About Cheecha

Our family business began in 1996 when the snack food industry was laden with high-fat, high-calorie choices.  It was difficult for customers to find low-fat and gluten-free snacks to fulfill their cravings.  Although the healthy foods movement was slowly taking off, there were very limited options in packaged snacks, and most of the “healthy” options were more cardboard-inspired than crave-worthy. When one of our family members suffered a heart attack and was ordered to change his current eating habits, we knew it was time to fill the “good-AND -good-for-you” gap in the snack food market and create a craveable, crunchable, guiltless treat.

CheeCha SNAX came first and we’ve continued to develop our product line by listening to our customers and responding to their needs. When we heard from gluten-intolerant customers, we responded with a gluten-free line. Requests for monosodium glutamate free products caused us to revamp and improve our seasonings. We are on a mission to refine and refresh our products based on our customer’s cravings.

Today CheeCha Puffs produces both gluten-free and low-fat snacks available in over ten unique and irresistible flavours.

The Cheecha Story

Having just received her MBA, Elaine Cadrin was inspired to embark on an exciting challenge in her new city of Calgary.

Elaine focused on creating a new product from an existing favourite - a snack called cheecherone she had enjoyed while travelling in Mexico. On a trip to Mexico, Elaine met with the manufacturers of the pasta-like pellets used to make cheecherone, and she and her parents brought four bags home to experiment with. Elaine discovered that the traditionally deep-fried cantina treats could be puffed similarly with hot air rather than deep-fat frying them.

Elaine hot-air puffed the first batches with six hot air popcorn poppers in her own kitchen, seasoned them, and sold them at a local farmer’s market. Soon enough, the kitchen became too small to meet the demand, and a small warehouse space was rented. Today, thanks to the wonderful opportunities provided by retailers and consumers, CheeCha Puffs are sold across Canada and in several areas of the US. Elaine and her daughter Tracey manage the CheeCha factory in Calgary. This dynamic mother-daughter duo recognizes the importance of staying in touch with customers, retailers and market trends. Elaine believes, “the demand for healthier food choices will continue to grow and soon become a perquisite for Canadian households; low fat snack and glutne-free snacks like Cheecha Puffs will be the norm.

CheeCha is part of the healthy snack food evolution and will continue to create quality snack foods for the health-conscious consumer.

CheeCha Sustainability: Carbon Footprint Report

CheeCha Puffs are not only created with our low-fat and gluten-free conscious customers in mind, they also are made with sustainability and environmental consideration.  CadCan Marketing & Sales Inc is pleased to present our 2009 Carbon Footprint Report, which is the first carbon footprint report completed by CadCan Marketing & Sales Inc. in conjunction with High Performance Solutions Inc. This report was prepared by Elaine Cadrin of CadCan Marketing & Sales Inc. and Brett Wills of High Performance Solutions Inc.

To review the full report click here.