The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, today helped kick off Small Business Week in Newfoundland and Labrador by visiting Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food on Water Street in St. John’s.
In addition to support from the Provincial Government to assist their food manufacturing and exporting, Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food has also received support to attend culinary industry events across North America. In the past few years, the company has focused on establishing growth, profitability, productivity, innovation and customer service, and has initiated selling product offerings to markets and clients outside of the province.
Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food was established 2011, is a made-from-scratch restaurant concept in downtown St. John’s, and is owned and operated by Kelly Mansell, Dave Hopley and Mark McGann. There are two locations in St. John’s, on Water Street and Churchill Square, and a third location to open soon in Centennial Square in Mount Pearl.
From October 20-26, the Provincial Government is celebrating Small Business Week across Newfoundland and Labrador. Throughout the week, activities are planned to highlight the industry’s significance to the growth of the provincial economy. Small to medium-sized businesses employ almost 40 per cent of the workforce in the province. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry, Innovation provides a wide array of services and financial support to small and medium-sized businesses, including counselling, repayable and non-repayable financing options, enterprise promotion, and export development and trade.
Support for small business delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“Fostering economic development is important to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. We support small businesses by taking advantage of strategic opportunities to generate economic growth and create employment for the people of our province. I encourage all small business owners to utilize their local Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation office to learn more about what government can do you help your business grow.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
“Small business is a major contributor to Newfoundland and Labrador’s financial engine. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received so far as it’s helped us drive the growth we’re experiencing right now, virtually on the eve of the opening of our third location.”
Kelly Mansell
Rocket Bakery and Fresh Food
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Learn more
BDC Small Business Week
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Media contacts
Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
Kelly Mansell
Rocket Bakery and Fresh Foods
709-738-2011
kelly@rocketfood.ca