ChewyPuff Cookie Is Turning Sweet Treats Into Community Impact in the ByWard Market

This story is part of the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Summer Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian.

The program provides hands-on retail experience and business training to help immigrant entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures in the heart of Ottawa.

As you walk through ByWard Market’s new Vendor Village, you might come across a container filled with the warm, inviting scent of freshly baked cookies. Behind the table is more than just a business; it’s a story rooted in community, resilience, and purpose.

Alongside the cookies, there’s a quiet promise: with every purchase, a portion goes back to the community. Behind that idea is Omar Gaber, founder of ChewyPuff Cookie, an immigrant entrepreneur who set out to build a connection first and a business along the way.

For ChewyPuff Cookie’s founder, the idea didn’t begin with a product. It began with a question of belonging. As a newcomer, finding ways to connect with the community wasn’t always easy. So he turned to something immediate and universal: food.

“What inspired me to start my business was trying to connect with the community,” he explains. 

That commitment took shape in a simple but powerful way. With every item sold, 25 cents is donated to nonprofit organizations. It’s a small gesture that reflects a much larger belief: that businesses can grow while giving back, and that individual success should contribute to collective well-being.

“My personal belief is that all of us are part of a community. When individuals grow, the community grows too.”

Starting a food business, however, comes with challenges that go far beyond the recipe. Accessing a commercial kitchen is one of the first hurdles. Then comes the task of navigating permits, securing inventory, and finding a place to sell. Even getting into a single market can be difficult, not just logistically, but financially.

“From the moment you start until the moment you set your table at a market, it can cost between $300 to $400,” Omar explains. “That’s a hard thing in the beginning.”

Those early barriers limited opportunities. In the first year, ChewyPuff Cookie only appeared at a couple of farmers’ markets. But each appearance mattered. Each one was a chance to test the idea, meet customers, and build confidence. 

One moment in particular stood out. Receiving an Entrepreneur Award in 2025. It marked a turning point, a recognition not just of the business, but of the purpose behind it. Still, growth required more than recognition. It required access.

That’s where the Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Summer Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian, came in. For Omar, the program offered something that had been missing: consistent customer exposure and the chance to build momentum.

“Last year, I didn’t really have the chance to be at markets,” he says. “Being at the ByWard Market now for several days—it’s a new experience. I hope it will be a game-changer for ChewyPuff Cookie.”

That visibility is already making a difference. It’s not just about sales—it’s about connection. Conversations with customers. Real-time feedback. The ability to be present, day after day, in the same space.

Like many early-stage ventures, ChewyPuff Cookie continues to evolve. And if there’s one lesson the founder carries forward, it’s the importance of staying adaptable.

“Be flexible,” he says. “You start a business with an idea, and from the next day or next week, things keep changing. You need to be ready to adapt.”

It’s a mindset that reflects the reality of entrepreneurship—especially for newcomers navigating unfamiliar systems as they build something from the ground up.

“It’s a long journey,” he added. “But step by step.”

What sets ChewyPuff Cookie apart isn’t just what’s being sold. It’s the intention behind it. A business built not only to generate income, but to create connections and give back in tangible ways.

If you’re visiting during his Pop-Up Week, stop by ChewyPuff Cookie to try something sweet and support a growing local business. Every purchase contributes to something larger—one small act of community care at a time.

Explore ChewyPuff Cookie or stay updated on their latest projects. Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @chewypuff_cookie. Omar's story is an inspiring example of how perseverance, coupled with the right support, can lead to extraordinary achievements.

This blog post is part of our series celebrating the incredible entrepreneurs who participated in the 2026 Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada Summer Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian.