Nadège Pâtisserie will offer six limited-edition macaron flavours for the Pan Am Games
The Pan Am Games are a mixed bag for the small business community in Ontario. While some have bemoaned the traffic delays, HOV lanes and general headaches brought on by the international sporting event, others are looking for opportunities to attract new customers, build buzz and create unique products. Here are a four small businesses hoping to cash in on the Games.
Nadège Pâtisserie One of Toronto's most famous sources of French-style baked goods is celebrating the 2015 Pan Am Games by producing a unique line of their famous macarons inspired by chef Nadège Nourian's roots in France and her new home in the Great White North.
"It's important that we release them as a French pastry but my inspiration is Toronto and Canada itself," said the Lyon-born pastry chef. "The macarons are very traditional French, but I wanted to make traditional Canadian flavours."
In celebration of the Games Nadège Pâtisserie will offer six limited-edition macaron flavours – s'mores, peanut butter and jam, lemon pie, vanilla blueberry, cinnamon sugar and maple bacon – each topped with an emblem celebrating Canada and the Pan Am Games.
"It's important to do something with the city and celebrate," said Ms. Nourian. "It's part of our job to help the city and elevate it."
Our Paper Life Toronto-based cardboard furniture marker Our Paper Life is helping the Pan Am Games reduce its environmental footprint by supplying the Athletes' Village with disposable garbage and recycling bins. Unlike regular trash cans and bins, which are made of a combination of plastics and metals, Our Paper Life's 100 per cent recyclable depositories are produced locally, can be easily stacked and transported in bulk and take seconds to set up.
While the contract is far from the company's biggest, VP of sales Jordan Whelan was nonetheless determined to be part of the Games.
"These events make a big splash in terms of bringing forth environmental issues," he said. "The size of the contract is average, but to be involved in something that is recognized on an international scale is quite advantageous. It lends a lot of credibility to be attached to something like the Games."
Morningstar Hospitality Services Aboriginal majority-owned catering company Morningstar Hospitality is preparing for its largest undertaking in its brief two year history, feeding athletes, officials and spectators of the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. President Chris Trainor says he is excited to provide a wide selection of locally sourced, aboriginal inspired dishes to residents and visitors in the coming weeks.
"It provides us an invaluable forum to showcase our approach to cuisine and shows potential clients what our capacity is and how we can be relied upon to deliver what we promise," he said. "Just to be part of the Pan Am Games is tremendous."
Furthermore, as a young company, Mr. Trainor sees the Games as an opportunity to introduce his brand to a wider audience.
"We've gotten some good exposure in the aboriginal community because of our connection there, but the Games are allowing us to showcase at a larger and more diverse forum," he said. "There will be legacy opportunities, we hope, but also we're enjoying the moment."
Great Lakes Brewery Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery wants to take advantage of the Pan Am Games to get its craft beer into the hands of new customers. Great Lakes will be one of many craft beers served to athletes and fans at the Ontario Celebration Zone, a showcase of live entertainment and tourist information at Harbourfront Centre.
"Craft brewers are anticipating selling an incredible amount of beer during the Games, and we have received a huge order for such a small brewer," said Peter Bulut Jr., president and chief brewing officer of Great Lakes Brewery. "This order has made us ramp up production just to keep up for the Games."
At the same time, however, traffic delays are making it difficult to get products to customers. "This has made our delivery process very challenging, to say the least. We have been planning for over a month how to deal with it so we'll see how well that works out," said Bulut.
Other craft brewers are also hoping to cash in. Steam Whistle Brewing wants fans to visit its brewery before and after games, Grand River Brewing Company is releasing a special edition gold coloured beer at the opening ceremonies, and the Mill Street Brewpub and Beer Hall will provide free Canada-themed T-shirts to athletes.
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