TORONTO – Maple Leaf Foods named Andrea Nicholson the company's new corporate chef.

Nicholson will support Maple Leaf's product development initiatives and provide inspiration for recipes developed for Appehtite.ca. She also will act as the culinary spokeswoman with media, customers and other Maple Leaf stakeholders. 

Andrea Nicholson, corporate chef for Maple Leaf Foods

Chef Andrea Nicholson

Before joining Maple Leaf Foods, Nicholson held positions in high-profile Toronto restaurants and culinary institutes including Great Cooks, Via Allegro, The Fifth, Humber College, George Brown College, 35 Elm and Cafe Nervosa. She was a chef and co-host on Food Network's Restaurant Takeover, and she was a contestant on the first season of Food Network's Top Chef Canada.

Nicholson earned a diploma from the A.P.N. of Naples, Italy. She received culinary training at George Brown College in Toronto. Nicholson also is a Red Seal certified chef, which is recognized as the interprovincial standard of excellence in the skilled trades.

“We are thrilled to have Andrea's exceptional blend of culinary, business and academic experience at Maple Leaf,” said Martin Daniels, director, Culinary Innovation. “She will play a key role on the team, focused on creating great tasting, nutritious food products supported by a vast collection of on-trend recipe ideas for consumers across Canada to enjoy.”