Community Feature: CC’s

COMMUNITY_CANADA BRAND FEATURE MEET CC

Catherine Chen, known to many as CC, started her business at home during the pandemic as a side hustle while running her startup MyShoperon. Before joining the startup world, CC was in the legal world winning the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers 2016. CC wanted to create a simple, natural, addictively delicious spicy sauce with ingredients people could actually pronounce – so she looked to her roots.

Using an old family recipe passed down from generations, CC put a modern twist on her secret family recipe to make the ultimate culinary complement.

CC's products are keto and vegan friendly, free of gluten, salt, sugar, MSG, sodium – and no refrigeration is required after opening. Made with only simple and clean ingredients and a base of olive & avocado oils, CC’s challenges the traditional chili oil products made with sunflower, canola, vegetable or soybean oil.

CC’s has sold over 3,500 jars since the very first commercial production run late April, 2022, the majority of which were sold direct-to-consumer. CC’s has made its way onto 33 different countries on 6 continents. Their Garlic Chili Oil was a winning product in Grocery Innovations Canada’s Top 10 in Grocery 2020.

CC is grateful to Startup CPG for helping her expand since launch. “In May 2022,

Startup CPG had their first Toronto event. My brand was the youngest brand there – and won a competition for retail space at a local store,” says CC. “The community helped me navigate my Amazon launch and continues to help me navigate new challenges as a solo founder. The help I’ve received is tremendous. Everyone is here to share information and to help each other grow.” Today, CC’s is sold across channels: Shopify, Amazon, retailers, and Toronto Designers Market.