Food Web launches a tech-driven solution for Nova Scotia’s local food entrepreneurs

In Nova Scotia, some of the most meaningful innovations come from people who have lived the challenges they’re trying to solve. The story behind Food Web, and the platform they’re officially launching on December 8, is one of those moments where lived experience, community need and digital creativity come together to build something that strengthens an entire sector.Food Web’s new platform, Food Web Kitchens, is designed to tackle a long-standing issue in our food ecosystem: accessing affordable, licensed commercial kitchen space. For years, early-stage food entrepreneurs have struggled to find safe, flexible places to work. Meanwhile, licensed kitchens in restaurants, cafés, community spaces and event venues sit idle for large parts of the week. The gap between the two has held back countless business ideas and entrepreneurial dreams.The roots of Food Web reach back seven years, when founder Justin Andrews was running his own small food business, Muffin Man Enterprises, and found himself shut out of the system. He was ready to grow, but no one could offer the part-time, licensed kitchen access he needed. That frustration eventually sent him back to school to study sustainability and the food system, where he discovered that his experience was echoed across the province: entrepreneurs hitting the same wall, unable to expand simply because they couldn’t find a place to cook.In 2023, Justin teamed up with longtime friend and software developer Keegan Francis, and together they brought the concept for Food Web into Dal Innovates’ Lab2Market program. That moment turned individual frustration into opportunity. With technical expertise, research insight and a clear sense of purpose, the pair set out to build a digital platform that would make sure no one else had to abandon a food business before it even had a chance.The result is a solution that uses technology not for technology’s sake, but to make a system more transparent, accessible and fair. Through Food Web Kitchens, entrepreneurs can search for available licensed kitchens, book by the hour, manage payments and sign agreements digitally — all within a central, easy-to-use platform. Kitchen owners, in turn, gain a simple way to list downtime, streamline scheduling and turn underused space into revenue. Food Web’s journey — reflected in their founder stories, commitment to sustainability and clear belief that local food matters — is a reminder that digital transformation is strongest when it grows out of real problems and real people. Their work demonstrates how technology can support resilience, foster entrepreneurship and open doors for those who haven’t always had access.At Digital Nova Scotia, we’re proud to highlight innovators who use technology to drive meaningful change in our province. Food Web’s platform launch is an exciting milestone not just for their team, but for the many food entrepreneurs, kitchen owners and communities who stand to benefit from a more connected and accessible food ecosystem.Congratulations to the Food Web team behind this launch! Learn more about their tools at https://foodweb.network/