What A Better Life Foundation does

A Better Life Foundation (ABLF) is a Vancouver-based registered Canadian charity (Charity #80666 5014 RR0001) founded in 2012 by social entrepreneur Mark Brand to eliminate food insecurity in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, Canada's poorest postal code. The organization operates from the Save On Meats building at 43 W Hastings Street and runs a portfolio of integrated programs: a Daily Meal Program producing 1,800+ scratch-made meals every day of the year delivered to SROs, shelters, and partner housing providers; the Waste Not Want Not food recovery initiative, which has diverted 162,843 kg of surplus grocery food from landfill since June 2020; the Plenty of Plates corporate team-building events; the Sharpen Up culinary education program; the Indigenous Meal Program launched June 21, 2025; Youth & Family Programming including 150 meals/day to the Budzey Building; Inclusive Hiring employing people with employment barriers (75% of staff); and the revived Greasy Spoon Diner community dining series. ABLF has cumulatively served more than 5 million meals since 2013 and targets 6 million by 2026.

ABLF's underlying operating model is a centralized production kitchen combined with a delivery-and-partner distribution network. The kitchen uses zero-waste processes, BSIBio compostable packaging, and Shift Delivery zero-emissions bicycle courier for last-mile logistics. 100+ community partner organizations (Atira, BC Housing, Lookout Society, Youth Unlimited, Rainier Hotel, Budzey Building, PHS, DUDES Club, Megaphone Magazine, among others) act as both recipients and downstream distributors of meals. The technology stack is deliberately low-tech and operations-focused rather than digital-platform-based, with no proprietary software, app, or AI components disclosed.

The revenue model is donation-based and diversified across individual recurring donors (monthly subscriptions), one-time individual donations, corporate team-building event fees ($4,000-$7,500 per Plenty of Plates event, contributing ~35% of annual budget), merchandise and cookbook sales, planned giving, and government/foundation grants (Federal, Provincial, BC Housing, City of Vancouver, United Way Lower Mainland, Vancouver Foundation). Target customer segments split between Vancouver's DTES residents and at-risk populations served through partner organizations, corporate ESG/CSR buyers seeking team-building experiences, and individual supporters motivated by food security and inclusive employment outcomes. Unit economics are anchored at approximately $7 per meal provided.

Name

A Better Life Foundation

Legal name

A Better Life Foundation

Website

https://abetterlifefoundation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A Better Life Foundation is a Vancouver-based registered charity that produces 1,800+ scratch-made meals daily for residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside through food recovery, inclusive hiring (75% staff with employment barriers), and culinary education programs, supported by 100+ community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Security & Community Meal Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210), Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (72231)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD), Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

Keywords

• Food security services
• Community meal programs
• Food recovery operations
• Inclusive employment programs
• Culinary training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly recurring donations and one-time contributions from individual supporters. Monthly donors receive invitations to private events and first access to volunteer opportunities.
2. Plenty of Plates Events: Corporate and group team-building events where volunteers pay to cook and serve meals. Minimum donations of $4,000-$7,500 per event. Accounts for approximately 35% of annual budget.
3. Planned Giving and Specialized Donations: Corporate matching programs, partial proceeds donations, and rallying charitable gifts over specific periods.
4. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling apparel (sweatshirts, t-shirts) and branded merchandise. Also includes the Food For All Cookbook featuring recipes from BC chefs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A Better Life Foundation produces and distributes 1,800+ scratch-made meals daily in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside through its Daily Meal Program, while operating food recovery (Waste Not, Want Not), corporate team-building events (Plenty of Plates), culinary education (Sharpen Up), inclusive employment, and Indigenous and youth programming. The organization sells meal sponsorships, merchandise, and tokens via an online shop to fund operations, and accepts donations from individuals, corporations, and government funders.

