John Perks grew up in the food and hospitality industry, watching his father work tirelessly through holidays and special events as he welcomed the community to his restaurants.
After his father sold the restaurants, John carried forward the lessons learned. Alongside his wife, Quinn, they co-founded the , a community initiative designed to strengthen the local food and hospitality industry through collaboration, advocacy and innovative solutions. Together, they含羞草研究社檙e driven by their shared passion for supporting the industry that has played such a key role in their lives.
含羞草研究社淜elowna is a chef含羞草研究社檚 dream; everything is grown local here, and we have incredible talent in the city,含羞草研究社� Quinn says, reflecting on the unique opportunities Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 culinary scene provides.
With tied to hospitality and tourism, the pandemic and rising inflation have heightened challenges for local restaurants. This sparked the inspiration for the Kelowna Foodie Hub. John recalls, 含羞草研究社淲e saw firsthand the effects of the pandemic on the industry. When we moved to Kelowna, I woke up one morning and said to my wife, 含羞草研究社楾here has to be something different we can do to support this.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫 This realization led to the creation of BC Food Tours, which eventually expanded into the broader Kelowna Foodie Hub.
Quinn, who was born and raised in Kelowna, brings extensive experience to the table, having worked in various restaurant roles含羞草研究社攆rom hostess at the Old Spaghetti Factory to managing a bakery. She and John originally conceptualized the hub while rediscovering Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 vibrant food scene upon their return. 含羞草研究社淲hat surprised me the most was how welcoming the community is. Everyone含羞草研究社檚 willing to collaborate and showcase each other含羞草研究社檚 businesses,含羞草研究社� she says.
The Kelowna Foodie Hub fosters this collaborative spirit by bringing together local restaurant owners, wineries, marketing agencies, and hotels to develop solutions that benefit the entire community. 含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 claim to have all the answers, but together, let含羞草研究社檚 come up with solutions,含羞草研究社� John explains.
The hub offers free memberships to local businesses, providing access to essential resources like social media support, marketing assistance, and event coordination. In addition to supporting local businesses, the hub organizes community events such as the and Ros茅 All Day, celebrating Okanagan含羞草研究社檚 rich culinary landscape.
Over time, the Kelowna Foodie Hub has evolved beyond its original culinary tours. What began as a way to guide locals and tourists through Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 top eateries has transformed into a dynamic platform hosting seasonal events, mystery food tours and community-focused initiatives. 含羞草研究社淚t fully surpassed my expectations. We started with culinary tours, and now we have these amazing community events,含羞草研究社� Quinn says.
As for the future, Quinn含羞草研究社檚 vision for the hub is clear: 含羞草研究社淚 want Kelowna Foodie Hub to help people get out of their comfort zone and explore local restaurants.含羞草研究社� Her aspirations also include expanding the hub含羞草研究社檚 reach throughout the Okanagan and launching a foundation to support local chefs and restaurants through grants.
Despite the challenges of running a business in a post-pandemic economy, the Kelowna Foodie Hub remains a hub committed to supporting local restaurants. 含羞草研究社淣ever give up,含羞草研究社� John says. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e here to help enrich your business, and you don含羞草研究社檛 have to do it alone.含羞草研究社�
For those interested in joining the Kelowna Foodie Hub or staying updated on upcoming events, visit . Whether you含羞草研究社檙e a restaurant owner or a lover of great food, the hub offers a place to connect, collaborate and grow.