In 2012, Edmonton-based DeFazio Gourmet – a family-run business producing Italian biscotti was put up for sale and on a whim, husband-wife duo (with three young sons) Kris Owczarek and Carla Roppo-Owczarek purchased it. At the time, they had no professional baking experience but had a passion for food, enjoyed cooking and were looking for a new career path. They continued producing biscotti but also began production of quick-breads and pastries for wholesale and eventually explored expanding their offering to traditional Italian pastries and confections. After many trips to Italy to learn from the best bakers in the world, Kris was inspired to develop a recipe for famous holiday panettone to honour Carla’s homeland. The recipe took years to make perfect and in 2016, following a complete rebrand to CANOVA Pasticceria, they decided their version of the holiday classic was ready to introduce to the public along with a new pastry line that included classics like cornetti, tortes and amaretti cookies.

Through a referral, BONAFIDE was brought on board to create a social media presence and strategy, develop a marketing strategy to introduce the brand and products to industry professionals and and launch the CANOVA brand in Alberta. Notable results included press coverage in the Globe & Mail, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald, Avenue Calgary and dozens of endorsements from chefs and culinary pros from across Canada.

Photo credits:
Linda Hoang
Theresa Tayler
Andrea Chan
Sharman Hnatiuk

SERVICES

  • Publicity & Promotion
  • Marketing Communications
  • Brand Management
  • Media Events & Consumer Activations
  • Strategic Partnerships & Community Investment
  • Content Marketing
  • Photography & Styling
  • Influencer Introductions
  • Media Training
  • Social Media Strategy

Jessie is truly awesome and we really don’t know how she does it all! We have a very comfortable relationship with her and she has taken a lot of the stress out of trying to ‘make things happen,’ because they always do. Jessie gets motivated by the success of her clients and she is always looking for ways to promote them, which is such a unique and impressive quality,

– Carla Roppo-Owczarek, Owner – Canova