Chef Colette Nickerson is an internationally-renowned professional holistic chef and consultant in clinical/holistic nutrition and dietetics. Specializing in green, clean, and plant-based vegan/vegetarian cuisine, such as the delicious juices and soups we carry online, Colette is also passionate about world and fusion cooking. She's worked in countries like Thailand and Costa Rica and has spent the last ten years building green startup restaurants, production lines, juiceries and smoothie bars across Asia and Europe. But, what's even more impressive? Chef Colette is an experienced detox consultant who has designed detox and juice programs, recipes, and menus for some of the world's best spas, hotels and retreats. We've had the chance to interview Chef Colette and are happy to share some of her thoughts about her business Chef Colette’s Body Fuels Inc., and the passion that she's invested into it here. Enjoy today's Vendor Story!

What do you produce at Chef Colette’s Body Fuels Inc., and what products do you offer?

We currently offer an innovative line of cold-pressed juices with botanicals or herbal extracts produced by a local herbalist. These are functional ‘adaptogenic’ juices that correspond to the body’s different needs to create balance.

We also make ‘Health Yourself Soups’, plant-based recipes with flavours from around the world. 

Then, there are our ‘Spring Box Detox’ programs based on my experience creating recipes, menus and daily schedules for some of the world’s most premium health and wellness destination spas, hotels and retreats.

What do you or your company stand for? 

We are a local, women-owned business, and all of our recipes are designed by a holistic chef and industry professional with a background in nutrition. 

We are proud that our products are honest, VEGAN, healthy, nutritionally dense, delicious, clean, and produced with 100% organic & non-GMO ingredients. In addition, they are soy and dairy-free, 100% gluten-free, and contain no harmful toxins, additives, common allergens, yeasts, preservatives, modified starches, or other unnecessary ingredients. Chef Colette’s Body Fuels Inc. offers instant nutrition, long-lasting positive health benefits, and approachable, healthy lifestyle food choices.

For all of these reasons, we are the fuel of your future! We are proud to showcase and share the beauty of vegan cuisine with our busy, conscious community members and provide quick and accessible options to “eat well, and do good”.

I also stand for ‘social impact’ and giving back to the community. (More below.)

What’s the story behind it all? 

I have been incubating the idea of Chef Colette’s Body Fuels Inc. for many years. The concept, including the look and feel of the brand, is based on a vintage or retro gas station where people can quickly fuel up then power through the day. Chef Colette’s Body Fuels Inc. is fuel for the body and, more importantly, the community.

I am originally from Nova Scotia, Canada, but moved to Asia in 2004 and then Europe. I consulted and built healthy concepts for other companies worldwide for many years. During the pandemic, my work had me stranded in Vancouver. So, I gave up my life in Amsterdam (NL) and decided to stay, turn my whole life around and build roots in the DTES. It has been a remarkable journey as I had never expected to be here. So, I plan to offer my best professional and worldly experience to Vancouver’s conscious and bustling health and wellness scene.

How do you feel about the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley and supporting local businesses?

I look at nature to translate the world around me and gain perspective. For example, think of an old majestic tree. Its ecosystem supports it, and it has grown strong enough to support everything around its base. As a result, the tree can create a loop in sustainability. When comparing supporting local businesses, we develop an ecosystem and strong roots, take care of our local economy first, and then everything branches out and supports one another.

From a different angle, local businesses are the backbone of our society. They are a way for us to build and stay connected to a community, be active participants in the local economy, and have a sense of control and fulfillment generated from supporting our neighbours and friends. It’s astonishing to see unfold and a tangible, quantifiable, and satisfying way to see where our money and efforts are going. 

Ultimately, local food ingredients closer to the source are more fresh, nutritious and delicious.

What does the future have in store?

Our products are currently in over 15 stores and also with local distributors. Shortly, we will announce our first “Fueling Station” brick and mortar flagship location that will be the prototype for our franchise model. This will be a place to come and fuel up for whatever your body needs to “eat well, and do good”.

We are also busy expanding our professionally guided and expertly designed cleanse programs by collaborating with local clinics and centers for health and wellness, retreats, etc.

Then, we are working on a vegan meal prep kit delivery service for Vancouver. So, a lot is going on!

Another long-term goal is to open a world-class destination health and wellness retreat center focused on anti-inflammatory menus, treatments, reformative activities and cleanse programs, yoga, wellness seminars, and healthy vegan cooking classes.

Further to that, we also want to create seasonal “Farm Camps” for kids, where children gather in groups for a stay focused on “farm-to-table” consciousness. There would be expert and notable teachers/instructors who would guide children through daily activities, arts and crafts, cooking classes, games, contests, and fun and interactive storytelling. Think “Girl Guides” or “Boy Scouts” but for nutrition.

The goal and take-home of this stay would be to learn cool things about nature, our food and where it comes from, how to prepare it in fun ways, how to protect our planet, and how it all comes together to “make a loop” of sustainability. That, and of course, to make friends and memories for a lifetime!

How has your relationship with your customers evolved over the years? 

I started in restaurants, cafes, storefronts and facilitating workshops and retreats where you can build stable and consistent relationships with customers.

It is pretty different at the moment with running a production facility. Our customers can only see the products online, and intimacy and trust are not always there at first. But, as the visionary, owner and face of a brand, I am looking forward to my external collaborations, campaigns, initiatives and opportunities to speak about health and wellness and tap into the community again.