OCNews

A new series of TAC Talks, presented by Okanagan College’s BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC), will highlight the latest trends in the beverage industry, including TikTok videos, policy updates and market influences.

The talks, which are open to anyone who works in or has an interest in the beverage industry, begin this month with a session from a TikTok social media expert and will be followed by two more speakers in the coming months, delving into regulations and label changes as well as global food fads.

“We’re excited to be providing these three unique and interesting speakers,” said Wes Peterson, BC BTAC manager. “Providing support to the beverage industry is what we do, and these talks build on our existing services. These speakers are on the cutting edge of the industry and have valuable insights important to this thriving sector.”

Located at the Penticton campus of Okanagan College, the BC BTAC provides a wide range of product development services to businesses operating in the multi-billion-dollar beverage industry in the Okanagan, which includes more than 200 wineries, craft breweries, distilleries and cideries, as well as a growing number of non-alcoholic beverage makers.

Okanagan College's BC BTAC is a partnership between OC, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training and Accelerate Okanagan. It provides services such as product research, lab testing, export markets as well as training and education, including the upcoming speaker series known as TAC Talks.

• Oct. 20: TAC Talks with Dre Pao, a TikTok Master. Best known for his TikTok snack content, Dre Pao has built a following of over 200,000 food lovers and manages TikTok profiles for some of the top food brands in Canada and the USA. Register here.
• Nov. 10: TAC Talks with Martha Carman, Regulatory Master. Specializing in Canadian regulations, Martha Carman will discuss the necessary label changes being made to food and beverage products in Canada this year. Register here. 
• Jan. 12: TAC Talks with executive chef and culinary expert Christine Couvelier. Join Christine Couvelier to discuss the importance of being informed about key market influences and up to date on global food trends. Register here. 

Each TAC Talks event takes place on Zoom from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and participants must register for the events. The first of the three sessions will be offered free of charge to registrants.

For more information on the BC BTAC visit okanagan.bc.ca/bcbtac.

To explore program and course offerings though Okanagan College, related to the food, wine and tourism industries, click here.