It’s been a very busy year so far at Comeback Snacks, and we are excited to be starting the 2026 holiday season! My calendar is full, my heart is fuller, and somewhere nearby, a bag of caramel popcorn is mysteriously getting emptier.
I’m calling it festive preparation. Please respect my process.
Before we dive into gifting, gatherings and deciding whether popcorn counts as dinner during the holiday rush, I want to celebrate a few things that made this year especially meaningful. We have some small bragging rights, and I think we’ve earned a moment to pop off.
Then it’s right back to work. These kernels aren’t going to change the world by themselves.
This year, I was named one of Canadian Grocer’s 2026 Impact Champions through its Impact Awards. Being recognised alongside people working to improve their communities and the grocery industry is an incredible honour. For me, it’s also encouragement to keep talking about fair employment opportunities for people with criminal records, and to keep showing what second chances can make possible. Meet Canadian Grocer’s 2026 Impact Champions.
I also received the Kindness in Business Award, presented to me by the Mayor of Markham. That was a pinch-me moment, with considerably better outfits than your average workday. The Kindness Circle Awards celebrate kindness and its impact on our communities, so this recognition felt especially close to my heart.
Kindness belongs in business. It belongs in hiring decisions, in the way we treat one another, and in our willingness to see someone’s potential. I want it baked into how we operate. Or, in our case, popped.
Comeback Snacks also made The Canada Small Business 100, presented by Mastercard, and received its 2026 Storyteller Award. Having our story recognised means so much because sharing it has always been part of the work. Every time it reaches someone new, there’s another opportunity to start a conversation about what a comeback can look like. See Comeback Snacks’ Small Business 100 profile.
And I was included in The Peak’s Emerging Leaders 2026 in the entrepreneurship category! Being in the company of so many ambitious Canadian entrepreneurs gives me plenty of inspiration for what comes next. Apparently, I’m emerging. This holiday season, that may be from behind a stack of popcorn bags. Explore The Peak’s 2026 entrepreneurship list.
As lovely as these honours are, what stays with me is the encouragement behind them. Getting recognition motivates us to keep doing the work we are doing. It helps us know we are on the right track and really making an impact.
I started Comeback Snacks with an idea that took shape while I was in prison. Today, our mission continues to centre on second chances and supporting reintegration. That history is part of why I care so deeply about giving people room to grow. Read our comeback story.
I want our gourmet popcorn to spark joy and curiosity. Maybe you discover us because you love caramel popcorn. Maybe you’re browsing artisan popcorn snacks for a gift, or a friend insists you try their favourite bag. However you arrive, I hope you leave with something delicious and a little more belief in the possibility of a fresh start.
Naturally, the holiday season gives us plenty of opportunities to share both.
My one gifting tip: account for the bag you’ll open before you finish wrapping. A little self-awareness goes a long way.
To our customers, team, retail partners and everyone who has shared our story: thank you. You’ve helped make this busy, beautiful year possible, and I’m heading into the holidays feeling grateful, energised and ready to keep going.
Here’s to more kindness, more comebacks and a holiday season full of flavour.
Let’s make it pop.
Emily