Over Brunch | Food Edition

In this edition of Over Brunch, attendees will learn what it takes to build a thriving food business from the ground up, while balancing full-time jobs from Andrew Adepegba & Tonye Otikiri, learn the ins and outs of operating a franchise food business from Mufuti Sanusi, and gain insight on flourishing in the food e-commerce and brick and mortar spaces with Whitney Ware. With sound guidance, YOU DON'T HAVE TO make the mistakes others have or "start from scratch".

[Location: CONFIDENTIAL - GTA location will be provided to those who sign up!]

Mufuti's entrepreneurial journey spans continents and generations, from learning the ropes of business in her mother's and grandmother's textile company in Lagos, Nigeria, to earning her MBA in the UK, and now serving as the Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga. Inspired by her family's business acumen, Mufuti pursued accounting at York University in Canada and later honed her skills in the financial sector before discovering her passion for Chick-fil-A. A chance encounter with the brand in Houston ignited a deep appreciation, leading her to the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program. Now, she brings her dream to life, committed to nurturing future leaders and fostering community spirit. Mufuti's journey is not just about business success; it's about empowering others to achieve their dreams, just as her mother did for her. With Mufuti’s Chick-fil-A, located in Square One, she aims to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact in Mississauga.

Whitney Ware | Owner/Operator,

Starting at the tender age of 14, Whitney Ware has become a trailblazer in the food and dessert industry as the founder of Cake Your Way and Sip and Cake. Cake Your Way, an online custom cake shop with a physical bakery location in Woodbridge, ON, began as Whitney made cakes for friends in high school, later building a loyal social media following. Sip and Cake offers an interactive cake decorating experience for enthusiasts to test their skills. Despite facing numerous challenges, the self-taught baker has flourished in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar spaces over her decade-long entrepreneurial journey. At 24, Whitney discovered the stresses of operating a storefront, realizing that custom cake orders alone were insufficient to turn a profit and expand the business. With no prior business experience, Whitney faced tough love from mentors, who pointed out that much of her product, including cakes, frostings, and fillings, relied heavily on pre-made ingredients. Determined to improve, Whitney and her team began learning to create a variety of bakery items from scratch, enhancing them with her artistic flair.

AS SEEN ON: Project Bakeover, The BIG Bake (Food Network), Joe Fresh, VISA, Vitaly, MAC and more...

BSTO, short for Best Shawarma TO, is a dynamic comfort-food restaurant that brings the flavors of Nigerian street food to Toronto, with Shawarma as their signature dish. Founded by passionate entrepreneurs who balance full-time jobs while building this incredible brand, BSTO started in 2018 from a home kitchen and quickly evolved through a ghost kitchen, a food court, and now a bustling storefront at 1310 St. Clair Avenue West. The founders' dedication and resilience, especially during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, have shaped BSTO into a unique culinary experience. Their menu features mouthwatering options like beef, chicken, asun (goat meat), and combo Shawarma wraps or bowls, along with sides like sweet potato fries and plantain fries. With their "WeCater" service, BSTO caters to events, bringing the authentic taste of Lagos to every gathering. By blending tradition with modern comfort food, BSTO has created a brand that captivates and delights, offering a true taste of home in every bite.

Host or Publisher IMDOINGIT