Emma Smith is the original owner and sole founder of Zimt Chocolates. Established in 2011, Emma and her team have grown Zimt within the most ethical framework possible, including a heavy emphasis on supply chain inputs and further ethical considerations. Having first learned of forced child labour as a child herself, Emma was determined to eliminate as much unethical labour from the supply chain upon which she relies as possible.
As an ethical vegan of nearly twenty years, Emma’s pursuit to put both her Bachelor of Commerce and moral compass to their fullest use is at a constant high.
Being the sole owner of an independent food manufacturing brand has taught Emma a great deal about production efficiencies, human resources, and, slowly, marketing. Her goal is to continue to give voice to those who are rarely listened to: those most vulnerable with whom we share our planet, including children, animals, and economically disadvantaged women.
Emma’s commitment to ethical business practices extends beyond products to every aspect of how Zimt operates, ensuring that compassion remains at the heart of all business decisions.
THE BUSINESS.
Zimt Chocolates is somewhat of a rare breed. Starting in 2011, the mission of the company has remained constant, and no transfer of ownership has occurred.
While many brands focus on maximizing profits at nearly any cost, or rely on product attributes or original founder stories to acquire customers, Zimt has taken a slightly different approach.
Zimt is an ethical vegan company to its core. As such, all product testing and ingredients have been kept fully vegan, reflecting an unwavering commitment to compassionate business practices.
Beyond the basic rights of humans and animals, Zimt practices consideration for the planet. With a strong commitment to reduce reliance on petroleum and limit unnecessary consumption of oil, Zimt has employed the use of plant-based cellulose since inception.
Additional considerations to planetary and wildlife health include using predominantly coconut sugar as a sweetener. The Food and Agriculture Organization has named coconut sugar as the world’s most sustainable sweetener.
Organic agriculture produces less harm on natural ecosystems, which is why Zimt prioritizes certified organic ingredients.
IN HER WORDS.
“I first recognized my entrepreneurial spirit when I was about eight years old. I would come up with little inventions to show off at parties my mother would host, simple things like petal infusions and always natural stuff. The inspiration behind my first big idea is a very long story, but essentially, it was making lemonade out of lemons. I was a floundering twenty-two-year-old with terrible self-esteem, strong morals, poor career prospects, and despite it all, an iron will to leave the world a little better than I found it.
There are so many memorable early business experiences, and these are mostly the ones where love is present. One of the earliest ones is of my Grandmother hand sealing compostable bags down to size, as they were not available yet to properly fit our chocolate bars. Another was when we were working out of someone else’s chocolate factory and someone spilled a bucket of our coconut oil down an elevator.
My Mum and I scraped and cleaned and scrubbed that elevator floor and even under the elevator capsule itself, ignoring the fact that it was dangling a story above us. More still involve working with other small makers to load out of a market at night, helping a fellow small business owner who was injured and unable to carry out her table.
While my entrepreneurial journey has evolved plenty, the main premise has remained constant: to create as little harm as possible while creating as much good as possible for those most vulnerable. Initially, the intention, or perhaps delusion, was to generate plenty of profit and pay that forward to select charitable organizations. This was the idea for creating change. But, as realities have set in and my prefrontal cortex has fully formed, the undeniable truth is that sharing awareness, opening the door to a more compassionate lifestyle, and welcoming others to join is really what will make the difference.
Money cannot buy away our problems; we have to act peacefully, together. In terms of multiple ventures, I dabbled briefly in chia pudding and decided that the packaging headache and shelf life competition for fridge space in retail was not worth it, so I simply dropped it.
The sacrifices I have had to make to pursue this dream have taken an immense toll on my mental well-being. These are things I have had to contend with on a daily basis for years; they just pop up out of nowhere, unwelcome memories. But the show must go on.”
“It suffices to say that I really have not balanced my personal nor professional life throughout these fifteen years. I think some entrepreneurs are hard wired that way; they can take a break from business to entertain life, but not the other way around. For me, because the vision is so ethically minded, it feels like a great responsibility to pursue. I would like to maximize helping, and I believe one valuable and achievable way is through Zimt.
Confidence has been key to scaling my business to the next level. A part of me just has to set aside my doubts and say that this is possible, other people can do it, so the only thing getting in my way would really be myself, including my brain. This has been an extremely challenging component. I have really had to fight to feel competent and respected throughout life.
Societal perceptions have been an immense hindrance, but I am trying to cast those aside and focus on the end goal. Writing things out, seeing what is feasible and available, and certainly curbing expectations of ease are absolutely vital for scaling. In manufacturing, it is not just demand; it is supply, physical goods supply, and processing.
Though many incredible opportunities have come my way, the market is fickle and saturated, and it is a fair bit to deal with. The realization that helped me know success was possible was simply that other people are doing this, so I must be able to as well. And also the realization that nothing is certain; we have seen giants fall.
The role of mentorship and support has been significant in my journey. I had really wanted a mentor for many years. While I never achieved obtaining one, I will say that I have sincerely valued the generosity and kindness of many business leaders with whom I have shared conversations, concerns, and dreams. Seth Tibbott of Tofurky has been so supportive for many years and has provided invaluable guidance along the way.
Support, though, has been immeasurable. I have incredibly supportive friends and family. Some have been with me from the beginning, and some have helped me build multiple chocolate factories. I am always very touched by the care they extend to me and to the mission of Zimt. Their belief in this vision has carried me through the most challenging times.”
“My philosophy remains simple: if it is not broken, do not fix it. Our mission has remained consistent for the fifteen years we have existed as a company. The goal is to do the most net good through inviting people into a lifestyle prioritizing compassion for those most vulnerable, showing them that a good, kind way of living is possible and even enjoyable, including with great chocolate.
While I have grown a lot as a person since starting Zimt and my vision has remained consistent, the means of achievement have shifted as previously referenced. In terms of leadership style, I hope to have become more direct while keeping empathy top of mind. I strive to lead with both clarity and compassion in equal measure.
When it comes to advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, it all depends upon the field they are considering as well as where they are at in life. I do not think I have much to offer to those who have not been in my position or something similar to it.
I will say this: for any major life decision, really be sure you are at a point in your cognitive development and critical thinking skills to assess taking this action appropriately.
Looking ahead, our vision is simply put: automation. Our intentions are noble, but in order to make a significant impact, we need to be able to get our chocolate and our message out there as seamlessly as possible. This will allow us to reach more people and spread our mission of compassion further than ever before.
There may be something on the horizon, a deviation from our current operations but with the same ethical intention and a switch in retail pursuits.
Also, increasing our advertising is essential. This is a world so unfamiliar to me, so cheers to Portfolio.YVR for this wonderful opportunity.
The legacy I hope to leave is one of demonstrating that ethical business practices and success are not mutually exclusive, and that compassion for the vulnerable can be woven into every aspect of commerce.”
EMMA SMITH, FOUNDER & OWNER
Author Profile
- This story is created in collaboration between Helen Siwak and the featured subject. As the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, Helen works closely with entrepreneurs to share their paths of innovation, resilience, and growth. Each story in this series is co-developed through interviews and first-person insights, blending authentic voices with Helen’s editorial expertise to highlight the remarkable individuals shaping British Columbia’s business landscape.
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