our story
Driven by our passion for food, our story started in a kitchen. To be exact, a kitchen inside BCIT’s Food Technology lab. During our final semester, we joined a product development competition organized by Pulse Canada called Mission Impulseible and created a chickpea-lentil tempeh nugget that we named “Tempea”. We had the privilege of winning the regional competition, after which we took our product to compete in the nationals. With the great feedback we received from industry professionals and our mentors, we decided to make our fictional company a reality.
Although we’re not from a long line of tempeh makers, we are here today because we want people to have access to good food – food that doesn’t lack flavour or nutrition, food that supports the local community, and food that has a minimal impact on the environment. We thought it was too good to be true, but the answer was right before us. We want to encourage everyone to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle by giving you a healthy alternative to meat, or to diversify your current plant-based diet.
Meet the tempea team!
Richard
Armed with a Masters in Chemical Engineering in Biodegradable Plastics you can find Richard educating and engaging with everyone at the Farmer’s Market booth and our demo tables.
He loves being in the thick of it: chatting with clients, vendors, friends and everyone in between.
Elia
Elia is a powerhouse bringing with her a combination of a Food Technology Diploma and a BA in Forensics. She is a smart planner and fierce competitor who strives to conquer every task thrown at her.
Whether it’s social activism, company operations, or hitting the gym — this woman has it all on lock!
Ariela
Ariela decided to take on Food Technology at the British Columbia Institute of Technology because it was the perfect melting pot for her passion for food, knowledge in chemistry, and background in business.
She has a passion for bringing good food to her community, as well as a love for cats and photography.
Andrew
Andrew studied Food Technology at BCIT. As a student, he was able to work with BCIT’s Natural Health and Food Products Research Group (NRG). Andrew was born and raised in Indonesia, the home of tempeh, and has fond memories of munching on fried tempeh as an after-school snack.
He also has a love affair with TV shows: particularly all 10 seasons of Friends and has memorized all lines by heart.