardinal Firecooker was created by Canadian pitmaster Marc Cardinali, founder of the popular Cluck & Squeal line of barbecue rubs and blends. The firecooker is the world’s first multifunctional, hybrid, offset on-demand cooker boasting 1,772 square inches of cooking area. You can even “Pit Your Ride” with a trailer package with a road-class chassis and trailer abilities.
Why we love it: It’s a great option for patios, events or to take your cuisine on the road.
Learn more at: cardinalfirecooker.com | Contact: info@cardinalfirecooker.com
15. OMNI FOOD EQUIPMENT
Unique single-unit revenue generators and restaurant experience enhancers.
OMNI retails a wide range of foodservice equipment including all-in-one, compact units that can add profitable new menu options for operators. Their gelato machine can create 14 litres of gelato per hour with gelato classico, semi-soft ice cream, granita and shock-freezing production programs.
Why we love it: OMNI also provides the state-of-the-art Tempesta barista machines used for the World Barista Competition and other affordable, small-footprint revenue solutions!
Learn more at: omnifoodequipment.com | @omnifoodequipment
