4 Noteworthy Innovations in Local Food Service and Production

The local innovations range from u-pick aquaponics produce to QR-code software for restaurants.

Photograph by David Pereiras, courtesy of Canva.

U-Pick Aquaponics Produce at Granary Road

Granary Road, an agri-park and market just south of the city, has opened what is described as “Alberta’s first on-site U-pick aquaponics facility.” Aquaponics is a farming method that integrates a culture of fish, plants and beneficial microorganisms in a soilless environment. It is most commonly used to grow edible greens and other plants indoors. Granary Road’s aquaponics operation is a collaboration with Lethbridge College and allows customers to handpick aquaponic-farmed produce such as tomatoes, basil and microgreens.

granaryroad.com

 

Attabotics and FoodX Technologies Partner on Grocery Delivery

The demand for grocery delivery service has skyrocketed since March 2020, for obvious reasons. Cue Attabotics and FoodX Technologies, two tech companies aiming to improve this model of service. Headquartered in B.C., FoodX develops software for grocery delivery. Headquartered here in Calgary, Attabotics is a 3D robotics supply chain company that creates robots capable of fulfilling warehouse orders. Together, they are finding efficiencies in grocery delivery that will ultimately save money, space and delivery time.

attabotics.com

 

Lovingly Made Ingredients Opens Plant in Calgary

Plant-based eating has been one of the most lucrative food trends of the last few years and shows no sign of slowing down. Given Alberta’s agricultural capacity, it seems natural that companies in this space would set up shop here. This past February, Lovingly Made Ingredients, one of the biggest plant-based food producers in the U.K., opened a manufacturing plant on Barlow Trail. Using Calgary’s AGT Foods and Saskatoon’s Parrheim Foods as suppliers, the plant processes yellow peas to extract proteins for use in a variety of products.

lovinglymadeingredients.com

 

New Multifunctional Restaurant Software by QResponse

QResponse helps restaurants manage a variety of functions through a QR-code system. This new company’s software lets users make transactions, manage waiting lists, create online menus, organize reservations, streamline pickup and delivery and contract trace. Founded by Griffin Smith and Jacky Tai, QResponse offers both free features and paid functionality. QResponse uses Helcim, a local fintech company for transaction payments. Helcim itself is a local tech company, founded by Nicolas Beique, a member of Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2019.

qresponse.ca

Learn more about the people and organizations moving Calgary forward with Avenue's Innovation Newsletter.

This article appears in the June 2021 issue of Avenue Calgary.

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