Soham (Sam) Ajmera
Entrepreneur, Investor, and Founding Chairman
The FGF Group of Companies

Soham (Sam) Ajmera is a trailblazing Canadian entrepreneur whose vision, integrity, and mentorship have shaped one of North America’s great family business success stories. As the Founding Chairman of The FGF Group of Companies—Canada’s largest industrial baker and one of the world’s fastest-growing food manufacturing enterprises—Sam’s legacy spans five decades of innovation, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

Born on February 12, 1948, in Mumbai, India, Sam grew up in modest circumstances, learning early the values of hard work, humility, and perseverance. At 22, he left India for the United States to pursue a Master of Business Administration at the University of Detroit Mercy. While researching his graduate thesis, he focused on Canada and concluded it was “a land rich in opportunity.” Acting on that insight, Sam immigrated to Canada in 1974—and within three days of graduation launched his first venture, Dough Delight, with his brother Shreyas, laying the foundation for a lifelong journey in food manufacturing.

Dough Delight quickly became a pioneer in introducing traditional pita bread, authentic bagels, and French croissants to Canadian consumers, serving the evolving tastes of Toronto’s diverse and growing communities. With an unrelenting focus on quality, efficiency, and innovation, the company scaled rapidly and became one of the first in Canada to export fully finished baked goods to the United States. By the time Sam sold the business to Canada Bread in 1994, Dough Delight was producing more than five million bagels and three million croissants per day—an extraordinary achievement for an immigrant entrepreneur who had arrived in Canada with just $19 in his pocket.

After selling Dough Delight, Sam briefly stepped back from business life but quickly realized that retirement was not for him. By 1999, he was once again mentoring the next generation—supporting his eldest son, Ojus, in launching their first venture together, Specialty Rice, Inc. (SRI), in Brinkley, Arkansas. Acting as both investor and mentor, Sam provided the seed capital, guidance, and encouragement for the business while giving 22-year-old Ojus full entrepreneurial freedom to build it. The venture grew into one of the largest producers of organic rice in the United States before being successfully sold – a defining early milestone in the Ajmera family’s entrepreneurial journey.

That same spirit of partnership and mentorship culminated in 2004, when Sam helped his two sons, Ojus and Tejus, co-found FGF Brands in Toronto. Providing the seed investment, strategic counsel, and an experienced hand, Sam served as founding chairman and mentor. His wisdom and discipline anchored the company through its formative years as the brothers built the business from a 5,500-square-foot bakery into a high-growth, technology-enabled food manufacturing enterprise.

Today, FGF employs over 10,000 team members across 35 world-class facilities in Canada and the United States, producing bakery and snack foods under iconic brands including Stonefire®, ACE®, Wonder®, Country Harvest®, and D’Italiano®.

Sam’s role throughout FGF’s evolution has been that of experienced chairman, wise mentor, and proud father. He often says, “A parent’s role is to help their children cross the street safely. Once they’ve crossed, let them climb as high as they can.” That philosophy of empowerment, inspiration, and courage continues to define FGF’s culture and the Ajmera family’s values today.

Sam’s entrepreneurial achievements have been widely recognized. In 2009, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce named him Entrepreneur of the Year, honoring his business leadership and contributions to Canadian industry. He was also awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, celebrating his civic and philanthropic impact.

Philanthropy, together with his wife Shaila, stands as a cornerstone of Sam’s life and legacy. Sam serves on the Board of Directors of the UHN Foundation, continuing to support advancements in patient care, research, and technology. The family’s contributions have transformed care and research across Canada:

• The Ajmera Transplant Centre at Toronto General Hospital has helped establish UHN as one of the world’s leading transplant programs.
• The Soham & Shaila Ajmera Family Chair in Molecular Diabetes Research advances medical innovation in metabolic health.
• The Ajmera Family Chair in Urology at Sunnybrook Hospital supports groundbreaking genetic research in prostate cancer.

