Victoria-based Peanut Butter Company’s Van Gyn One Of Seven Canadians Named
Fatso founder and CEO Jill Van Gyn
VICTORIA – Fatso founder and CEO Jill Van Gyn is one of seven Canadians and 20 Americans selected for the EY (Ernst & Young) Entrepreneurial Winning Women North America Class of 2021.
Angel Kho and Eleanor Lee of Vancouver’s Loulou Lollipop were the only other British Columbians in the list for the program, which identified 27 ambitious women business owners of thriving organizations in North America, and provides them with the network access, advisors and resources needed to help scale their companies and help them achieve their full potential as market-leading innovators.
“This year’s bold entrepreneurs are developing solutions to shape our future in Canada, and around the world, and we’re excited to have so many Canadians represented in the class of 2021,” says Brenna Daloise, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Canada Program Co-Leader. Winners will be announced November 23.
“From higher education and financial technology to health and wellness, these Canadian trailblazers are deeply committed to providing sustainable, personalized and digital-driven solutions across a range of industries. They are breaking boundaries to help Canada grow its presence on the world stage.”
Van Gyn started Fatso in the back of a Victoria health food restaurant in 2016, and for the first two years, packed her SUV with 73 cases of Fatso and delivered the product to grocery stores across BC.
Fatso was named Food & Food Production Business of the Year in the 2010 Grant Thornton Business Excellence Awards for Vancouver Island.
Today, their products include peanut butter, almond and seed butter, and maple peanut butter, and they also wholesale into the United States.
Through the EY program, entrepreneurs become part of a global peer community, which includes more than 800 Winning Women in 48 countries. Program participants are offered executive education and introductions to the vast EY global entrepreneurial ecosystem, including alumni in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year program.
“Access to capital continues to be one of the biggest barriers for women entrepreneurs looking to grow and scale their businesses — a challenge that is often multiplied for women coming from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities,” emphasizes Tiki Cheung, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Canada Program Co-Leader. “When women founders are supported in pursuing their ambitions, both business and society benefit through the creation of new jobs and venture funds that provide much-needed capital for other women founders.”
A recent survey showed that 80 per cent of Winning Women said the program had a positive impact on their confidence and leadership to grow their businesses. Over half indicated the program empowered them to take risks to scale their business.
“Despite the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women in the workforce, these founders have seized untapped market opportunities using new business models to find answers to our toughest challenges,” says Cheung. “The Canadian women in this year’s winning class are boosting economic growth and inspiring the next generation of women leaders. We’re excited to see how they’ll build on this momentum to continue moving Canada forward.”
