Moncton kombucha brewery gets funding boost
News release
December 10, 2020 · Moncton, New Brunswick · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Canada’s food and beverage industry was hit hard by COVID-19. The Government of Canada has taken significant action to help the industry recover and is working closely with food producers and organizations to help them sustain and create jobs.
ALIVE Kombucha receives investment
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, the Honourable Margaret Johnson, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, along with ALIVE Kombucha officials today announced a joint investment of more than $373,000 to establish a 5,000 square foot commercial size Kombucha brewery in Moncton. MP Petitpas Taylor made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages.
The funding will support renovations to an existing building and the purchase of advanced manufacturing equipment. The project is made possible with assistance from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Canadian Agriculture Partnership (CAP), a cost-shared investment between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.
Today’s announcement demonstrates the federal and provincial governments’ commitment to support the Canadian food and beverage industry. Investments like this one will help ensure there are food sector jobs for Canadians to go back to when the country recovers from the pandemic.
Quotes
“The food sector is an essential industry in Atlantic Canada. That is why we are helping food and beverage-based businesses scale-up and offer more jobs to ensure that our food sector plays a major role in Canada’s economic recovery.”
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA
“While COVID-19 has posed challenges for the agriculture and agri-food sector, it’s more important than ever to ensure that farmers and processors are supported. Through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, we’re helping businesses like ALIVE Kombucha take advantage of opportunities to diversify, expand production, and make use of innovative and clean technologies, which will have an economic ripple effect for their whole region.”
- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“This support from the federal government will help ALIVE Kombucha innovate and create new business opportunities to sustain and invigorate this vital sector, which will support the local economy and help the wider industry compete globally.”
- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
“The development, growth and sustainability of the local food and beverages sectors is central to the continued strengthening of New Brunswick’s food system. There is a growing interest for locally produced food and beverages, and supporting local companies is crucial to the New Brunswick economy.”
- The Honourable Margaret Johnson, New Brunswick Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
“Here at Alive Kombucha we brew our kombucha using solar energy, so that we can provide you with a healthy drink that doesn't negatively affect our planet. Our 40 megawatts solar energy production is certified by The Smart Energy Company, saving 30.7 acres of forest annually and preventing 26.5 tones of Co2, while producing our great tasting kombucha. Our products are made from a minimum of 97% organic ingredients and is certified by the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation.”
- Louis Leith, Owner, ALIVE Kombucha
Quick facts
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The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is providing a repayable contribution of $201,710 to MCP Network Ltd, while $100,000 is being invested through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a cost-shared investment between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.
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Opportunities New Brunswick is also investing $72,000 towards the project.
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The company is contributing more than $1.7 million towards the establishment of the brewery. ALIVE Kombucha is MCP Network Ltd’s operating name.
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The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year (2018-2023), $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector. This investment is cost-shared on a 60:40 basis and delivered by provinces and territories to ensure programs are tailored to meet regional needs.
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ACOA’s contribution is provided through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation.
Associated links
Contacts
Catherine Mounier-Desrochers
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Economic
Development and Official Languages
Catherine.Mounier-Desrochers@canada.ca
Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
343-549-2326
Jean-sebastien.comeau@canada.ca
Louis Leith
Owner, ALIVE Kombucha
louisleith@drinkalive.ca
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972 / 866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@canada.ca
Nick Brown
Communications
Province of New Brunswick
506-444-5298
nick.brown@gnb.ca
Paul CJ LeBlanc
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-452-3310
Paulcj.leblanc@canada.ca