Through every chapter of his life, Sam has led by example—building with integrity, giving without expectation, and teaching that success is best measured by the lives one improves. His enduring message to future generations is simple yet profound: “Always work as if you’re starting from the ground floor. Stay humble, stay hungry, and use your success to lift others.”

Soham “Sam” Ajmera’s life remains a testament to perseverance, purpose, and generosity—a living embodiment of Canada’s entrepreneurial and humanitarian spirit.

Ojus Ajmera
Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer
The FGF Group of Companies

Ojus Ajmera is an entrepreneur, innovator, and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The FGF Group of Companies—Canada’s largest industrial baker and one of the world’s fastest-growing producers of bakery and snack foods. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, FGF supplies a broad range of branded and private-label products to leading retailers and foodservice partners across the globe. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves great food at an affordable price, FGF has earned a reputation as a values-led enterprise that fuses culinary craftsmanship with advanced industrial technologies.

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Ojus was deeply influenced by his father, Soham (Sam) Ajmera, an immigrant entrepreneur whose resilience, humility, and work ethic shaped a lifelong journey of purpose and possibility. Raised in an environment that valued curiosity and creativity, Ojus and his brother Tejus began building small ventures as children—from lemonade stands and snow removal routes to selling candy bars and soft drinks in high school to help fund their private school tuition. Those experiences instilled in him a belief that business is both a privilege and a responsibility.

After attending the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business, Ojus followed his father’s advice: “If you want to get into business, you need to start a business.” In 1999, he founded Specialty Rice, Inc. (SRI) in Brinkley, Arkansas, with a small seed investment from his father. There, he learned firsthand how innovation, customer understanding, and early trend-spotting could transform even the most traditional industries. Ojus grew SRI into one of the largest producers of organic rice in the United States before successfully exiting the business to refocus his energy on the fast-growing bakery venture, he and his brother were building with their dad back in Toronto.

In July 2004, Ojus and his brother Tejus co-founded FGF with seed investment from their father and a shared ambition “to become the World’s Greatest Baker.” They began with six team members, two small ovens, and a single mixer in a 5,500-square-foot facility. Through relentless focus on innovation, people, culture, and technology, FGF has rapidly grown to over 10,000 team members across 35 manufacturing and distribution facilities in Canada and the United States.

In 2009, driven by necessity to support FGF’s rapid expansion, Ojus led the family into the industrial real estate sector. What began as a means to scale FGF’s facilities evolved into Caplink, a thriving industrial real estate and development company with a growing portfolio across Canada and the United States—further testament to Ojus’ instinct for long-term value creation and entrepreneurial foresight.

FGF’s expansion has been powered by both organic innovation and strategic acquisition. In 2016, the company acquired snack food start-up RDJ Bakeries, which evolved into Snackruptors™, a global manufacturer of premium crackers and snacks. In 2022, FGF acquired Weston Foods, transforming it into Wonderbrands®. This acquisition marked a defining chapter, transforming FGF into a North American powerhouse, doubling its footprint while preserving its entrepreneurial spirit. Today, The FGF Group operates a network of 35 world-class facilities and owns iconic brands such as Stonefire®, ACE®, Wonder®, Country Harvest®, and D’Italiano®, cementing its position as a cornerstone of North America’s modern food industry.

Beyond business, Ojus is deeply committed to healthcare, education, and youth development. The Ajmera family has made transformative contributions to medical research and innovation, including the creation of The Ajmera Transplant Centre at Toronto General Hospital—now recognized as one of the world’s leading transplant programs. The family also endowed the Soham & Shaila Ajmera Family Chair in Molecular Diabetes Research and the Ajmera Family Chair in Urology at Sunnybrook Hospital, advancing global research in metabolic and genetic medicine.

Together with his brother Tejus, Ojus is a passionate advocate for expanding access to quality education. The brothers have endowed multiple full scholarships to ensure that talented students can pursue their potential regardless of financial means. Their belief in science and technology education is exemplified through The Science & Technology Centre at St. Andrew’s College—a pioneering maker-space that inspires hands-on learning and creativity in STEM.

