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
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.