Indigenous-owned chip company in Manitoba will soon be on store shelves across Canada
People across the country could soon be experiencing a chip that was created by a Manitoba-based, Indigenous-owned company.
Alfred Lea, who started the Native Canadian Chip Corporation, created Tomahawk Chips in 2015.
The chips have mainly been sold in Manitoba, Ontario, California and on Amazon, but that will soon change thanks to a partnership with Star Wholesale Ltd., which is a national distributor based in Calgary.
"You have to work hard, you just have to keep going, you can never give up," said Lea. "That's what I tell young people, if you're going to do something, you're the main driver, you drive it; don't let anyone else steer you away."
The Riverton, Man.-based company currently has five flavours of chips that are sold at a variety of stores.
While the chips are a growing product, Lea said they are looking to expand the brand and offer more products.
"We'd like to do jerky, some corn chips, popcorn, et cetera."
He said they like to create their own recipes for the products and use Indigenous producers as well.
"I take this business seriously because you're getting people to follow you and if you fail, they fail."
Some of the flavours of Tomahawk Chips that will be available throughout Canada. July 27, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Some of the flavours of Tomahawk Chips that will be available throughout Canada. July 27, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Lea added he currently employs around 20 people and with this new national partnership, he plans to double his workforce.
He also has plans to expand his chip brand outside of Canada.
"I just came from a trade show in Las Vegas and it went very well, so we are expanding very quickly in the U.S."
Lea added he has also sent test samples to China and has received interest from Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.
Some Tomahawk Chips flavours. July 27, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Some Tomahawk Chips flavours. July 27, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Another project Lea is working on is mentoring Indigenous youth through Friendship Centres in First Nation communities.
He is taking his business experience and helping kids with their business ideas.
"I just open doors for them and give them opportunities to meet other business people," he said, noting the youth are already very sharp people.
He said the advice he gives people is they have to be prepared to work hard and they can do anything they want, they just have to apply themselves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Nine suspects arrested in $24M gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport: Peel police
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year, Peel Regional Police said Wednesday.
Some of the winners and losers in the 2024 federal budget
With a variety of fiscal and policy measures announced in the federal budget, winners include small businesses and fintech companies while losers include the tobacco industry and Canadian pension funds.
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Canada is expected to win 22 medals at the Paris Olympics
Canada is expected to win a total of 22 medals, including six gold, at the Paris Summer Olympics, which open on July 26.
500 Newfoundlanders wound up on the same cruise and it turned into a rocking kitchen party
A Celebrity Apex cruise to the Caribbean this month turned into a rocking Newfoundland kitchen party when hundreds of people from Canada's easternmost province happened to be booked on the same ship.
Liberals must now sell a budget they say will help younger Canadians catch up
It's now up to the federal Liberal government to sell a spending plan it says will help younger Canadians catch up to their elders.
Father of boy accused of stabbing 2 Australian clerics saw no signs of extremism, Muslim leader says
The father of a boy accused of stabbing two Christian clerics in Australia saw no signs of his son’s extremism, a Muslim community leader said on Wednesday as police began arresting suspected rioters who besieged a Sydney church demanding revenge.
Ontario woman out $30K after investing in mortgage company accused of being unlicensed
An Ontario nurse is fighting to recover tens of thousands of dollars in savings she invested in a mortgage company that has since been accused of operating without a licence.
Young New Brunswick songwriter makes appearance on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'
Eight-year-old songwriter Zuri Hamilton from Miramichi, N.B., got to show off her talent on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' on Monday.