Known for his strategic vision, relationship-first mindset, and deep curiosity about people and markets, Ojus continues to lead with entrepreneurial energy and purpose. He believes that long-term success is built on trust, innovation, and optimism—and that great partnerships can change industries. For Ojus, business is not just about making food—it’s about building lasting relationships that feed communities, empower people, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Ojus lives in Toronto with his wife Roberta and their two children.

Tejus Ajmera
Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer
The FGF Group of Companies

Tejus Ajmera is an entrepreneur, innovator, and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The FGF Group of Companies—Canada’s largest industrial baker and one of the world’s fastest-growing producers of bakery and snack foods. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, FGF supplies a broad range of branded and private-label products to leading retailers and foodservice partners across the globe. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves great food at an affordable price, FGF has earned a reputation as a values-led enterprise that fuses culinary craftsmanship with advanced industrial technologies.

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Tejus was deeply influenced by his father, Soham (Sam) Ajmera, an immigrant entrepreneur whose resilience, humility, and work ethic shaped the foundation for a lifelong journey of purpose and possibility. Bred to be entrepreneurs at a young age, Tejus and his brother Ojus had lemonade stands at age 8, snow removal businesses over the winters, and sold candy bars and soft drinks to their classmates during high school to help pay for their private school tuition. From a young age, Tejus learned that great businesses are built by people who stay curious, work hard, and keep finding better ways to do things.

By July 2004, shortly after graduating from Bowdoin College with a degree in Economics, Tejus and his brother Ojus, co-founded FGF with seed investment from their father and a shared ambition “to become the World’s Greatest Baker.” They began with six team members, two small ovens, and a single mixer in a 5,500-square-foot facility. Through relentless focus on innovation, people, culture, and technology, FGF has rapidly grown to over 10,000 team members across 35 manufacturing and distribution facilities in Canada and the United States.

Under Tejus’s leadership, FGF has become known as “the tech company that bakes.” The company pioneered many proprietary baking technologies, including a patented tunnel-style tandoor oven that replicates traditional naan at scale. Drawing inspiration from the fashion, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries, FGF reimagined what modern baking could be – leveraging advanced robotics and proprietary process technologies to combine craftsmanship with precision at scale. In 2020, FGF launched Cerebro Technologies™, a proprietary SaaS platform that uses computer vision and AI to monitor production, detect anomalies, and drive real-time operational excellence. This initiative reflects FGF’s core belief that “digital is not part of the strategy—it’s in our DNA.”

FGF’s expansion has been powered by both organic innovation and strategic acquisition. In 2016, the company acquired snack food start-up RDJ Bakeries, which evolved into Snackruptors™, a global manufacturer of premium crackers and snacks. In 2022, FGF acquired Weston Foods, transforming it into Wonderbrands®. This acquisition marked a defining chapter, transforming FGF into a North American powerhouse, doubling its footprint while preserving its entrepreneurial spirit. Today, The FGF Group operates a network of 35 world-class facilities and owns iconic brands including Stonefire®, ACE®, Wonder®, Country Harvest®, and D’Italiano®, cementing its position as a cornerstone of North America’s modern food industry.

Beyond business, Tejus is deeply committed to education, healthcare, and youth development. The Ajmera family has made transformative contributions to medical research and innovation, including the creation of The Ajmera Transplant Centre at Toronto General Hospital—now recognized as one of the world’s leading transplant programs. The family also endowed the Soham & Shaila Ajmera Family Chair in Molecular Diabetes Research and the Ajmera Family Chair in Urology at Sunnybrook Hospital, advancing global research in metabolic and genetic medicine.

A passionate advocate for access to high quality education, Tejus serves on the Board of St. Andrew’s College and Bowdoin College. Together with his brother Ojus, they have endowed multiple full scholarships to ensure talented students can pursue their potential regardless of financial means. Their commitment to science and technology education is exemplified through The Science & Technology Centre at St. Andrew’s College—a pioneering maker-space that enables hands-on STEM learning and creativity. As Tejus often says, “Kids are our country’s future. We need to inspire and equip the next generation of ethical, curious, and courageous leaders to tackle the challenges ahead.”

