In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Julie Bednarski, Founder and CEO of Healthy Crunch, shares how she turned her passion for food and wellness into a thriving global brand. Combining her expertise as a Registered Dietitian and trained chef, Julie has created delicious, better-for-you snacks that are allergen-free and nutrient-dense.
Through her participation in the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program, Julie continues to drive innovation and inspire other women entrepreneurs. Her story is one of resilience, growth, and dedication to making healthy eating accessible and enjoyable for all.
Julie Bednarski is a dynamic and energetic entrepreneur with almost ten years of experience in the food and nutrition industry. She has always had a passion for food and wellness and believes that health and happiness all start in the kitchen. Julie’s education includes Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Human Nutrition at the University of Guelph and a Master of Health Science in Nutrition Communication at Ryerson University. Julie went on to complete her dietetic internship to become a Registered Dietitian with the College of Dietitians in Ontario.
In 2012, Julie followed her passion for culinary arts, as she attended the Chef’s Training Program culinary in New York City at the Natural Gourmet Institute. Following her culinary training, Julie went on to work at various restaurants throughout North America to refine and further develop her culinary skills.
In July 2014, Julie started Healthy Crunch – as a way to satisfy her craving for super crunchy kale chips that were BIG in size and BIG in flavor. She started recipe development in her home kitchen and within 1 year, Julie had expanded to own her own commercial snack food manufacturing facility. Healthy Crunch’s mission is innovate everyday foods making them better for you, while still being super delicious. With Julie’s ambition for success Healthy Crunch grew to have over 25,000 points of distribution within Canada within the first 2 years in business. Healthy Crunch now distributes their products throughout the world including Canada, USA, Europe, and the Middle East. Since the start of her business, Julie continues to expand Healthy Crunch’s product lines to include coconut chips, trail mix, granola bars, rice crispy squares, chia jam, seed butter, instant lattes, kale chips, and dark chocolate fruit bites. Julie is proud to be a woman entrepreneur and a certified Women-Owned Business.
Can you share the story behind Healthy Crunch and how you’ve grown it into a leading brand for better-for-you, delicious food products?
I started Healthy Crunch in 2014 with the mission to innovate everyday foods making them better for you, while still being super delicious. As a Registered Dietitian and Trained Chef, I used my expertise to create foods that are lower in sugar, allergen-free, more nutrient dense while still ensuring that they taste great. Our first product line was Kale Chips as kale was very popular in 2014. Since then, we have launched over 12 different product lines including Granola Bars, Crispy Squares, Baking Chips, Dark Chocolate Superfoods, Chia Jam, Seed Butters, Instant Lattes, Fruit & Seed Mixes and many more delicious products that are all better for you, while tasting delicious.
What inspired you to join the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program, and how has it impacted your journey as an entrepreneur?
Joining the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program was an incredible opportunity to connect with like-minded women entrepreneurs and gain the tools needed to take Healthy Crunch to the next level. As a Women-owned business, I was inspired by the program’s mission to break barriers and empower women to achieve their dreams in business. The mentorship, resources, and network provided by EY have been invaluable in helping me scale my business, refine my strategy, and stay focused on innovation. This experience has fueled my passion for creating better-for-you foods and has reinforced my commitment to inspiring others to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.
What are your thoughts on the temporary GST/HST tax relief, and how do you see it influencing Healthy Crunch and the broader small business community in Canada?
As the Founder of Healthy Crunch, I see the temporary GST/HST tax relief as a positive step toward supporting both small businesses and consumers across Canada. While small businesses were given only a short period of time to adjust to the new regulations, we remain optimistic that this initiative will help boost sales and encourage more Canadians to shop locally.
What challenges has Healthy Crunch faced while preparing for these changes, and how has the support network provided by the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program helped you address them?
Preparing for recent tax changes presented challenges for Healthy Crunch, including the need to quickly adapt processes and ensure compliance within tight timelines. The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program has been an invaluable resource during this transition. Through webinars, expert insights, and a supportive network, EY provided the guidance and tools we needed to navigate these changes effectively. Their resources allowed us to address questions, stay informed, and remain focused on growth while continuing to deliver high-quality, better-for-you products to our customers.
What advice would you give to other small business owners navigating similar challenges and opportunities in Canada today?
To succeed in Canada, small business owners should prioritize strong financial management by creating detailed budgets, monitoring cash flow, reducing unnecessary expenses, and taking advantage of grants, loans, and tax incentives. Embracing digital tools and e-commerce can streamline operations and expand market reach, while fostering innovation and forming strategic partnerships can drive growth. Providing excellent customer service, supporting employee well-being, and adopting sustainable practices will further strengthen competitiveness and build long-term success.
