San Francisco Frontiers - Calgary Chef Launches App to Connect Food Businesses with Non-Profits

Sean Burton, a Calgary-based chef and chief executive officer of Mise, has launched a new initiative called Mise: Family Meals to redirect surplus food from commercial kitchens to charitable organizations. The program addresses a growing disconnect between food waste and food insecurity in Canada, where monthly visits to food banks have reached historic levels.

Burton’s motivation stems from his professional background in the culinary industry. He observed that significant amounts of edible food were routinely discarded in kitchen environments. Inspired by the traditional restaurant practice of preparing a "family meal" for staff using scraps and leftovers, Burton sought to extend this concept beyond the workplace. His goal was to create a system where food destined for garbage could instead reach individuals facing hunger.

To operationalize this vision, Burton partnered with Kenzie Bullock, Mise’s chief technology officer. Bullock, who built his career in programming, applied his technical skills to develop the platform’s infrastructure. He noted that existing technology should make it straightforward to link excess food supplies with those requiring assistance.

The digital platform functions as a logistical bridge between donors and recipients. Commercial kitchens with surplus inventory can list available items on Mise: Family Meals, providing specific pickup instructions. Nearby food banks, shelters, and non-profit organizations can then claim these listings and coordinate collection. Conversely, non-profits can proactively request specific items, allowing them to coordinate directly with kitchens to maximize the utility of available surplus.

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by recent data on food insecurity in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, approximately 11 million tonnes of food, representing 20 percent of all annual food production, becomes waste. Meanwhile, Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount report indicates that food bank usage has surged by 113 percent since 2019. In March 2026 alone, the network served 3.6 million snacks and meals.

Economic pressures are driving this increased demand. The HungerCount report found that low-income households now spend an average of nearly 60 percent of their income on housing, a 10 percent increase from 2021 levels. This financial strain is exacerbated by wage stagnation relative to inflation. Minimum wage in Alberta has remained frozen at $15 per hour since 2018. During the same period, inflation rose by 27 percent. According to the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, a basket of goods costing $15 in 2018 would cost $19 in 2026.

The Alberta Living Wage Network estimates that the living wage required for a worker to cover basic expenses and participate in their community is $26.50 per hour in Calgary. This gap between earnings and the cost of living has intensified reliance on food assistance programs.

Mise: Family Meals tracks its impact by weighing all drop-offs and publishing the total amount of rescued food on its platform. Burton highlighted the inefficiency of current systems, noting that while digital communication is instantaneous, physical food distribution remains difficult to coordinate efficiently. "It’s 2026, and we can tweet somebody across the world in a second, but we can’t get food into somebody’s hands five minutes away," he said.

Bullock expressed surprise at the volume of food discarded in Canada despite the availability of technology to solve such logistical challenges. The program aims to simplify this process, ensuring that surplus resources are utilized effectively rather than wasted.

E.Cruz--SFF