How Ethical Brands Win at Global Scale - Ontario - Canada's Entrepreneur

A compelling story not just about what they built, but how they built it as partners in life and in business, balancing vision, execution, and accountability at the highest level. Isaac Langleben and Jacqueline Prehogan recognized that the global food system is broken, and pet food, often overlooked, is one of its most powerful drivers of change. Their entrepreneurial vision emerged from a search for better nutrition for their rescue dog, revealing a deeper insight: pet food sits at the intersection of global agriculture, animal welfare, and consumer trust, yet is shaped by opaque supply chains and inconsistent welfare standards. Isaac and Jacqueline saw this disconnect as both a responsibility and an opportunity to challenge industry norms and build a business aligned with nutrition, animal welfare, ethical sourcing, and transparency at scale. Founded in 2014, Open Farm develops premium pet nutrition with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The company pioneered ingredient traceability, enabling pet parents to see where every ingredient originates, while holding partners to rigorous third-party animal welfare and sustainability standards. As Chief Executive Officer, Isaac provides the operational discipline and systems thinking required to scale a values-led global supply chain, while Jacqueline, as Chief Brand Officer, shapes Open Farm’s purpose-driven culture and consumer trust. Today, Open Farm feeds more than a quarter of a million pets annually and is sold direct-to-consumer and via 8,500 global retail locations. As a Certified B Corporation and one of the fastest-growing brands in the category, Open Farm demonstrates that transparency and ethics are not constraints on growth, but drivers of long-term value. Through their leadership, Isaac and Isaac are reshaping expectations within pet food and influencing how responsible food systems are built for the future. They have recently been recognized as EY Entrepreneur of the Year Canada 2025 winners. Isaac and Jacqueline’s entrepreneurial achievements have driven them to become the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Canada winners. This is a terrific achievement, and we look forward to them representing Canada in the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™️ Awards in Monaco. Stay Connected with #CanadasEntrepreneur! Join our growing community of entrepreneurs across Canada! Don't miss out on inspiring interviews, expert insights, and the latest business trends from the people shaping the future of our economy. 👉 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@CanadasEntrepreneur 🌐 Explore more on our website: https://canadasentrepreneur.com 💼 Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/canadas-entrepreneur 📸 Follow behind-the-scenes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canadasentrepreneur 👍 Stay in the loop on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/canadasentrepreneur 🐦 Join the conversation on X: https://x.com/CanadasPreneur 💡 Want exclusive updates on the latest #entrepreneur podcasts and news? Make sure to subscribe and never miss a beat! Your support helps us continue bringing you the best stories from Canada’s top business leaders.