From September 2024 to April 2025, the Local Supplier Spotlight series welcomed 16 local food suppliers to campus, connecting the community with BC-based businesses that UBC Food Services partners with.
This initiative highlights one of our main values: working with and supporting our local community to nourish the students, faculty, staff, and visitors of UBC. Our culinary teams cook wholesome, sustainable, and diverse food, using as many local ingredients as possible—over 50% of our food ingredients are purchased from local producers. But, what does local mean? At UBC, local is defined as food that is grown, raised, caught, or processed within British Columbia—and as close to UBC as possible.
David Speight, UBC’s Culinary Director and Executive Chef, says it’s a win-win situation for UBC and local suppliers to work together.
This series is a great way for us to introduce values-aligned local food businesses to our students and guests. It’s important for us to support small-scale, local food businesses as we know that the money that we spend with local businesses supports the local economy and provides an opportunity for an emerging food brand to showcase their products to a wide range of guests.
Chef David Speight
A heartfelt thank-you to these local suppliers who brought their products to campus this year and collaborated with our culinary teams to feed students:
- Kindred Cultures
- The Indian Pantry
- 4th Avenue Treats
- Taiwan Way
- Sabor a Yucatan
- The Plant-Based Workshop
- Susgrainable
- Columbian Antojitos
- Solecito Foods
- Brightside Foods
- Konscious Foods
- Elaichi Patisserie
- TMRW Foods
- Barakah Eats
- Oh Yas! Goodies
- Kula Foods
The Local Spotlight series has received positive feedback from the community and from the suppliers who participate in the program. As Mayumi Bae, co-owner and founder of The Plant-Based workshop shared of their experience,
Doing local spotlights at UBC has been an absolute highlight! Connecting with the students and seeing their enthusiasm and curiosity for our products is always incredibly rewarding. We also appreciate all the chefs and their passion for championing local brands like ours! Truly inspiring and a fantastic partnership.
Mayumi Bae, The Plant Based Workshop
Follow @UBCFoodie on Instagram to stay up to date on all the local food events happening on campus this summer, and keep an eye out for our Local Supplier Spotlights next fall.