Product overview

A Better Life Foundation is a Vancouver-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected food security and community support programs. The core offerings include the Daily Meal Program (1,800+ meals daily), Waste Not Want Not food recovery initiative, Indigenous Meal Program, and Youth & Family Programming. Key engagement programs include Plenty of Plates (volunteer team-building meals) and Greasy Spoon Diner events. The organization also operates an e-commerce shop selling meal sponsorships, merchandise, and the Food For All Cookbook. Inclusive Hiring and Sharpen Up training programs provide employment and food literacy education. All programs are united by the mission that 'food is a conduit to love' and delivered from the Save On Meats location in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Plenty of Plates: A volunteer-hosted community meal program where volunteer teams prep, cook and serve free 3-course dinners to 80 DTES guests at Save On Meats building.
• Waste Not, Want Not
• Sharpen Up
• Greasy Spoon Diner

Products and services

• Daily Meal Program A cornerstone food security program that prepares, cooks, packages, and delivers 1,800+ scratch-made meals daily to residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside 365 days a year, in partnership with Atira and BC Housing.
• Plenty of Plates A volunteer-hosted community meal program where local teams, families, or organizations prep, cook, and serve 80 guests a free three-course sit-down dinner at Save On Meats, with donation tiers starting at $4,000 for independent groups.
• Waste Not, Want Not A food recovery initiative that collects surplus food from local grocery stores and converts it into nutritious hot and cold meals, diverting waste from landfills while addressing food insecurity.
• Sharpen Up A 3-part online culinary workshop program that teaches participants how to source and prepare healthy, home-cooked meals on a budget, with mentorship from professional chefs.
• Greasy Spoon Diner An in-person community dining event connecting people through food, hosting thousands while introducing chefs to ABLF's production kitchen, with events featuring some of Canada's best chefs.
• Indigenous Meal Program A cultural reclamation initiative providing culturally relevant meals to young, urban Indigenous families to reconnect them with traditional foodways and cultural identity.
• Inclusive Hiring Program An employment program providing inclusive, low-barrier jobs with fair wages and benefits for individuals with traditional barriers to employment, including those with lived experience of poverty, addiction recovery, or disability.
• Youth & Family Programming Programs including The Budzey (150 daily meals for women-led families), Chef Camp (food literacy for youth), and Student Plenty of Plates (service learning for school groups).
• Meal Tokens Redeemable tokens for hot meals or sandwiches at the Save On Meats window, purchasable for self-distribution or donation to community partners serving at-risk youth, women, refugees, and inclusive employment programs.
• Buy a Meal Purchase nutritious, scratch-made meals for someone in need, with each meal covering compostable packaging and delivery fees.
• Food For All Cookbook A cookbook featuring recipes from 20 of BC's talented chefs, many of whom are Greasy Spoon Diner alumni, serving as both a gift item and fundraising tool.
• ABLF Branded Merchandise Merchandise including hoodies, crewnecks, and t-shirts featuring 'Being Hungry Sucks' or 'A Better Life' graphics, available for purchase in the online shop.
• Being Hungry Sucks Annual Fundraiser Annual December fundraiser raising critical funds to support ABLF's programming including educational programs, food literacy, food recovery initiatives, and daily meal production, with a charitable auction and sponsorship shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5+ million meals served since 2012, aiming for 6 million by 2026
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FoodMeshcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2020Initial partner in launching the Waste Not Want Not food recovery program in June 2020. FoodMesh facilitated connections to grocery store surplus food sources.
• FoodStashcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurrent partner supporting food recovery operations and funding. Listed as making the Waste Not Want Not program possible.
• Shift DeliverycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero-emissions bicycle courier service providing daily food pickup from grocery stores and meal delivery to partner organizations. Supports sustainable last-mile logistics.
• Youth UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing meals to vulnerable, street-entrenched youth in Greater Vancouver through community programs.
• Vancouver Women's Health CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives meal support for womxn-focused programs promoting health, wellness, and equity through feminist advocacy approaches.
• Sakura SominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner receiving meal support for Indigenous programming.
• Megaphone MagazineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives meal support for monthly vendor meetings. Megaphone creates employment for people at risk of being unhoused while challenging stigma around drug use and poverty.
• Rainier HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives daily meals for womxn in housing with access to mental health services, medication management, detox, harm reduction, and recovery-focused programming.
• PHS Community Services SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives meal support for supported social housing (Regal Place Hotel) for DTES community members managing substance dependency issues.
• Lookout SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides housing and range of support services to adults with low or no income who have few housing or support options. Receives meal support.
• BC HousingcoreOthersGovernment housing partner in Daily Meal Program. Partnership enables meal delivery to social housing residents throughout DTES.
• AtiracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's resource organization providing housing and support services. Key partner in Daily Meal Program serving women-led families in Downtown Eastside.
• United Way Lower MainlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor community partner supporting DTES programs and funding.
• Vancouver FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner supporting local DTES initiatives.
• Second Harvest Food RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food rescue organization partnered for food recovery operations.
• City of VancouvercoreOthersMunicipal government partner providing support and funding for community programs.
• Federal Government of CanadacoreOthersGovernment funder through Canada Summer Jobs and other programs supporting employment and food security initiatives.
• Province of British ColumbiacoreOthersProvincial government partner. ABLF's Executive Director sits on the President's Group of BC, a coalition of companies dedicated to increasing employment for people with disabilities.
• DUDES ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceives meal support for Indigenous men's health programming connecting men to land, culture, and healthcare.
• Everybody Is InminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrassroots collective receiving meal support for community outreach, arts and culture, and community-based health and safety protocols in DTES.
• Binners ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTES community organization creating employment opportunities for bottle redemption workers.
• Sole FoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban agriculture social enterprise providing employment and training in food production.
• Open Door GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStep-to-work organization partner facilitating inclusive hiring practices and employment support for people with barriers.
• YMCAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployment services partner supporting inclusive hiring and workforce development programs.
• Mission PossiblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployment ministry partner providing job training and placement for people facing barriers in DTES.
• Pacific Autism Family NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner providing support for inclusive employment for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.
• Jobs West Employment ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployment services partner supporting job placement for people with barriers to employment.
• Save On MeatscoreOthersIconic Vancouver building housing ABLF's kitchen operations, Plenty of Plates events, and Token Window service. Operated by Mark Brand's business portfolio.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Union Gospel Mission: A long-standing Vancouver-based nonprofit that serves meals and provides shelter and recovery programs in the Downtown Eastside. Operates in the same geography and serves overlapping populations, though with a broader faith-based recovery mandate.
• Atira Women's Resource Society: A Vancouver-based women's housing and support organization that is itself one of ABLF's largest meal recipients. While not a direct food charity, Atira operates in the same DTES geography with overlapping beneficiary populations and serves as both a customer and a strategic partner.
• Mission Possible: A Vancouver-based employment ministry that provides job training and placement for people facing barriers in the Downtown Eastside. Already an ABLF partner for workforce development, and competes for the same pool of inclusive-employment funding and government contracts.

