This past weekend, Canadian retailers experienced a GST and HST holiday break, offering consumers tax-free shopping, but not without challenges for businesses. Julie Bednarski, Founder and CEO of Healthy Crunch, shared her perspective on this and other topics during a recent interview.
“For us, it wasn’t that bad,” said Bednarski, reflecting on the tax break’s impact. “But talking to some other retailers, especially my friends who own retail shops, it’s been a bit of a challenge. It kind of came on us very fast, with only about two weeks’ notice, and this is the busiest time of the year for most businesses.”
Healthy Crunch, known for its range of healthier snacks like kale chips, chia jams, and seed butters, managed the transition more smoothly than some. “Our products fall into two simple categories—grocery and snack foods—so it was easy to adjust. But for others, it’s not so straightforward,” she noted.
Bednarski highlighted the confusion many retailers face due to nuanced tax classifications. “Take alcohol, for example: if it’s below 7% alcohol, it’s exempt, but above 7.5%, it’s not. Retailers have to check every SKU to figure out where their products fall. It’s a lot of extra work.”
Despite the hurdles, she remains optimistic. “We’re hoping to see a lift in sales, especially online, with consumers saving 13%. With our long shelf-life products, maybe people will stock up for the months ahead,” she added.
Beyond navigating current retail challenges, Bednarski celebrated a major milestone for her business: Healthy Crunch’s 10th anniversary. “When I started this company, my mission was to get consumers eating better-for-you foods. As a registered dietitian and trained chef, I wanted to create products that are healthy and taste great,” she explained.
Bednarski’s entrepreneurial journey has also been recognized through her participation in the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program. “I’m honored to be one of four Canadians selected this year. The program helps women entrepreneurs break barriers, offering resources and connections to take our businesses to the next level,” she said.
With support from EY, Healthy Crunch is better equipped to handle challenges like rising costs. “Cocoa prices, for example, have skyrocketed, and that impacts all chocolate products. We’re trying hard to keep prices accessible for consumers, even as raw material costs soar,” she explained.
Despite the obstacles, Bednarski remains focused on Healthy Crunch’s mission. “We’re innovating every day, bridging the gap between healthy and tasty with products that are lower in sugar, nutrient-dense, and made with clean ingredients. At the end of the day, it has to taste great for people to choose healthier options,” she said.
For more information about Healthy Crunch, visit healthycrunch.com.
Mario Toneguzzi
Mario Toneguzzi is Managing Editor of Canada’s Podcast. He has more than 40 years of experience as a daily newspaper writer, columnist, and editor. He was named in 2021 and 2024 as one of the top business journalists in the world by PR News. He was also named by RETHINK to its global list of Top Retail Experts 2024.
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