Hornby Organic is founded on a simple family recipe
Our mission is to make affordable organic food without our planet and customers paying the price. Why? Because that’s what our mom taught us to do. Our story began on the incredible gulf island of Hornby, where life is slow, in the best way. It’s home to a special kind of people who are self-reliant and do things a little differently.
Our founder, Irah, grew up in this unique place where in the 70s his grandparents started an organic farm. But, it was Irah’s hard-working mom who we owe a big thank you. Being disconnected from the mainland, a lot of Hornby folk have to create their own opportunity, and Irah’s mom, Trish, is no exception. Our recipe comes from her ever popular Hornby Island Energy Balls, which she spent years perfecting.
At five years old Irah had his first peek into the world of entrepreneurship. He helped his mom load up their old station wagon and deliver their much loved energy balls to health food stores all over Vancouver Island. Years later, Irah saw his own opportunity. What if he could share his mom’s recipe with the rest of the world? The ah-ha moment that sparked Hornby Island Energy Bars!
With a lot of hard work and a ton of support
Irah and his trusty sidekick (and girlfriend) Cayleigh converted an old garage on his parents’ property into a modest food facility where Irah’s entrepreneurial dream grew wings. Together, the couple worked tirelessly bootstrapping, maxing out credit cards, and relying on the support of family and friends to get Hornby Island Energy Bars off the ground.
Like most growing businesses, we busted out of the seams our little start-up facility on Hornby Island. Our founders packed their bags to head to Vancouver Island, where they found a facility in Comox. With the new space, new flavors, a new baby, and a packaging robot built by Irah, we rebranded.
Hornby Island Energy Bars became Hornby Organic and at the same time became the first company in Canada to produce a Canadian Certified Organic energy bar, without raising its prices to the consumer. Proving that it can be done when people and our planet are put before profit.
We’re in for the long haul
Today, our founders are still working just as hard to bring tasty, affordable, organic food to you, that will never change.
What has changed is our vision. We’ve realized that a big impact can come from the smallest of places. We’re not here just to feed, but to foster a community of inspiration and movement towards an organic future for everyone. Proving that it can be done when people and our planet are put before profit.
And, we’re only just getting started!