History
Left Coast Naturals began in 1996 when the two of us, Jason Dorland and Ian Walker, decided to sell a unique line of nut butters that Jason had created.
Jason came up with the brand “Skeet & Ike’s” as a graphic design project at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (Skeet was Jason’s nickname, and Ike was his golden retriever). Jason had a wild notion that maybe this product could sell. Together, we started mixing up batches in borrowed kitchens on weeknights, and selling them at the Granville Island Market on weekends. People loved them! Within months, the number of stores asking to carry Skeet & Ike’s had grown so much; we quit our day jobs to expand the business.
In the beginning, the business was small and distributors weren’t interested in carrying our products, so we decided to do it ourselves. That meant running around delivering products out of the trunks of our cars. Realizing that other local food producers faced the same distribution challenge, we bought a van and began to represent a number of brands as a distributor. In that first year, we took on five organic products. Our distribution business did so well that in 2009 it became its own entity: Left Coast Naturals.
We eventually evolved our manufacturing from nut butters into snacks – adding seeds, nuts, granolas and trail mixes, as well as popcorn and tortilla chips. Since we were working directly with farmers and bringing in so many bulk ingredients for manufacturing, Left Coast Naturals also got into organic bulk foods distribution. This provided retailers with the option of buying a wide assortment of organic bulk foods from one supplier.
Today, Left Coast Naturals has a fleet of trucks, a 32,000 square foot warehouse, and a 10,000 square foot production facility. We distribute nearly 30 brands, nearly 200 organic and natural bulk foods, and manufacture three of our own brands: Hippie Snacks, Left Coast Bulk Foods, and Left Coast Organics.
True to Our Philosophy
Left Coast Naturals continues to grow, regularly adding new products, but we remain true to our philosophy: treat people the way you want to be treated. We practice this every day as a Certified B Corporation, and in our commitment to measuring our success on a Triple Bottom Line (people, planet and prosperity). Today, 5% of all profits are donated to the community to support environmental and social causes.
