Coast Mental Health Expands Social Enterprise Opportunities Through Potluck Catering Acquisition

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 3, 2026 /CNW/ — A longstanding Vancouver social enterprise is beginning a new chapter with Coast Mental Health. Potluck Catering has been acquired by Coast Mental Health and will operate as Potluck Catering: A Coast Social Enterprise.

The acquisition reflects Coast’s continued commitment to helping people build meaningful lives in the community. Alongside supportive housing, recovery and rehabilitation services, and programs that help people build connections, access supports and work toward their goals, Coast operates social enterprises including the Transitional Employment Program (TEP) and Landscaping with Heart. Together, these services support people living with mental illness in pursuing recovery, employment and community connection.

The addition of Potluck strengthens Coast’s social enterprise portfolio and creates new opportunities to expand employment-based recovery programs through a well-established business with strong community relationships, experienced staff and operational capacity for future growth.

“This acquisition ensures Potluck can continue its 25-year legacy in Vancouver, providing supportive employment. Coast was the perfect partner from the beginning and their mandate around mental health made the fit feel seamless. On behalf of our Board and everyone at Potluck, I want to personally thank Keir and the Coast team for the way they’ve approached this process and for believing in Potluck’s future. This is an exciting new chapter for both organizations,” said Maz Artang, Board Chair of Potluck Cafe Society.

As Coast expands its social enterprise catering business, Social Crust’s catering services and clients will transition to Potluck, bringing Coast’s catering operations together under one business. As part of this shift, the Social Crust walk-up café closed on Oct. 30, allowing Coast to focus on growing its catering business and creating more employment opportunities.

In an industry where many cafés and restaurants struggle to survive, Social Crust’s longevity and impact represent a significant achievement. The café helped lay the foundation for Coast’s social enterprise journey and demonstrated the important role meaningful employment can play in recovery.

“It has been an honour to work with the people who made Social Crust what it is today,” said Margaret Flynn, Senior Manager, Coast Social Enterprises. “Social Crust has shown us what is possible when meaningful employment and social enterprise come together. That success has given us the confidence to grow our catering business through Potluck and create opportunities for even more people to gain skills, build confidence and connect to meaningful work.”

Potluck brings a successful catering operation, a commercial kitchen, trusted customer relationships and an experienced team. These assets provide a strong platform for Coast to grow its food services while creating meaningful employment opportunities and supporting long-term sustainability.

Coast is also grateful for the support of Vancity and Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES), whose partnership and commitment to community-based social enterprise have helped create the conditions for Potluck’s continued success and future growth. This next chapter would not be possible without their support.

Potluck will continue serving its existing customers, who can expect the same high-quality food, reliable service and community-focused approach that have made the business a trusted name across Metro Vancouver.

“Potluck has a proud history of bringing people together through food and creating employment opportunities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside,” said Keir Macdonald, CEO of Coast Mental Health. “We believe people living with mental illness can thrive when they have access to housing, support and opportunities to work, learn and connect. Expanding our catering business through Potluck will create more meaningful employment, with every catering order supporting people on their recovery journey.”

Coast will work closely with Potluck and Social Crust employees, customers and community partners to support a smooth transition and continued growth of the business.

About Coast Mental Health

Coast Mental Health is one of British Columbia’s largest community-based providers of mental health services. Through housing, support services, employment, education and social enterprises, Coast supports people living with mental illness to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

About Potluck Cafe Society

For 25 years, Potluck Cafe Society has brought people together through food while creating supportive employment opportunities in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Serving customers across Metro Vancouver, Potluck combines high-quality catering with a social mission, helping people facing barriers to employment build skills, confidence and community connections.

SOURCE Coast Mental Health