BONAVISTA, N.L. — Newfoundland Salt Company’s Peter Burt says they were “floored” when he and his partner Robin Crane heard the news earlier this week.
Sworn to secrecy until the official announcement, the Bonavista businessman had found out that they were the recipients of the Molson Partnership grant — for which they were one of three national finalists.
Burt and Crane harvest salt from local seawater and convert it into a finishing salt. They ship their product internationally to restaurants and homes.
Last month, the salt business was announced as one of three contenders for the Molson Partnership, which awards an entrepreneur a $50,000 cash grant and a future opportunity to partner with the brewery.
The contest was determined through online support, having had their business profiled by a video—shared through social media and the Molson website.
The other finalists were a lifestyle clothing brand called Province of Canada, and a hobby starter kit company called Pack It Up Co.
The project is based on embodying the Canadian Spirit, values of founder John Molson, and creating a better community for all.
Now, Burt says he wants to continue in that spirit with Newfoundland Salt Company.
With the $50,000 he says he wants to not only buy some much-needed equipment, and (self-admittedly boringly) pay some bills — he also wants to go green.
“We’re really trying to invest in solar and wind power,” explained Burt. “Our electricity is our biggest cost, and you know it’s windy in Bonavista. “If we can set up a net-metreing system and offset and produce so much electricity, even 70 per cent … that would be amazing.”
He says they initially went into the competition with the approach that, no matter what, this would be great exposure and a worthwhile endeavor for them.
“Just the association with Molson, them picking us for a shortlist for three companies, is a big honour,” said Burt.
“To find out that we are actually getting the partnership — it’s over the world — I can’t explain it,” he laughed.
Looking ahead, there have been no discussions yet regarding the partnership with Molson itself, but Burt has a couple of ideas in mind.
“There were two things that came to mind,” he says. “One was for Molson to do a salted beer — a sour. The other one was for us to make a beer-flavoured salt.”
Burt says he’s already been experimenting with the beer salt and while he wasn’t sure if it would work, he’s excited with the results so far.
“It smells like beer. And you taste it it’s distinctively like beer and almost malt vinegary with the acidity. “On french fries it’s, like, amazing!”
Molson is planning a celebration for the company — and their partnership — for Thursday, Aug. 1 in Bonavista.
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Twitter: @jejparsons
