Plant Protein Industry in Western Canada – CanMar Foods Ltd

Myles Hamilton is a graduate of Airdries’ George McDougal Class of ’79. Myles holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Washington State University, College of Business and Economics graduating with Honors in 1984. He also completed an Executive Management Program from Harvard Business School in 2010.

Myles spent the first 6 years of his career at Procter & Gamble (P&G). Following P&G, he spent most of his 15-year career as the Western Canada Vice President at Frito Lay Canada (now called PepsiCo Foods Ltd). During his tenure at Frito Lay, he led the Western Region through a very high growth period seeing sales grow from $70 million to $280 million.  Brands such as Lays, Tostitos, Sun Chips, Smart Food, Munchie Snack Mix, Miss Vickie’s were all introduced into Western Canada under Myles leadership.

Always having the dream to be an entrepreneur, at the age of 45 he left his role as Vice President of PepsiCo Foods Ltd to purchase an equity position in Spitz Sunflower Seeds. A 50-person business located in Bow Island Alberta.  As managing partner, he was able to increase the sales by 50% in the first 2 years at Spitz with a 90% market share in Western Canada and achieved the #3 brand in the USA.  As a result, they were approached by PepsiCo Foods (Frito Lay) and after 14 months of negotiation the company was sold to PepsiCo Foods Ltd.  

Following the successful exit at Spitz Sunflower Seeds, Myles along with Hokanson Capital from Edmonton bought Regina based CanMar Foods Ltd.  CanMar Foods is the largest producer of Food Grade Flax in Canada with 30 employees. These products are sold in 20 countries around the world including all major Grocery stores in Canada, Costco Canada, USA, Japan Spain.  The company has a fully integrated 20,000-acre Farm operation growing their own conventional and organic Flax and Hemp.

Myles has a passion for agriculture, and he maintains Agricultural Holdings in Southeast Saskatchewan near Estevan.

Myles serves as a Director of AVAC Ltd. (specializing in Ag & Food Venture Capital Investment), serves on the Board of Prairie College, and Chairs the Campus Development Committee for Center Street Church.

Myles and his wife Corinne recently celebrated their 37^th anniversary and they have 2 adult children.  His daughter is a business graduate doing a Food Startup in Calgary and his Son a trained actor who resides in New York City.

MENU: $30.00 you can pay online. If you don't pay and don't show up you may be charged later

Potato salad with Dijon mustard and capers
Alberta beef "Gaucho-Style”, chimichurri sauce, roasted carrot and seared tomato
Good Bread buns and butter (V)
Caramel and Chocolate Trifle Cosmopolitan Kahlua Cream

SANDWICH: $25.00 Black Forest Ham. List in comments section and don't pay until meeting

REGISTRATION: Register ONLINE as soon as possible to confirm attendance for catering requirements. Registration closes on FEBRUARY 18TH AT 9:00 AM

REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS: CLICK on link below that shows NAME. This takes you to the Registration Page. Click Register Me. Click Save. This will take you to the area where you enter your credit card details.

PAYMENT OPTIONS: Please pay online.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS: List in Comments Section. We can’t accommodate food restrictions on the day of the meeting if the Chef does not know in advance.

COVID REQUIREMENTS: You must provide proof of double vaccination to attend (Please have QR Code and Identification ready. Masks must be worn unless you are seated. The Restrictions Exemption Program permits in-scope businesses, entities and organizers to operate without most public health restrictions as outlined in Order 43-2021. Masks are still mandatory indoors.   https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-public-health-actions.aspx