We are all aware of the vast amount of food waste that Canadians generate. It’s shocking, really; the average Canadian wastes 170 kilograms of food every year. This weekend, meet one entrepreneurial Canadian who is doing something about it, using leftover grains from the brewing industry to make fabulous, artisanal sourdough bread. Taste it for yourself in the store this Sunday, February 3rd, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dihan Chandra
In 2006, Dihan Chandra started his first social enterprise, Organic Lifestyle to focus on promoting non-toxic alternatives for the home such as organic pillows, linens and mattresses. Since 2017, he has been working full time on Organic Lifestyle, and now, The Spent Goods Company, which works with organizations to re-imagine food waste, reducing their expenses and carbon footprint while generating new revenue sources.
Most recently The Spent Goods Company has partnered with craft breweries to transform their leftover barley grains (spent grains) into revenue-generating food products that are sold as part of their menu to their customers, made from their own spent grains which they used to pay to dispose of. And thus was born Beer Bread, a delicious, artisan sourdough bread made in Toronto by Drake Commissary, utilizing spent grains from next-door neighbour Henderson’s Brewery. At present, Spent Goods offers two types of bread: beer bread organic sourdough, and non-sourdough sandwich bread, made from locally sourced, certified organic wheat flour, brewery barley grains, water, non-commercial yeast and salt.
The sourdough is made using a wet dough and long slow natural fermentation to increase nutritional value, flavour, and digestibility.
- Organic + Local: Sourced locally using traditional stone milling techniques to preserve the integrity and unique character of the grain.
- 100% Vegan (e.g., no eggs, no dairy) and no preservatives
- No commercial yeast – made with Drake’s own sourdough starter
- Good Nutrition– Double the fibre and protein; less gluten (but NOT gluten-free) and low glycemic compared to white flour bread.
And we all know how good barley is for us! Considered one of the healthiest whole food grains, studies show it’s protective against breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, heart failure and lowers cholesterol. Now the company is working to take surplus bread and make beer with it! Drake Commissary’s surplus bread will be supplied to Henderson’s Brewery, who will launch their Sourdough Indian Pale Ale later this year!
Spent Goods beer bread is a great conversation starter amongst consumers around the topic of food waste, an alternative product that allows us to vote with our wallets for the change we want to see in the world.
Want to taste and see for yourself how wonderful this bread is? The Spent Goods Company will be in our store this Sunday, February 3rd, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.offering samples of their wares, and excited to keep the good conversation going!