Interview with Karen McKay General Manager and Mike Betcher President , Cloud 9 Gluten Free Foods Inc. February 7, 2020 with Val Vaartnou
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Cloud 9 Gluten Free Foods Inc. have changed their name from Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery Ltd.
Cloud 9 is also making huge investments to support the gluten-free community both locally and across Canada and the US by increasing their manufacturing capabilities, introducing new products and ingredients to the market and upgrading their facility certifications. They were the second company in BC to achieve Gluten Free Certification and continue to emphasize the importance of food safety through their stringent and ever improving quality assurance program.
They have been a huge supporter of the Canadian Celiac Association British Columbia from their inception. They have willingly supported our events and have been a major contributor to the Scotiabank Charity Challenge Run, our main fundraising event. Karen has walked with us, provided goodies for participants and since we’ve started has designed our t-shirts. Their commitment to the celiac community is greatly appreciated. I met with both Karen and Mike in February to understand the major strategic changes they are under-going.
You may be aware and disappointed that their bakery on Royal Avenue in New Westminster closed its doors February 1. This decision was not made lightly but was required in order to focus on their manufacturing expansion and their increasing breadth of packaged products. Their bakery always was their “test kitchen” and customers got to enjoy the results of their testing. Their objective was to always ensure their products were of the highest quality. With the lease of the New Westminster facility coming due and the decision to expand and move their manufacturing facility, their ability to manage both entities spread resources to thin. Another contributing factor was that the current bakery facility could not be commercial food manufacturing certified and creating a new baking facility was cost prohibitive with the expansion of the blending and packaging plant.
Their current blending and manufacturing plant in Burnaby is 2,000 square feet. Cloud 9 has recently leased a 12,000 square foot warehouse in Port Coquitlam, that will enable them to expand their product lines and focus on their core business. Currently they have one large flour blender and the new plant will expand to three blenders. It is a huge financial and time commitment that will enable them to keep ahead of the curve. Regulations for manufacturers will become more stringent later this year and the changes they are making will prepare them for this future. Quality assurance is extremely important to Cloud 9 and meeting and exceeding the expectations and changes in regulations to be implemented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is their main focus. The move is also essential for growth of the business and will put them ahead of the curve. Both national and international distributors are ensuring all their manufacturers are certified gluten-free and have processes and procedures in place to ensure the quality of their products. This has always been a priority at Cloud 9.
Cloud 9 has expanded its distribution network which now includes western representation by Horizon Distributors and their new partnership with Purity Life which has an extensive presence in Eastern Canada. They have opened new distribution channels for Cloud 9 through the Healthy Planet chain of 27 stores in Eastern Canada, where the full line of Cloud 9 products will be given shelf space. The chain focuses on vegan and allergen free products and provides taster samples and demos of the products to the customers with the support of the manufacturers.
Cloud 9 will be adding a vanilla cake and easy pie crust mix to their current allergen free product line.
As well, they will be implementing a whole new line of sugar-free mixes. Shortbread and lemon poppy seed mixes will be the first in this line of products. Sugar-free manufacturing is not easy as there are restrictions on how much sweetener can be used in any product. They are limited to 10% erythritol and .035% of Stevia which makes it a special challenge to produce enough sweetness without compromising taste, texture and functionality. Specially formulated to be a natural sweetener, Cloud 9’s “Sweetin” will provide a cup-for-cup alternative to sugar. The product will also include chicory root which provides fiber and is a good source of prebiotics. It is all natural.
Gluten free without compromise has always been their moto. They take great pride in comparing their products to others on the market. Where competitive products are often hard and crumbly after one day, the Cloud 9 products remain moist and surpass in both taste and texture without the use of preservatives. They stand behind their brand and always ensure their products act and taste as good or better than their gluten counterparts.
