Food and Beverages Tech Review: Specials Magazine

In the realm of food safety and quality assurance, Guillaume Couture stands out as a seasoned professional with 13 years of dedicated service at Kerry, a global leader in taste and nutrition solutions. Holding the role of quality director, Guillaume has experienced various positions within the company, honing his expertise to ensure the highest standards in food safety. Based at Kerry’s Ste-Claire, Quebec facility, Guillaume’s commitment to a holistic approach has elevated the quality of nutritional beverages and helped Kerry provide customers with safe, great-tasting products. The Ste-Claire Advantage The Ste-Claire facility plays a crucial role in the production of nutritional beverages. What sets this facility apart is its strong technical expertise. Kerry Ste.-Claire’s onsite research, development & applications (RD&A) team co-creates customized beverage solutions with Canada and the United States. The food scientists closely partner in the facility with the manufacturi

Top Bottleless Water Coolers Solution in Canada 2025

Quench Canada simplifies access to great-tasting and consistently available water by eliminating the many inefficiencies associated with bottled water in the workplace. It's turnkey program sets a new standard for workplace hydration by fully managing the solution on behalf of its clients, from installation to service and support. With a cost-effective monthly rental model, customers can access point-of-use machines that dispense filtered still water, sparkling options and chewable ice. Pricing remains consistent regardless of usage, eliminating hidden costs. The machines are tailored to fit any layout, scale, or workplace culture and connect directly to the building’s waterlines. The need for deliveries and refills disappears, making it easy for companies to effortlessly scale as their requirements evolve. Distinguishing Quench is its customer-first approach embedded in every aspect of the business. Whether through tailored hydration solutions delivered by a knowledgeable sales team, dependable onsite service from skilled technicians, or dedicated support from the customer care team, Quench remains laser-focused on serving every customer. Clients ranging from small businesses to over 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies benefit from the same standard of excellence. “Customer first philosophy is not just a slogan for us,” says Montreal-based VP, David Lacombe. “It's a culture that empowers every employee to act with the customer's best interest in mind and to always create a consistently outstanding experience across every touch point.” This commitment becomes crucial as many companies struggle with rising prices, frequent delivery delays, ongoing environmental concerns, and the heavy lifting and storage strain associated with bottled water. But for Quench’s high-end, multi-location clients, the primary challenge is delivering a consistent, high-quality hydration experience to employees across all locations. Quench solves these challenges through three key strengths: an unmatched variety of solutions, experienced leadership, and a dedicated team. It offers one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the market, including bottle-free water coolers, sparkling and flavored water dispensers, and ice machines. All systems are powered by advanced filtration technology that guarantees fresh and clean water anywhere in Canada. With over 30 years of industry experience and a market presence across North America, Quench is trusted by a broad spectrum of organizations, from schools and hospitals to factories, hotels, retailers, and thousands of small businesses. This deep expertise means it understands its clients' operational pain points and delivers solutions designed to meet real-world demands..

Foodservice Equipment in Canada 2025

The foodservice industry is undergoing a dynamic transformation, driven by cutting-edge equipment and technology, to elevate and redefine the dining experience. Middleby (NASDAQ: MIDD), a leading developer of advanced solutions for commercial, industrial and residential foodservice, is at the forefront of this transition, elevating commercial kitchens globally with its modern products and systems. It operates in three business segments, including commercial foodservice equipment, residential appliances and food processing solutions. Middleby’s wide range of high-quality, customized products under various categories, like cooking equipment and beverage solutions, are designed to meet the evolving customer needs. Some of its popular products include commercial griddles, charbroilers and fryers, which are designed to streamline food preparation while maintaining high-quality standards. “The company has developed innovative solutions that have been quickly accepted as the industry standard, allowing customers to automate production lines with a low cost of ownership,” says Timothy FitzGerald, CEO. Middleby constantly expands its product offerings and makes key acquisitions to strengthen its position. Products like heavy-duty frying systems, slicers and breading equipment give the company a competitive edge. Its wide range of brewing and dispensing equipment is perfectly equipped to cater to the growing demand for quality drinks. One of its flagship products, the commercial griddle, offers unmatched performance and a perfect cook with every use. These are designed to help restaurants maintain consistency and maximize efficiency, even during the busiest hours. Staying on top of future trends like automation, digital technologies and IoT is top of mind at Middleby. One of the most significant developments in its portfolio is integrating modern technology into commercial kitchens. Its open kitchen IoT system allows restaurant owners and operators to remotely monitor and manage commercial cooking equipment across multiple locations through an easy-to-use online dashboard. This gives real-time insights into equipment performance, alerts for maintenance needs and a clearer understanding of energy consumption, all of which contribute to running a more cost-efficient and productive kitchen.