Known for his clarity of vision, integrity, and passion for innovation, Tejus continues to lead with purpose—transforming how food is made and enjoyed. He believes the convergence of technology, talent, and sustainability will redefine the future of food, making it more natural and accessible for all. Through his leadership, FGF remains driven by curiosity, and the conviction that doing well and doing good can—and must—go hand in hand. And the two brothers’ youthful energy still makes them feel like they are just getting started!

Tejus lives in Toronto with his wife Payal and their two children.

Chief Terry Paul, O.C.
Chief & Chief Executive Officer
Membertou First Nation

Terry Paul is the Chief of Membertou, a position he has held for the past 41 years. During that time, Paul has guided his community and administration into one of the most efficient and economically flourishing Indigenous communities in the country.

Chief Paul started his career with the Boston Indian Council where he received his background training in finance and management. Returning home to Membertou, Chief Paul joined the Membertou Band Council in the role of Economic Development Officer and progressed to the position of Band Manager before he was elected as Chief in 1984.

Chief Paul has achieved many notable accomplishments in his current role, as Chief and CEO of Membertou, including being named to one of Canada’s highest honours; in 2017, Chief Paul was appointed to the Order of Canada. He is also an inductee of the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Frank McKenna Leadership Award.

Chief Paul holds honourary doctorates from Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University and Mount Allison University. He’s led Membertou to being named a Canada’s Best Managed Company, and in 2025 reached Platinum Status. In 2022, Chief Paul was named Atlantic Canada’s Top CEO and Waterstone Human Capital named him as one of Canada’s Most Admired CEOs in 2024.

Chief Paul is credited with tripling the land base for the Membertou and increasing the employment rate in Membertou to more than 80%. In January 2021, Chief Paul led the single largest investment made by an Indigenous group in Canada, with the 50% acquisition of Clearwater Seafoods. Most recently, Membertou purchased 50% of NewDock – the St. John’s Dockyard in Newfoundland. The Membertou motto of “Welcoming the World” is undoubtedly the most accurate representation of the open and progressive Mi’kmaw community that Membertou has become under the leadership of Chief Terry Paul.

Hartley T. Richardson, LVO, O.C., O.M., LL.D.
Chief Executive Officer
James Richardson & Sons, Limited

Hartley T. Richardson is the Chief Executive Officer of James Richardson & Sons, Limited (JRSL), a private, family-owned corporation, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada. The company has interests in agriculture and food processing, energy sectors, transportation, insurance and real estate.

Mr. Richardson is now entering his 48^th year with JRSL. He served as the seventh family President of JRSL for 32 years, until his son, Thor R. Richardson, was appointed his successor and the eighth family President in July 2025. Mr. Richardson continues to have representation in a board or executive capacity on all the organization’s subsidiary companies.

Mr. Richardson currently serves as a Director of the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He is Past Chairman of both the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Business Council of Manitoba. Over the years, he has contributed his acumen and perspective to a number of corporate boards, including as a director of the Royal Bank of Canada and CP Rail, as well as a member of the Board of Governors for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Charter for Business.  

Mr. Richardson has also made an impact thought his involvement with a number of charitable endeavours and community organizations, most notably as Founding Chair of Partners in the Park and the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, leading the largest transformation in Assiniboine Park’s history; and as Co-Chair of the TransCanada Trail Foundation, furthering its mission to connect Canadians and visitors to nature and one another by one national trail.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba, B. Com (Hons), Mr. Richardson received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from each of the University of Manitoba in 2004 and the University of Winnipeg in 2012. He was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2008, and also appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007. He was promoted to an Officer within the Order of Canada in 2013, and in 2019, was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Mr. Richardson and his wife, Heather, reside in Winnipeg and have been married for 42 years. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. The family enjoys skiing in Big Sky, Montana; golfing in Great Guana Cay in the Bahamas; and spending time in the summer at Lake of the Woods.