Available at:
Nesters Markets / Buy-low Foods
Save On Foods
Choices Markets
Donald’s Markets
Stong’s Markets
Pomme Natural Market
Meinhardt Fine Foods
Famous Foods
Dad’s Organic Market
Cloud 9 is also making huge investments to support the gluten-free community both locally and across Canada and the US by increasing their manufacturing capabilities, introducing new products and ingredients to the market and upgrading their facility certifications. They were the second company in BC to achieve Gluten Free Certification and continue to emphasize the importance of food safety through their stringent and ever improving quality assurance program.
They have been a huge supporter of the Canadian Celiac Association British Columbia from their inception. They have willingly supported our events and have been a major contributor to the Scotiabank Charity Challenge Run, our main fundraising event. Karen has walked with us, provided goodies for participants and since we’ve started has designed our t-shirts. Their commitment to the celiac community is greatly appreciated. I met with both Karen and Mike in February to understand the major strategic changes they are under-going.
You may be aware and disappointed that their bakery on Royal Avenue in New Westminster closed its doors February 1. This decision was not made lightly but was required in order to focus on their manufacturing expansion and their increasing breadth of packaged products. Their bakery always was their “test kitchen” and customers got to enjoy the results of their testing. Their objective was to always ensure their products were of the highest quality. With the lease of the New Westminster facility coming due and the decision to expand and move their manufacturing facility, their ability to manage both entities spread resources to thin. Another contributing factor was that the current bakery facility could not be commercial food manufacturing certified and creating a new baking facility was cost prohibitive with the expansion of the blending and packaging plant.
Their current blending and manufacturing plant in Burnaby is 2,000 square feet. Cloud 9 has recently leased a 12,000 square foot warehouse in Port Coquitlam, that will enable them to expand their product lines and focus on their core business. Currently they have one large flour blender and the new plant will expand to three blenders. It is a huge financial and time commitment that will enable them to keep ahead of the curve. Regulations for manufacturers will become more stringent later this year and the changes they are making will prepare them for this future. Quality assurance is extremely important to Cloud 9 and meeting and exceeding the expectations and changes in regulations to be implemented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is their main focus. The move is also essential for growth of the business and will put them ahead of the curve. Both national and international distributors are ensuring all their manufacturers are certified gluten-free and have processes and procedures in place to ensure the quality of their products. This has always been a priority at Cloud 9.
Cloud 9 has expanded its distribution network which now includes western representation by Horizon Distributors and their new partnership with Purity Life which has an extensive presence in Eastern Canada. They have opened new distribution channels for Cloud 9 through the Healthy Planet chain of 27 stores in Eastern Canada, where the full line of Cloud 9 products will be given shelf space. The chain focuses on vegan and allergen free products and provides taster samples and demos of the products to the customers with the support of the manufacturers.
Cloud 9 will be adding a vanilla cake and easy pie crust mix to their current allergen free product line.
As well, they will be implementing a whole new line of sugar-free mixes. Shortbread and lemon poppy seed mixes will be the first in this line of products. Sugar-free manufacturing is not easy as there are restrictions on how much sweetener can be used in any product. They are limited to 10% erythritol and .035% of Stevia which makes it a special challenge to produce enough sweetness without compromising taste, texture and functionality. Specially formulated to be a natural sweetener, Cloud 9’s “Sweetin” will provide a cup-for-cup alternative to sugar. The product will also include chicory root which provides fiber and is a good source of prebiotics. It is all natural.
Gluten free without compromise has always been their moto. They take great pride in comparing their products to others on the market. Where competitive products are often hard and crumbly after one day, the Cloud 9 products remain moist and surpass in both taste and texture without the use of preservatives. They stand behind their brand and always ensure their products act and taste as good or better than their gluten counterparts.
Available at:
Nesters Markets / Buy-low Foods
Save On Foods
Choices Markets
Donald’s Markets
Stong’s Markets
Pomme Natural Market
Meinhardt Fine Foods
Famous Foods
Dad’s Organic Market
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