It’s time for the 2022 year in review! In last year’s review, we celebrated our fifteenth birthday and gave you an update on how we’ve adjusted to COVID-19. 2022 brought us new clients for not only custom packaging, but also for our new branding services! Though the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, many things are slowly returning to normal.
From shipping times, to us returning to in-person events, we were constantly adjusting to keep bringing you custom packaging solutions all year long. Want to see what we’ve been up to? Read on to get caught up to speed!
Launching Our Marketing Services
Last year, we took the leap into offering branding and graphic design services in addition to our usual packaging and sourcing options. Throughout the years, LeKAC has built successful client relationships through unique branding, proactive social media presence and engaging graphics!
In 2022, our first few branding clients took the leap with us to introduce their brand to the world. After starting off with our Discovery Call to get a feel for their vision, we got to work creating unique branding solutions for their businesses. Our first four branding clients will always hold a special place in our hearts as the first businesses to trust us with their brands. Check them out below!
OFVC
2022 also saw LeKAC Sourcing returning to trade shows! In February, we made a short trip over to Niagara Falls to attend the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (OFVC). OFVC isn’t just for produce growers, though! For two days, we had the opportunity to speak with farmers and other produce professionals while presenting our packaging solutions.
For some of our team members, this was their first experience at a trade show. This gave us a chance to really bond as a team while flexing our product knowledge. It also made great practice for the next two shows we were set to attend in the spring!
Bakery Showcase
In April, we made our first ever appearance at the Bakery Showcase! This trade show was a sweet treat for us especially with the release of our freshly-baked bakery catalogue! Our booth at this show was small but mighty, and our team was getting into the trade show flow.
Throughout the two-day showcase, we spoke with other packaging professionals, bakery owners and even manufacturers of large-scale bakery machinery! Our team even got to sample some delicious baked treats from some of the other booths. We had a great time making connections with new clients, and seeing some familiar faces!
Though it was our first time at the Bakery Showcase, it certainly won’t be our last!
SIAL Canada
As our final trade show of the year, our Toronto team took a road trip to meet with our colleagues in Montreal to attend SIAL Canada. This trade show centres around all kinds of food businesses! From frozen foods to ice cream, beer to wine, we had a a great time meeting with food professionals (and indulging in some delicious samples)!
This was our biggest trade show yet, lasting three days in total! Especially since LeKAC first began in Montreal, attending SIAL Canada felt like a homecoming for our team. Keep an eye out for us at future SIAL Canada events!
Plastic Ban Update
In 2020, the Canadian government introduced the single use plastic ban. This ban later specified six main single use plastic items that would be included in the ban. These are:
- Plastic straws
- Grocery bags
- Foodservice ware
- Cutlery
- Drink ring carriers
- Stir sticks
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed the implementation of the ban timelines, but they became more concrete in 2022. More specific deadlines are now in place to ensure that Canada meets its environmental goals. The first of these restrictions is already in effect! Check out the table below to see when you need to make the switch.
| Single Use Plastic Item | Ban on Manufacture and Import Date | Ban on Sale Date | Ban on Manufacture, Import, and Sale for Export Date |
| Checkout bags, cutlery, straws foodservice ware, stir sticks, straws | December 20, 2022 | December 20, 2023 | December 20, 2025 |
| Ring carriers | June 20, 2023 | June 20, 2024 | December 20, 2025 |
| Flexible straws packaged with beverage containers | N/A | June 20, 2024 | December 20, 2025 |
Blogs of interest:
An Update On Canada’s Single Use Plastic Ban
What to Expect: The Canada-Wide Single Use Plastic Ban
Countries Going Plastic Free: How Canada Measures Up
2022 Team Retreat
This year, we also went on our first ever team retreat! This retreat was an opportunity for our team to grow closer and to show our appreciation for each other. The LeKAC Pack also managed to get into the water to enjoy some water sports (and have a friendly kayak race or two). We cooked, shared stories, and returned to the office refreshed and more ready than ever to help you make your custom packaging dreams come true!
It was a weekend of relaxation and fun, perfect for celebrating a year of hard work. Though it was our first team retreat, it’s certainly not our last! We look forward to new team building adventures in 2023. Additionally, we’d like to give a special thanks to Gabrielle Ho for organizing this amazing weekend for us!
Celebrating Two Years Of Our Zine
As of our latest edition, we’re celebrating two years of our seasonal zine! If you haven’t heard of our zine, let us introduce it to you. Every season, we publish a digital zine that includes a roundup of important blog posts, product features and even some fun packaging terminology lessons from our mascot, Lenny!
Although the seasonal zine began as a passion project of our marketing team, we’re happy that it’s now a regular part of our content. To every subscriber of the zine, thank you for your ongoing support! We’re excited to keep ringing in the seasons with you.
Need to catch up on the zine? Click here to read our latest edition!
So What’s Next?
We’ve already got a couple of things up our sleeves for the year ahead… But you’ll have to wait to find out! We hope you had a productive, safe, and fruitful year–but we hope your 2023 is even better!
Finally, we want to thank our readers for all their support this year. If you want to keep up with what we’re up to in the new year, make sure you’re following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Linkedin!
From the entire team at LeKAC, thank you for reading our 2022 year in review, and we hope you have a Happy New Year!
