Big Mountain Foods: Jasmine Byrne Caters to New Appetites Seeking Protein Alternatives

With conscious eating and healthier habits no longer considered a trend but a worldwide movement, there has never been more demand for food products that cater to new appetites. Among a wave of fresh perspectives and innovative plant-based businesses, Big Mountain Foods is a leader. The company is run by COO Jasmine Byrne and her mother, Kimberly Chamberland, and together they bring to market sustainably created plant-based, allergen-free products “made with ingredients you can pronounce.”

Jasmine’s Journey

Jasmine’s mother, Kimberly, founded Big Mountain Foods in 1987, and the company became known for its veggie patty. In university, Jasmine initially pursued social work but pivoted to a business degree and joined Big Mountain in 2013. Packing patties for the company at 14 years old taught Jasmine a strong work ethic. After her degree, she worked side-by-side with her mom, starting as her assistant, before learning to order and manage inventory and attend trade shows. From her mother, she received a well-rounded mentorship on how to run a small business. Kimberly taught her to network, be persistent with sales, and put herself outside her comfort zone.

Jasmine is now the COO of Big Mountain Foods and has received the ‘Rising Star Award Top 3’ from the BC Food Processor Association and a place in the coveted ’40 Under 40 Award’ from Business In Vancouver.

Building Big Mountain

When Jasmine started her journey with Big Mountain Foods, everyone thought she was crazy for leaving a stable corporate job with benefits to work at a veggie burger company – though the brand soon expanded its product line and big box stores like Save-On-Foods quickly picked them up. The customer feedback on their products was overwhelmingly positive. Still, many mothers remarked that their children could not bring the Cauli Crumble to school because it contained walnuts, a common allergen. This was the A-HA! moment for Jasmine and Kimberly to go allergen-free, narrowing the scope of their product. In addition to producing certified vegan and allergen-free products, all Big Mountain foods are gluten-free, soy-free, cruelty-free, and non-GMO.

As a woman-owned and family-run business, Big Mountain cares about its community and making a positive impact on the world. Each year, Big Mountain donates thousands of pounds of food to local food banks and meal prep services that help those in need. In 2021, Big Mountain collaborated with Kindred Farm Sanctuary, a haven for people and animals, to improve the community’s emotional and physical well-being. Big Mountain’s values and actions are grounded in their commitment to creating food they would proudly serve to their own family, supporting animals, and making allergen-free products more accessible.

Try Big Mountain Foods!

Versatile and nutrient-rich, Big Mountain’s Cauli Crumble Veggie Grounds pair wonderfully with soups, salads, wraps, and tacos. Be prepared to power up for the day with the Cauli Crumble Kimchi pancake or Cauli Crumble cabbage rolls. Both recipes can be found on the Big Mountain Foods website.

A trio of mushrooms – Lion’s Mane, Portobello, and Shiitake – collide in this innovative Big Mountain mix, packed with health benefits, vitamins, and minerals. Try it over pasta, in Shepherd’s Pie or a wrap, on pizza, or in stuffed bell peppers.

The “superfood of superfoods,” Big Mountain’s Soy-Free Tofu is a first-to-market innovation made from Canadian fava beans and bursting with nutrients. Containing 95% more protein than leading soy-tofu brands, this plant-based, allergen-free alternative packs a powerful punch of protein into wraps, pasta, veggie bowls, salads, a stir fry, and pretty much anything.

Big Mountain Foods is available through Spud.ca and at Vegan Supply, Safeway, No Frills, and your favourite big box grocers. 

Header photo of the mother-daughter duo by Ashley Drody Photography.

 

About the Author: Lauren Driedger is a student at JCI Institute studying Fashion Business and Creative Arts. She is passionate about writing, collaborating with others, and making positive change in the world.  Recently Lauren completed a practicum with the BC Society for the Museum of Original Costume and has launched her first business – Lauren Driedger Creative.