Restaurant POS Solution of the Year in Canada 2025

Toast, Inc. (TOST: NYSE), a company dedicated to delivering exceptional guest experiences through its point-of-sale (POS) system, is changing how restaurants, cafes and bars manage operations. The company's combination of advanced technologies and deep understanding of the food and beverage industry gives it a competitive edge, enhancing customer satisfaction at every step. Today, Toast stands as a market leader, offering seamlessly integrated tools for every aspect of a business, from front-ofhouse operations to back-end analytics. “One of the things that platforms like Toast offer is the ability to build all of the stuff in the restaurant, but also put together a world-class digital experience, whether it’s your website, your online ordering, the ability to understand your guests and their data, the CRM to remarket to them,” says Aman Narang, co-founder. The driving force behind Toast's success is its implementation team, 80 percent of whom have restaurant experience. They bring valuable insights to the client’s setup, ensuring that the platform is tailored to meet the distinctive needs of each business. As a result, staff can easily modify orders, split checks or accommodate special requests, ensuring smooth operations during peak hours. Leading the Digital Dining Revolution Toast addresses the intricacies of the restaurant industry through its purpose-built SaaS platform. Artificial intelligence enhances operational value by streamlining various processes, like reducing the time and effort needed for payroll processing. The improved efficiency allows restaurants to focus on delivering exceptional dining experiences. By leveraging AI, Toast helps restaurants operate more effectively, ensuring they can meet growing demands while minimizing operational challenges. Its solutions also support day-to-day tasks and empower restaurant owners with datadriven decision-making capabilities. Backed by powerful cloud-based software and restaurantgrade hardware, it offers an intuitive, all-in-one platform that seamlessly integrates POS, guest marketing and digital ordering and delivery. Toast’s ingress protection-rated hardware eliminates downtime and ensures systematic operations even in challenging environments. At the same time, its cloud-based software makes menus and operations accessible on any device. Toast’s commitment to innovation is established through its flexible built-in payment processing system, which enhances the overall user experience. By supporting a variety of payment methods, including contactless payments, mobile wallets and traditional credit cards, it enables faster transactions and reduces any friction in the payment process. It also offers competitive and transparent pricing on all transactions, with no hidden charges.

IN FOCUS

The Rise of Bottleless Water Coolers in Canada's Food and Beverage Sector

The Canadian food and beverage sector is shifting to bottleless water coolers, driven by improved water quality, operational efficiency, and sustainability, establishing them as a preferred hydration solution.

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Bottleless Water Cooler Solutions Enhance Efficiency and Sustainability in Canadian Food Service Settings

The Canadian food service industry is transitioning to bottleless water coolers, driven by enhanced efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability, thereby overhauling hydration by improving operational practices and reducing environmental.

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EDITORIAL

The Future of Foodservice in a Changing Market

As sustainability targets tighten and cost-efficiency becomes a priority, Canada’s food and beverage industry is embracing technology to drive progress. From bottleless water coolers to cutting-edge point-of-sale (POS) systems and next-gen food service equipment, businesses are adopting solutions that streamline operations, cut costs and elevate the customer experience. Bottleless water coolers are gaining traction nationwide as a more sustainable alternative to traditional bottled water. These systems deliver clean, filtered drinking water while minimizing plastic waste and reducing expenses. Increasingly, they are becoming integral to corporate environmental strategies. In the restaurant sector, POS systems are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of high-volume transactions, customizable menus and realtime performance insights. The latest cloud-based platforms simplify workflows with built-in analytics, contactless payment support and easy menu management. Intuitive interfaces and integrated staff training tools further improve efficiency and employee satisfaction. Behind the scenes, food service equipment is undergoing a smart transformation. Today’s innovations include IoT-enabled refrigerators, energy-efficient ovens and precision cooking tools that reduce food waste and ensure safety. These next-gen systems are designed to lower energy consumption, optimize food quality and reduce costs, empowering businesses to meet sustainability goals without compromising service. Canada’s food and beverage sector is moving toward a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. In this edition of Food and Beverage Tech Review Canada, we spotlight the companies leading change across bottleless water, POS, and food service technology. We also share expert insights on adapting to a rapidly evolving landscape. Huy Tran, national marketing director at Aburi Restaurants Canada, reveals how fine dining take-out responds to the rising demand for elevated at-home dining. Larry Williams, chief supply chain officer at Biscuitville Fresh Southern, highlights how the self-distribution model and real-time data tools help overcome supply chain disruptions. As the industry continues to transform, the integration of sustainable technologies, customer-first strategies and operational intelligence is shaping the next era of food service. We invite you to explore the innovations and expert perspectives in this edition and discover how your business can thrive in a future defined by smart, sustainable solutions.

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