Carolyn A. (Richardson) Hursh, B.S.W., M.S.W.
Honorary Chairman and Director Emeritus
James Richardson & Sons, Limited

Carolyn Richardson Hursh is the Honorary Chairman and Director Emeritus of James Richardson & Sons, Limited (JRSL), a family-owned corporation founded in 1857 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba with interests in agriculture, oil and gas, insurance, transportation and real estate.  

Mrs. Hursh retired in 2021 after 30 years of dedicated service as a JRSL Board member and 21 years as the non-executive Chairman of JRSL’s Board of Directors. Upon her retirement and in recognition of her dedication and valuable contributions to JRSL, she was appointed Honorary Chairman and Director Emeritus. Mrs. Hursh continues to be an active and engaged Shareholder in the family business. 

In 2000, Mrs. Hursh co-founded and organized the biennial Shareholders’ Symposium for the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh generations of the Richardson family. Known as “The Family Conference,” this event helps to engage and educate current and future shareholders. Through it, lasting relationships have been built, and a sense of collaboration has been fostered. This engagement and support from the Richardson Family continues to be a key factor in JRSL’s growth and succession today. Mrs. Hursh was also instrumental in the Management and Directorship transition from the 5th to the 6th generation.

Mrs. Hursh attended the University of Manitoba where she obtained a Bachelor of Social Work in 1974 and won the Gold Medal for her class. After working for several years as a Social Worker at the Grace Hospital Psychiatric Unit in Winnipeg, she completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1978 and received the Manitoba Fellowship Award. From 1974 to 1993, she worked as a Research Consultant in the field of Social Welfare. 

Mrs. Hursh served as a Director of Corus Entertainment for 10 years and was the Chairman of the Max Bell Foundation in Winnipeg for 15 years. She also previously served on the Advisory Boards of the Ohlson Research Institute at the University of Calgary and The Centre for Entrepreneurship & Family Enterprise at the University of Alberta.  

Carolyn Hursh and her husband, Larry, a Criminal Lawyer, have been married for 51 years. They reside in Calgary and have three grown children and eight grandchildren. 

Anthony von Mandl, O.C., O.B.C.
Founder, Owner & Chief Executive Officer
The Mark Anthony Group of Companies

Founded at the age of 22 without a dime, Anthony von Mandl built a multi-billion-dollar Drinks company from the ground up in Canada with no outside financing or major acquisitions. He accomplished this by creating new to world drinks categories and iconic brands that completely transformed the industry.

During the global pandemic Anthony invested $2B to build the most technologically advanced breweries in North America in the past 30 years. These state-of-the-art facilities are without parallel anywhere in the world, purpose designed and built to produce his breakthrough iconic White Claw Hard Seltzer ─ the most successful new beverage launched since prohibition ─ along with a diverse portfolio of leading beverage brands, which he is now expanding internationally.

Anthony pioneered luxury organic winemaking in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley where his 6 wineries have won ‘World’s Top Pinot Noir & Chardonnay’ and first 100-point Canadian wines. Ireland’s iconic Glendalough Whiskey & Gin Distillery along with Canada’s Dillon Small Batch Distillers spearhead his portfolio of elevated handcrafted spirits. The Mark Anthony Group of Companies remains a private business with no outside shareholders.

Awarded Canada’s highest honour, the Order of Canada, he has also a Member of the Order of British Columbia and a recipient of France’s Légion d’Honneur. He holds six Honourary Doctorates, is a recipient of The Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor and has been inducted into the U.S. Marketing Hall of Fame, the B.C. Business Hall of Fame, and Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.

Anthony’s impact extends far beyond business. His leadership is characterized by a profound sense of responsibility toward society. Through the von Mandl Family Foundation, he supports various vital causes, including advanced cancer research, youth education, poverty alleviation, and the promotion of arts and culture. As a strong advocate for global initiatives that foster human and economic progress, Anthony continues to make an impact in building a brighter future for all.