The taste of Halifax is constantly evolving as entrepreneurial immigrants put down roots on the east coast.
Starting a business is always a brave move. Doing it in a new country, with unfamiliar systems, language challenges, and limited support networks? That’s another level of courage. But across Halifax, newcomer entrepreneurs reshape the city’s business landscape, bringing flavour, innovation, and cultural richness to our neighbourhoods.
The flavours of Atlantic Canada are richer because of the newcomers who bring with them traditional recipes and stories of resilience, ambition, and hope. Across Nova Scotia, immigrant-owned food businesses are making their mark by serving up more than meals; they offer inspiration and community.
These three award-winning culinary ventures are led by newcomers whose passion and perseverance continue to shape the East Coast’s cultural landscape.
Peace by Chocolate
Tareq Hadhad | Antigonish, NS
Peace by Chocolate is one of Atlantic Canada’s most well-known immigrant success stories. When the Hadhad family arrived in Antigonish after fleeing the war in Syria, they brought with them a deep-rooted legacy of chocolate-making. In Damascus, their family business had thrived for decades—until it was destroyed by conflict.
Starting over in rural Nova Scotia, they launched a new chocolate company out of a small shed in 2016. In the years since, Peace by Chocolate has grown into a national brand with products on shelves across Canada. The company has earned praise not only for its fine artisanal chocolates but also for its social mission: hiring newcomers, mentoring refugees, and promoting peace through community-building initiatives.
Led by Tareq Hadhad, the business has garnered national awards and international attention. The Peace by Chocolate story has been featured in books, a film adaptation, and even recognized by Canadian leaders and global forums. Today, it stands as a symbol of how newcomers can turn adversity into opportunity—with hard work, family values, and a commitment to giving back.
Café Aroma Latino
Claudia Pinto | Halifax, NS
Located in Halifax’s North End, Café Aroma Latino is a colourful café and grocery store offering a warm welcome and the rich flavours of Latin America. Founded by Claudia Pinto, who immigrated to Nova Scotia from Guatemala, the café has become a hub for the city’s growing Latinx community.
What started as a small business with a few specialty ingredients has grown into a vibrant destination serving traditional foods from Guatemala, Mexico, Colombia, and beyond. Patrons can enjoy empanadas, tamales, tropical juices, and fresh-roasted coffee while browsing Latin American groceries that are often hard to find elsewhere in the region.
For Claudia, the café is more than a business—it’s a way of preserving cultural heritage, supporting newcomers, and building bridges between communities. Over the past two decades, Café Aroma Latino has become a fixture in Halifax, not only feeding the city but helping to shape its multicultural identity.
Shivani’s Kitchen
Shivani Dhamija | Halifax, NS
Shivani’s Kitchen began as a home-based meal delivery service, created by Indian newcomer Shivani Dhamija after she arrived in Halifax in 2011. Facing barriers to employment in her field, she turned to her roots—sharing the food she loved to cook with others.
Her bold spices and home-style Indian meals quickly found a following, leading her to develop a line of retail products including ready-to-heat meals, sauces, and handcrafted spice blends. With support from local business programs and community networks, Shivani scaled up her operations, opening a production facility and distributing her products to major grocery stores across Atlantic Canada.
Today, Shivani’s Kitchen can be found in Sobeys, independent retailers, and farmers’ markets, with a growing reputation for quality and authenticity. Shivani has been recognized with awards for entrepreneurship and community impact, and she continues to support other immigrant women through mentorship and charitable initiatives. Her story reflects the power of perseverance and the potential of inclusive local economies.
These three businesses, each rooted in different culinary traditions, demonstrate what’s possible when newcomers are welcomed and empowered. From chocolate crafted in Antigonish to empanadas in the North End and Indian spices on grocery shelves, the tastes and talents of immigrants continue to shape a more vibrant, diverse, and delicious Atlantic Canada.
