Vancouver, BC-based Freshline provides e-commerce software that allows food distributors to receive wholesale orders digitally to streamline their processes and save on labour costs. Freshline received $83,908 in funding for a project to bring increased innovation to the global food distribution supply chain. The company is building out the core functionality of its B2B e-commerce platform to enable food distributors and retailers to transact online in new ways.
We talked with Freshline co-founder and CEO Robert Kirstiuk to find out more about the project and the company’s plans.
Q: What is your company’s mission?
A: To bring food distributors into the 21st century, allowing them to operate their business more intelligently and efficiently, and ultimately creating a more resilient food supply chain where specialized distributors can compete.
Q: Why did you apply for this funding and how will you use it?
A: We will use this funding to strengthen our product’s competitive edge in the space and add more value to the companies we work with.
Q: What excites you most about working in this area of the food industry?
A: We have seen a real, tangible impact of using our software to the bottom line of the food distributors we work with. We are very proud of this.
Q: Why is collaboration so important for accelerating innovation in the food industry? Is it difficult to find good collaborating partners, and what would make the process easier?
A: Food is a historically low-tech industry. By increasing collaboration we increase the likelihood of technology being adopted and succeeded in the food industry.
Q: Please comment on the importance of public funding to help companies clear innovation hurdles and access leveraged funds.
A: It’s super critical for this to be the case as it helps Canada maintain an edge in the modern world economy, and compounded and aggregated over decades this helps Canadians maintain a high standard of living.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for your company?
A: Hopefully more growth and an expanded product offering!
Q: What are your passions or hobbies outside of work.
A: I like to hike and go running!
Q: If you had to pick one person to make you a meal, who would you choose?