Broad incumbents

• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue organization. Comparable to ABLF's Waste Not Want Not program in terms of rescuing surplus food and converting it into meals for vulnerable populations, though at substantially greater scale.
• Food Banks Canada: The national umbrella organization for food banking in Canada. While ABLF operates more as a direct meal provider than a food bank, Food Banks Canada represents a broader incumbent in the same food-security funding and policy ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Hope's Corner: A community meal program in the Bay Area that serves free hot meals to those experiencing food insecurity. Shares ABLF's community-meal model and has direct personnel overlap via ABLF's Chef & Programs Manager Chris Ito, who previously served as Board President.
• Potluck Café Society: A Vancouver-based social enterprise that prepares meals using recovered food and employs people with barriers to employment. Shares ABLF's exact dual mission of food security and inclusive hiring, and operates in an overlapping DTES catchment.
• Greater Vancouver Food Bank: The primary food bank serving the same Metro Vancouver geography as ABLF. Both organizations address food insecurity in Vancouver, including the Downtown Eastside, and compete for donor dollars, volunteer engagement, and government funding.
• Second Harvest: Canada's largest food rescue organization. ABLF already partners with Second Harvest on food recovery operations, and both organizations share a mission of diverting surplus food to feed vulnerable populations through a national/regional network.

Emerging players

• Greyston Bakery: A US-based bakery and social enterprise famous for its 'open hiring' model that employs anyone who walks in the door. Shares ABLF's inclusive hiring philosophy and has built a commercial food business around barriered employment, providing a productized model for ABLF's Inclusive Hiring program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/abetterlifevan?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/ablfvan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-better-life-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/abetterlifevan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A Better Life Foundation