The owners and staff at Two Farm Kids are excited to announce the launch of a new service they will be offering their customers. Starting as early as next week, they will be opening a Smoothie Bar.   Owner Sylvia Ubell said that the idea has been unfolding for a number of years, but really started to take off after her and her daughter attended a National Food Show in Anaheim last year.   “We bought a smoothie blender bike and have been using it at various events and for demonstrations in the store. So we thought it was time to do something a little more. We have all the ingredients right here, everything for special diets such vegan, gluten-free, diabetic, so it just seems like a natural fit,” said Ubell.   Two Farm Kids expanded their floor space and renovated eight years ago, which easily allows for the addition of a Smoothie Bar. The menu will expand over time, however, they do intend to provide hot beverages as well as smoothies, including Fair Trade and Organic teas and coffee. Plus there will be raw food bars and other healthy goodies that will meet the needs of those requiring specialty ingredients for their diets.   “We have the flexibility to add things, depending on what our customers request. We may eventually add a soup bar, muffins, wraps, pizza or other items depending on demand,” said Ubell.   As they will be catering to their regular clientele, as well as to the coffee break and lunch crowd, the store hours will remain the same as they are now and items will be available for takeout only.   “Whenever possible we will use certified organic, natural, locally sourced products. Plus we have all kinds of add-ons in the store. If someone wants a greens powder or fibre added to their smoothie we’ll be able to do that as well. We have lots of different options,” said Ubell.   An important part of planning the launch of the Smoothie Bar was being able to source earth-friendly containers. As such they will be using cornstarch-based, Eco-friendly cups that are biodegradable and compostable with no chemical dyes.   As Two Farm Kids look to celebrate their 30th anniversary this year in August, they are also celebrating the next generation of family getting involved in this local business. While Sylvia and her husband Greg have worked at the business for many years, their daughter Keegan has been helping to run the store now for the past six years. For more information, visit www.twofarmkids.com.

Source:  Brandon Chamber Facebook The new 2018/2019 Board of Directors for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce was introduced yesterday at a luncheon held at the Clarion Hotel & Suites. Board of Directors: Jeff Hood - President Cathy Snelgrove - Vice-President Spencer Day - Secretary-Treasurer Tami Rourke - Past-President Mike Brolund Barry Cooper Ryan Jacobson Tanya LaBuick Steve McMillan Scott Norosky Trent Sholdice Aida Tahhan Jordan Trotter Jill Watt

Fans of soft-serve ice cream, Blizzards, and GrillBurgers can celebrate--a new Dairy Queen Grill & Chill restaurant, with a drive-thru, is coming to Brandon soon. Laird Lidster plans to open Brandon's first Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, at 915-18th Street North (Corral Centre).  In conversation earlier today with bdnmb.ca Laird said that he is extremely excited to officially make the announcement of the new restaurant location and that the idea to open a Grill & Chill in Brandon has been a long time coming. The Grill & Chill concept includes menu items such as burgers, fries, salads, chicken and other foods, in addition to ice cream products.  According to Laird, the location was selected as the area is now a mature development with proven traffic flows.  He added that in addition to an exciting new food program, customers can expect to receive the same friendly, quality customer service they are accustomed to from the existing Dairy Queen locations in the city. Construction on the new 70-seat, 2650 sq foot restaurant is slated to start in the next several weeks with an expected opening date in either late 2018 or early 2019.  Laird said that new store will employ approximately 35-40 people. The original Dairy Queen in Brandon was started in 1954 and has been in the Lidster family since 1973.  Laird purchased the business on 18th Street from his father 11 years ago.  He also has been the owner/operator of the Dairy Queen in the Brandon Shoppers Mall for the past 18 years and is the franchisee of the Qdoba location in Brandon.  Dairy Queen will continue to operate at it's 18th Street location.

A new ethnic grocery store opened in Brandon.  Neo Mart Grocery Store officially opened to the public on June 1, 2018.    The store carries brand name packaged goods primarily from China, Japan, and Korea.  Included among the food items you will find on the shelves are a wide variety of rices & wraps, desserts, noodles, pastas, beverages, candies, spices, snacks and condiments. Additional products are still to arrive.  Neo Mart Grocery Store is located at 1122-18th St in Brandon.

After more than ten years operating out of the corner office of the Riverbank Discovery Centre, Brandon First will be expanding its footprint with a move to the newly renovated Dome Building as of June 1st, 2018.   Brandon First has been steadily outgrowing its current space as the organization continues to expand its operations. “With the growing number of event room nights our office processes, and in particular the increased need for meetings with the event planning community, we knew we were going to need more space,” advises Graham Harvey, Executive Director of Brandon First. “When this opportunity came up, the organizational needs, strategic benefits, location, and historic significance just made it make sense.” The Riverbank Discovery Centre space provided a critical start-up and incubation location for Brandon First to grow from one staff to two and to accomplish some truly impressive event recruitment for the city. Such events include, but are not limited to, the 2010 Memorial Cup, the 2017/2018 Royal Canadian Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships, and the upcoming 2018 Brandon Comic Con and the 2019 Tim Horton’s Brier. Looking ahead, Brandon First and Brandon Tourism will continue to enjoy the benefits of their long and positive relationship, particularly as Brandon’s new tourism place brand is launched in the coming months. Event recruiting initiatives involving both organizations will continue as Brandon First promotes the community as the best place to hold an event and Brandon Tourism welcomes guests to those events and shares all the great experiences Brandon has to offer. “Right back to 1913, when the Dome Building was originally built as the site of the Dominion Fair, Display Building Number II has had a role in Brandon’s unique event tourism history,” says Harvey. “We are so delighted that the Provincial Exhibition restored the glory of this magnificent building to allow us to carry on that tradition.” By taking possession of the two office units upstairs that will be the new base of operations for Brandon First, the move is anticipated to accommodate organizational growth and provide the opportunity to better network within the Agricultural event sector, one of Brandon First’s key target event markets. Brandon First is excited and very much looking forward to setting up the new space, while working with stakeholders in a continued and consistent manner to bring events to Brandon. Office hours will remain the same: 8:30 – 4:30, Monday to Friday as will email and phone contact information for staff. The new mailing address for the Brandon First office is as follows. Brandon First Second Floor – Exhibition Building No. 2 1200 – 13th Street Brandon, MB R7A 4S8