In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Peter Neal, co-founder of Neal Brothers Foods and a passionate advocate for mental health and human-centred leadership.

For more than three decades, Peter has helped build one of Canada’s most respected family-owned CPG brands, known for their signature tortilla chips and salsas which has grown to encompass over 50 products. Alongside growing Neal Brothers Foods, he also took on the complex challenge of distribution in Canada, forming Jonluca Neal, a leading natural food distributor representing over 200 brands across the country.

In our conversation, Peter shares how Neal Brothers evolved from a small family venture into a national Canadian brand, and how core values like integrity, authenticity, and care have guided every stage of growth. We explore what it really takes to scale in Canadian retail, why strong brand foundations matter, and how owning both brand and distribution creates strategic advantage.
We also touch on Peter’s commitment to mental health advocacy and why resilience, people-first leadership, and open conversations about well-being are essential for long-term success in today’s food industry.

This episode offers insight not just into building great products, but into building a brand that stands for something. Whether you’re a food entrepreneur, CPG founder, or industry leader, this conversation delivers perspective, inspiration, and practical lessons for the long haul.

https://www.nealbrothersfoods.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nealbrothers/
https://www.facebook.com/NealBrothersFoods
https://www.linkedin.com/company/neal-brothers-foods/about/

https://jonlucaneal.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/jonlucaneal/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/jonlucaneal/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-neal-161076202/

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with John Ernst, a next-generation leader from Terra Beata Farms, one of Atlantic Canada’s most recognized cranberry growers and processors. After graduating from the Smith School of Business with a passion for entrepreneurship, John stepped into the family business during a period of rapid growth and hasn’t looked back.

Over the past six years, he has played a key role in expanding Terra Beata’s reach across retail, food service, and export markets, while also contributing to acquisitions and capital projects that continue to shape the company’s future. John’s perspective blends formal business training with hands-on experience in agriculture, manufacturing, and brand development within the agri-food space.

In this conversation, we explore what it means to join a family business at a pivotal moment, how Terra Beata has evolved from a cranberry farm into a value-added food brand, and the realities of scaling operations while staying true to their roots. This episode highlights the balance between tradition and innovation, and what’s required to grow a legacy brand into its next chapter.

Website: https://www.terrabeata.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerraBeataCranberries

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrabeatagoodness/

Email: John.Ernst@TerraBeata.ca

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!

In this episode of SKUFood Recipes for Success, we sit down with Jake Karls, the unapologetically authentic and refreshingly relatable Co-founder & Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares, the good-for-you chocolate brand that went from a Montreal condo kitchen to tens of millions of bars sold across thousands of retail stores.

Jake brings a no-BS approach to brand building. For him, the real differentiator isn’t just product innovation—it’s human connection, consistent storytelling, and having the courage to be fully yourself in a crowded category. As Mid-Day Squares scaled from idea to retail reality, Jake played a pivotal role in building community first, leveraging radical transparency, and turning everyday snackers into loyal superfans.

Widely recognized as a rising star in business, Jake has been a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year, landed on Forbes 30 Under 30 (Food & Beverage, 2023), and has become a familiar voice in media across North America.

In our conversation, Jake takes us through the creative and chaotic early days of the brand, how daily content evolved into a trust-building machine, and why vulnerability became their most powerful marketing strategy. We explore how the founders navigated rapid growth without compromising authenticity, how they intentionally built a movement rooted in empowerment and inclusivity, and what their journey reveals about the future of food brands that resonate on a human level.

This episode offers an inside look at how Mid-Day Squares disrupted an entire category simply by showing up as themselves.

Website: https://www.middaysquares.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middaysquares/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidDaySquares/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-karls-653106ba/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mid-day-squares/

If you like what you heard leave us a comment or a review and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.

If you would like to be on the show, send us an email :

peter@skufood.com or susan@skufood.com

Keep informed and up to date about the latest news in the food industry, and follow us on social media:

• Join our weekly SKUFood newsletter
• Connect with Peter on LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Thanks for listening!