Chocolate investment sweetens export opportunity

News release

February 20, 2020 – Sherwood Park, Alberta - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Alberta are helping chocolatier Jacek to expand its production and reduce its environmental impact through funding from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

Jacek Chocolate Couture, a locally-owned, award-winning artisan and craft chocolate company based in Sherwood Park, received the funding under the partnership’s Value-Added Products to Markets program.

The funding supported the purchase and installation of a new flow-wrapper machine using compostable film. The innovation will allow the company to bring its operations to a new level while furthering its environmental goals.  

Quotes

“This is a wonderful win-win project that will boost production while reducing the impact on our environment. Our Government is always pleased to support small, environmentally-minded businesses like Jacek Chocolate Couture as they find new ways to succeed and grow.”

- Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, Marie-Claude Bibeau

“Congratulations to Jacek Chocolate Couture. Entrepreneurial spirit starts at the local level, but reaches out to the global market. Supporting the growth and development of small businesses is essential to creating a thriving economy and companies like Jacek are the backbone of Alberta’s growing agri-food sector.”

- Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

“We are very grateful for the support of the local, provincial and federal government over the last 10 years. This support has allowed us to not only grow our business, but it has helped us improve our systems to ensure food safety, access new markets and most recently advance our environmental stewardship goals.”

- Jacqueline Jacek, founder/cocoanista, Jacek Chocolate Couture

Quick facts

  • Jacek Chocolate Couture received funding up to $116,238 under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

  • The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments, with the aim of strengthening the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity.

  • Programs and activities are focused on:

    • Growing trade and expanding markets
    • Innovative and sustainable growth of the sector
    • Supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector
  • In Alberta, the partnership has committed a federal-provincial investment of $406 million over five years towards strategic programs and services that are aligned to national objectives and tailored to priorities in Alberta.

Associated links

Contacts

Oliver Anderson
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
oliver.anderson@canada.ca
613-462-4327

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca
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Adrienne South
Press Secretary
Agriculture and Forestry
780-293-4684

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