Getting people excited about finding a new favourite brand of drink is Brooke Nauta’s goal now that she’s completed NC’s Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program.
Nauta admits she didn’t have a specific career goal in mind when she enrolled in the program in 2019, though it was something she wanted to do for a long time.
“Now I just want to succeed in the beverage industry,” the lifelong Wainfleet resident says. “I would love to have a beverage company that people get excited to drink.”
She’s on her way to making it happen, too.
In her final year capstone project, Nauta doubled down on her goal in beverage product development and chose to create a business around fermented beverages that celebrate the circular economy.
She partnered with a local cheese manufacturer to use leftover whey from their cheese production and uses it to create unique whey fermented fruit beverages, lemonades, shrubs and cocktail mixers.
Now she rents commercial production space at COMMIS in St. Catharines and sells her products as The Fermie at the Fonthill and Welland Farmers Markets.
The Fermie is not her first business venture, though. Nauta also owns Brooker Events, a wedding planning and event logistics company based out of Fonthill.
But it’s beverage production that she’s truly passionate about.
“I love producing beverages and playing with flavours and creating tasty creations,” she says. “I have also been working at Niagara Falls Craft Distillers as their operations specialist.”
She’s also been invited to join the board of directors for the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology – Ontario Section.
Looking back on her time at NC, Nauta says she most enjoyed the in-person teaching styles and the field trips she took with her classmates. Working at the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre was also a highlight.
And now, as she graduates, Nauta says she’s excited to share the experience with her mom, her sister and her daughter Avery, who will be in the audience to watch her receive her diploma.
“I finally get to be in the beverage industry and thrive!”
Congratulations to Nauta and to all graduating students this week!
