VENTURES

SIMPLY THE BEST
A
s Best Cooking Pulses (BCP) celebrates
its 80 th anniversary in 2016 and 25
years of being certified organic, which happens
to coincide with the United Nations
International Year of Pulses (IYP), there are
plenty of reasons for the company to break
out the champagne… or perhaps a power
smoothie with some pea fiber.
The family-owned agri-food business has
become a leader in the international pulse
trade, coming a long way from its humble
beginnings in 1936. In October 2011, The
Globe and Mail Report on Small Business identified
Best Cooking Pulses as one of “Ten
food companies that are changing the way
we eat.”
“Like with many companies, Best Cooking
Pulses has faced its fair share of challenges
over the years. Our success as a small
14 GLOBALVENTURES • SUMMER 2016
family company in a pulse industry that has
ever more consolidation has relied on identifying
and pursing niche markets where
relationships and value are respected and
appreciated,” said Margaret Hughes, Vice
President of Sales & Marketing.
“BCP has always prided itself on building
long-term relationships with growers and
customers. We are committed to providing
a positive work environment for our staff
that is inclusive and enables each person to
develop their abilities and skills”
BCP’s story began with two peas in a
pod: Stephen Heal and Chauncey Eckhert.
In the early 1930s, the Fraser Valley farmers
were presented with an opportunity from a
coastal company to produce seed for canning
peas. However, before the crop was
harvested, the canner had gone broke. The
BY JONATHAN HAMELIN
Best Cooking Pulses – a leader in international pulse trade
two men knew pea soup was a dietary staple
for French Canadians, so they headed
east and were able to sell the two boxcars
of peas for a good profit.
BCP was established by Stephen Heal in
1936. They built the first dedicated pea
splitting plant in Western Canada in 1942.
By 1960, they had milling operations in all
four western Canadian provinces. Heal was
joined in business by his three sons: Jack,
Ronald and Geoff.
In 1992, Ron and Geoff split the company,
with Geoff becoming the sole owner of
the splitting plant in Rowatt, SK, and the fiber
and flour mills in Portage la Prairie, MB.
Over his lifetime, Geoff was a true pulse
pioneer. He developed proprietary processes
for splitting peas, milling pet food and
food grade pea fibers and pulse flours. He