Local Market | Island Good History & Team

we Rally for good reason.

What began with a simple problem has grown into a shared movement. We exist to make your local market easier to see, easier to support, and stronger for the people who build it.

2013

It started in a grocery aisle.

In 2013, the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance set out to serve food only made on Vancouver Island. What should’ve been a simple task turned into a scavenger hunt. Local products were everywhere, but knowing what was truly made here took time, label reading, and guesswork.

2018

Making the local market visible.

That moment sparked an idea: What if local was easier to spot?
In 2018, Island Good launched as a six-month pilot in 45 grocery stores across the region. The response was immediate. Island Good products saw a measurable sales lift by 16.4 percent, proving that when Island-made is visible, people choose it.

Present

From food to the full Island economy.

Food and beverage were a natural place to start. But Island Good has grown well beyond grocery aisles. Today, the Island Good label represents products across industries, from agriculture to manufacturing, and continues to show up in more communities across Vancouver Island and the Rural Islands.

Meet the people who keep good Things going.

Island Good is stewarded by the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, with a small, dedicated team working alongside producers, retailers, partners, and communities across the region.

Diana Jolly

Relationship Manager, Island Good

When it comes to being made here, grown here, and connected here, it’s personal for Diana. She grew up on a small market farm in Saanich and knows what it takes to build something from the ground up and bring it to market. She carries that perspective into her role with Island Good every day. Whenever you see the Island Good logo on a product, in a shop, on a menu, or on a company’s website, it represents something close to home. Our members include both those who create and those who champion local, and they care deeply about what they do. Diana helps share those stories and connect people with the businesses behind them.

Julie Sperber

President & CEO, VIEA

Julie Sperber is well known for her leadership in community, economic, and organizational development. As President and CEO of the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance, Julie oversees the State of the Island Economic Summit, the State of the Island Economic Report, the Island Good brand, and Vancouver Island’s Foreign Trade Zone designation. Her work is focused on building long-term economic resilience and opportunity.

Meet the Island Good Advisory Committee

Doing good also takes a great team. Our Advisory Committee brings together local leaders who help guide our mission and support the local brands powering our Island communities.