Cedar Valley

Ameen Fadel and Surria Fadel, a mother-son team from Windsor, Ontario, asked for $250,000 for 5% of Cedar Valley, a maker of authentic-style pita chips cooked in 100% coconut oil with no seed oils, sold in four flavours in about 650 stores across Canada at $6 a bag retail. The business started as a high school project with a $3,000 grant, grew out of a home kitchen using a small Walmart fryer, and moved into a 5,000-square-foot facility in 2020 after spending about $500,000 on equipment; last year's sales were $1.2 million with a $20,000 loss, and this fiscal year sales are projected to reach $2.6 million, with a current 32% margin that could rise to 47% with automation, selling through retailers including Loblaws and Costco while turning down other retail chains due to capacity constraints.

Wes Hall and Vincenzo Guzzo went out over concerns about a crowded market and the complexities of investing in a family business, while Michele Romanow declined to offer but wished them well. Arlene Dickinson offered $1,000,000 for 20% equity, matching the founders' valuation; after brief negotiation the founders accepted her offer.

Cedar Valley is still operating and sells through its website.