This year marked a major milestone for Impact Kitchen, 10 years since opening our first location in Corktown. What began as a single restaurant with a commitment to real food and community has grown into a purpose driven brand, creating meaningful experiences and fostering connection. As we look back on 2025, we’re proud to celebrate the momentum, innovation, and connection that defined this year, and the decade that brought us here.
This year was full of new restaurant openings, menu innovations, community partnerships, and team milestones. We expanded our footprint from 7 Toronto locations to 2 locations in New York City, introducing new people to our all day menu and fueling more people than ever with real food made with zero compromises. We are so grateful to be a part of the NoMad and Williamsburg communities.
Innovation remains at the core of everything we do. Our team pushed boundaries with new seasonal offerings that highlight high quality ingredients and showcase our local partners. This year, we partnered with Regenerative Farms for the first time, strengthening our commitment to sustainability. We also expanded our menu with a new fan favourite category, Sandwiches and Wraps, added Protein Pancakes to breakfast, introduced the Teriyaki Braised Beef Bowl as a new dinner feature, and rolled out many other nutrition focused items.
Behind the scenes, our teams continued to evolve and strengthen how we work together. This year, Impact Kitchen was recognized as one of the 2025 Best Workplaces™ in Retail and Hospitality, a reflection of the culture our people build every day. We introduced new technology to streamline operations, enhanced training and leadership programs to support our teams, and rolled out initiatives that keep Impact a place where great work and great food thrive side by side. We had countless members of Team Impact grow into new roles, and we couldn’t be more proud of everyone who makes an impact every day.
Community is at the core of what we do, and this year we showed up more than ever, both in Toronto and New York City. We participated in events like Strong New York, Sauna Fest, and the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, connecting with guests and creating meaningful shared experiences. To deepen our connection with the community, we are proud to have launched the Impact Advocates program, bringing together community leaders in the health and wellness space who are also passionate Impact customers.
With all these accomplishments, we found time to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary by spending October honouring the people and stories that shaped our journey. From team events led by our Impact Ambassadors to storytelling features with tenured employees, the celebrations reminded us what makes this community so special - our shared passion for growth, connection, and impact.
We were also honoured to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2025, a milestone that reflects the energy, dedication, and passion of our team. As we close out this year and step into the next decade, we’re more inspired than ever to continue fuelling communities through real food and meaningful connections. Thank you to our team, guests, and partners for being part of this journey, we can’t wait to see what 2026 and the next 10 years have in store.
- Team Impact
This year was full of new restaurant openings, menu innovations, community partnerships, and team milestones. We expanded our footprint from 7 Toronto locations to 2 locations in New York City, introducing new people to our all day menu and fueling more people than ever with real food made with zero compromises. We are so grateful to be a part of the NoMad and Williamsburg communities.
Innovation remains at the core of everything we do. Our team pushed boundaries with new seasonal offerings that highlight high quality ingredients and showcase our local partners. This year, we partnered with Regenerative Farms for the first time, strengthening our commitment to sustainability. We also expanded our menu with a new fan favourite category, Sandwiches and Wraps, added Protein Pancakes to breakfast, introduced the Teriyaki Braised Beef Bowl as a new dinner feature, and rolled out many other nutrition focused items.
Behind the scenes, our teams continued to evolve and strengthen how we work together. This year, Impact Kitchen was recognized as one of the 2025 Best Workplaces™ in Retail and Hospitality, a reflection of the culture our people build every day. We introduced new technology to streamline operations, enhanced training and leadership programs to support our teams, and rolled out initiatives that keep Impact a place where great work and great food thrive side by side. We had countless members of Team Impact grow into new roles, and we couldn’t be more proud of everyone who makes an impact every day.
Community is at the core of what we do, and this year we showed up more than ever, both in Toronto and New York City. We participated in events like Strong New York, Sauna Fest, and the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, connecting with guests and creating meaningful shared experiences. To deepen our connection with the community, we are proud to have launched the Impact Advocates program, bringing together community leaders in the health and wellness space who are also passionate Impact customers.
With all these accomplishments, we found time to celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary by spending October honouring the people and stories that shaped our journey. From team events led by our Impact Ambassadors to storytelling features with tenured employees, the celebrations reminded us what makes this community so special - our shared passion for growth, connection, and impact.
We were also honoured to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2025, a milestone that reflects the energy, dedication, and passion of our team. As we close out this year and step into the next decade, we’re more inspired than ever to continue fuelling communities through real food and meaningful connections. Thank you to our team, guests, and partners for being part of this journey, we can’t wait to see what 2026 and the next 10 years have in store.
- Team Impact
A few weeks ago, we made the trip out to visit the VG Meats team in person at Hillview Farm in Norfolk County. It wasn’t one of those idyllic farm days - it was cold, rainy, and muddy - but in many ways, that made it the perfect setting to see what farming really looks like. Boots on the ground, rain in the air - we saw firsthand the commitment it takes to do things the right way, every single day.
We were welcomed by one of the VG brothers, Corey Van Groningen, who took us across the land, sharing stories and philosophies that guide how they farm. Their approach reflects the same passion and purpose we bring to every dish we make, grounded in respect for nature and a commitment to building for the future.
One explanation that stuck with us as restaurant people was a simple analogy about soil health. He asked us to picture two plates: one with a slice of whole bread, and the other with a pile of flour. If you pour water onto the flour, it runs off the surface quickly. But if you pour water onto the bread, it soaks it right up. The bread acts like a sponge, just like healthy, nutrient rich soil should. That’s what VG Meats is working to build every day: soil that can absorb, retain, and support life.
Later, we saw that idea come to life through a simple test: water was poured onto a section of their pasture soil, and we timed how long it took to absorb. 45 seconds. That’s incredibly fast and it’s a direct result of regenerative practices that prioritize soil structure, biodiversity, and natural cycles.
Regenerative farming isn’t just about sustainability, it’s about improvement. By rotating animals, planting diverse cover crops, and avoiding heavy inputs, VG Meats is restoring the land while producing high quality food with transparency and care. You can read more about what Regenerative Farming means to us at Impact through our web page here.
We left VG Meats with muddy boots (some sneakers), cold hands, wet jackets and a whole new level of respect. This wasn’t just a farm visit - it was a chance to connect with the people behind the food, and to witness what real impact looks like on the ground. It was a powerful reminder of why building for the future starts with partners who align with our values.
Watch for more from our visit on Instagram, and the next time you dig into one of our dishes featuring VG Meats, you’ll know it’s more than just a delicious ingredient - it’s a story of purpose, partnership, and progress.Later, we saw that idea come to life through a simple test: water was poured onto a section of their pasture soil, and we timed how long it took to absorb. 45 seconds. That’s incredibly fast and it’s a direct result of regenerative practices that prioritize soil structure, biodiversity, and natural cycles.
© Impact Kitchen, 2025
© Impact Kitchen, 2025
