Mandi Lunen

Mandi Lunen

Food Business Coach

Mandi Lunan is an independent Food and Beverage Advisor based in the West Kootenays. She founded and created the popular Kootenay Teen Chef Club / Northwest Territories Teen Chef Club Programs, and curates the Kootenay Coffee Fest. Prior to beginning her advising practice in 2016 Mandi founded a vegan pastry distribution company in Ottawa Ontario for over a decade. When not advising Mandi is Boomtown Garter Girl "Payday Pearl", a member of the Kootenay Robuster Dragonboat Team, and Vice President of the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce. 

Mandi's areas of expertise are distribution strategies and relationship building, scaling, marketing, CFIA / Canadian labelling compliance and authentic networking. 

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Arena Main Stage

PANEL: STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR FOOD BUSINESSES

After another challenging summer of wildfires, crop losses, and marginal working conditions, it’s time to take stock of how emergencies impact our food businesses. What lessons can we gather from our local and regional experiences to better prepare for future crises? This panel brings together experts and industry leaders to share practical strategies for building resilient operations and communities. Through real-world examples and current initiatives, panelists will discuss how to create effective emergency plans, identify and mitigate risks, and explore collaborative approaches to safeguarding food systems during times of crisis. Whether you’re a producer, processor, retailer, or distributor this session will bring together valuable insights to help you adapt and thrive in the face of unexpected challenges.