From concept to commercialization, we partner with CPG brands to develop, scale, and launch products that succeed in the real world.
Years of Experience
Happy Clients
Products Developed
End-to-end product development support designed to takeyour idea from concept to successful commercialization.
Ingredient sourcing, benchtop prototypes, cost analysis, and finalized formulas ready for production.
Existing recipe optimization, ingredient sourcing, and shelf-life extension to improve your products.
Guidance for Organic, Fair Trade, Kosher, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, and Vegan certifications.
Hourly consulting (Zoom or in person), R&D plant trials, production runs, and QA/Food Safety support.
Partnered with Fanshawe CRI for comprehensive lab analysis and shelf life testing services.
Proud collaborators with regional economic development and entrepreneurship organizations supporting food innovation across Canada.







20 years of experience with companies from startups to industry leaders








Karen Cardona is a Food Scientist with over two decades of experience developing and commercializing food products, from benchtop formulation to full-scale production. Before founding True Leaves Consulting, she held roles at global food leaders including Nestlé and Kraft Heinz. She was also part of the founding teams at Nuts For Cheese and Rainfed Foods, giving her a rare combination of multinational and startup experience. This diverse background shapes her practical, industry-first approach to product development. When Karen works on a product, she starts with taste, then considers manufacturing performance, cost, shelf-life, and regulatory requirements. It’s an approach built from years of working in production and bringing products to market. Her expertise spans functional ingredients, sensory science, clean-label formulation, and regulatory compliance across both Canadian (CFIA) and U.S. (FDA) markets. She is also an active educator and mentor, having supported over 500 food entrepreneurs through programs like Foodventure Accelerator & Foodpreneur Lab. With roots in Canada and El Salvador, Karen brings a unique culinary perspective to her work—blending scientific precision with creativity to help brands build products that truly stand out.
Steve is a culinary artist turned product developer, with a background spanning bustling restaurant kitchens and large-scale industrial food production. A self-proclaimed food adventurer, he specializes in vegan and gluten-free innovation and has a gift for taking a home kitchen recipe and scaling it for commercial success. Steve's superpower? Turning "this tastes amazing" into "this is production-ready and profitable." His plant-based expertise and manufacturing know-how ensure every product is delicious, scalable, and built for the real world. When he's not perfecting formulations, you'll find him experimenting with new ingredients and flavour combinations.
A food-obsessed strategist who geeks out over consumer trends and what makes people fall in love with products. At True Leaves Consulting, she dives deep into market research and competitive analysis for client projects, uncovering insights about consumer psychology, emerging trends, and the flavour profiles that resonate with today's shoppers. Her research ensures every product decision and every client project is backed by real market intelligence. Whether analyzing what's trending in plant-based snacks or decoding why certain flavours capture attention, she helps clients navigate the crowded food landscape with confidence—and a genuine love for great food.
Tell us about your project and we'll be in touch to explore how we can help bring your vision to life.