It's Our 20 Year Anniversary!

Has it really been 20 years?

I remember it clearly - returning from my first trip abroad and realizing just how much I struggled to communicate my food allergies. I came back with incredible experiences and wonderful photos, but also with some embarrassing - and frankly, scary - reminders that I wasn’t fully prepared to manage my allergies while traveling.

I was in my final year at the University of Ottawa when I decided to take a stab at entrepreneurship. The best decision I made then - and one I still follow today - was to ask for help. I’m incredibly grateful to the professors and local business leaders who guided a clueless 20-something through the early stages of building an e-commerce business.

Back then, we were called Allergy Translation - a name that was quite literal in describing the service we provided. It was a one-person operation, and all of our cards were digital.

Over the years, we grew steadily and reached some incredible milestones. One of the highlights for me was being featured on The Martha Stewart Show. I still have the VHS tape - yes, we’ve been around for a while!

Like any business, we experienced our share of ups and downs. What I’m most proud of is our persistence through constant change - especially the evolution of technology. What was considered standard in e-commerce in 2006 is now practically extinct. Along the way, I learned so much about programming, web security, design, accounting systems, and more.

Looking at the tools available today, I’m amazed. There are far fewer barriers for young entrepreneurs to bring ideas to life. With AI, Shopify, and intuitive tools, validating and launching a product is easier than ever before.

In 2018, I made the decision to return to school and pursue a Master’s in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. This was a pivotal moment for both me and the business. I dedicated the entire year to diving deep into Allergy Translation - researching, refining, and reimagining how we could better serve our community.

The result was a complete rebrand to Equal Eats, a refreshed line of cards, and the launch of a major new product our community had been asking for - plastic cards.

I was so excited to relaunch - but unfortunately, the global pandemic had other plans. Travel came to a halt. Dining out stopped. In many ways, the business paused. But that time allowed me to refine our offerings, conduct more research, and ultimately relaunch Equal Eats with greater purpose and clarity.

The past six years have been nothing short of magical. We’ve built an incredible team - people who are personally impacted by food allergies and dietary restrictions. We’ve launched a world-class app on iOS and Android. And we’re getting closer to helping 100,000 people dine and travel more safely.

For me, an anniversary is a meaningful moment to reflect - but I also see so much more ahead. Equal Eats has the potential to make an even greater impact in our community. Our mission is simple: to help people enjoy food, everywhere. And we’ll keep pushing forward to make that a reality. We have lofty plans of working more directly with restaurants and providing more professionally translated solutions to help you stay safe and confident around the globe.

After all, we’re part of this community too. We use our own cards. And most importantly, we’ll be here - hopefully for another 20 years - creating products that help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Thank you for your support.

Kyle Dine
CEO & Founder
Equal Eats