About Pizzey Flax
The Pizzey Story
Glenn and Linda Pizzey weren’t starting from scratch when they founded what would become one of the largest providers of processed flaxseed in North America. The Pizzey family, after all, has called western Manitoba home for more than a century, making their living growing and processing crops—including flaxseed—over several generations.
The two of them have long believed in the nutritional power of flaxseed. Glenn grew it on the farm and soaked up all he could at industry meetings, even when many thought it was a dead-end crop.
Then, they struck gold when Linda started baking flax bread in the family kitchen under the name Country Ovens. She sold flax loaves by the hundreds every Saturday at the St. Norbert farmers’ market—so they had to free up more kitchen space back at the family farm to keep up with demand.
They converted extra space in the farmhouse into a small commercial bakery. 150,000 loaves of bread later, the operation was eventually moved to a renovated building on the farm.
Their success led them to a new business venture in 1993, when they retired Country Ovens and started Pizzey’s Milling and Baking Company, shifting from just bread baking to also supplying processed flax to manufacturers. Three decades and millions of pounds of flaxseed later, they haven’t looked back.
Today, they operate a 40,000 sq. ft. facility, and their on-site, fully equipped laboratory is an innovation hub where they study the ins-and-outs of flax science.
And through it all, they’re still the same family. Still on the farm just south of Angusville, MB. Still believing as strongly in the power of flaxseed as they did on day one.
Meet the team
Linda Pizzey
President
Linda Pizzey is the Co-Founder and President of Pizzey Flax. Linda has over 35 years of experience in the flaxseed industry. In 1991, she started a predecessor company known as Country Ovens. In 1993, her husband Glenn joined the company, and it became known as Pizzey’s Milling and Baking Company, later operating as Pizzey's Milling. Under Linda’s leadership, this company evolved from a small, home-based bakery to become North America’s largest flaxseed processor for the human food, pet food, and animal feed markets.
After selling their former business, Linda and Glenn returned to the flaxseed industry in 2013 and formed Pizzey Ingredients, now known as Pizzey Flax™, which continues to lead the industry with its focus on quality, innovation, and nutrition.
Glenn Pizzey
Vice President
Glenn Pizzey is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Pizzey Flax™. Glenn has been involved in primary agriculture since the early 1970’s, as an elite seed grower and operator of an authorized seed plant in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Glenn holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba.
Together with Linda, Glenn founded and operated Pizzey’s Milling. During his time with Pizzey’s Milling, Glenn was awarded several patents for products and processes he developed for the business. Independently and through his involvement in industry organizations, Glenn collaborated on many nutritional and scientific studies with leading flaxseed researchers in North America.
This work was instrumental in supporting the successful GRAS application for flaxseed with the US FDA, was used in support of the Health Canada health claim for flaxseed, and helped move the flaxseed industry from reliance on the
industrial oil market to a nutraceutical ingredient in both the human and companion food diets.
Mary Ekman
Ceo
Mary Ekman is the CEO of Pizzey Flax™. In addition to providing overall leadership for the company, she leads the business development team and spearheads product development, most recently developing LinumGel™.
Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from North Dakota State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. As one of Glenn and
Linda Pizzey’s daughters, she has been involved in the flaxseed industry from a young age. She was the U.S. Operations Manager of Pizzey’s Milling prior to its sale in 2007 and during its transition to new ownership.
Before joining Pizzey Flax™ in 2015, Mary was Strategic Operations Manager for a major U.S. dairy and feed company. Mary previously served in various Quality Assurance roles with leading US food companies.
Julie Faber
Director
Julie Faber is a Director of Pizzey Flax™. She is responsible for purchasing flaxseed, compliance with regulatory and industry standards
including SQF and C-TPAT, and marketing. Julie also assists with product development.
Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Management from the Culinary Institute of America and a Juris Doctor from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. As one of Glenn and Linda Pizzey’s daughters, Julie likewise has been involved in the flax industry from a young age.
Prior to Pizzey’s Milling’s sale in 2007, Julie was West Coast Sales Manager. After completing law school, Julie practiced law in the United States for five
years, joining Pizzey Flax™ in 2014.
Daren Young
CFO / General manager
Daren Young is Pizzey Flax’s General Manager and CFO.
Daren completed an Agriculture Engineering Technology program at Olds College. In 1986, he purchased and has continued to own and operate a grain and livestock farm, building practical expertise in agricultural production and operations that continues to the present day with his wife and family.
His career in finance and business management began in 1990 when he joined Parker Quine Chartered Accountants as a staff accountant, serving until 1998. During this period, he also founded and co-operated Cut-Arm Agro Services (1992–1998), providing agricultural services alongside the ongoing farming
activities. From the mid-2000s onward, he has held senior financial and systems leadership roles. Since 2023, he has served as CFO and General Manager for Pizzey Flax™, where he continues to apply his experience in financial
management, systems design, and agricultural background.
Derek Chuchmuch
Production manager
Derek Chuchmuch is the Production Manager. He is responsible for ensuring all orders are produced to Pizzey Flax™ high quality and food safety standards, in a timely and cost-effective manner. Derek also has overall supervisory responsibility for our production staff and is a member of our HACCP team.
Derek came to Pizzey Flax™ in 2016 with a wide range of experience. He started his career working for a local farm and tree moving company before beginning work in Alberta’s oil fields. In his 17 years in the oil industry, Derek quickly advanced his career from roughneck, to drilling and into management. Immediately prior to joining Pizzey Flax™, Derek worked on our farm, JG Pizzey, Inc.
Jacquie Mazur
Quality Assurance Manager
Jacquie Mazur is the Quality Assurance Manager and SQF Manager for Pizzey Flax™ Jacquie is responsible for quality standards of the processing plant, documentation of procedures, and upkeep of all manuals pertaining to the operation of the processing plant. Jacquie maintains and operates the on-site lab, which is equipped with all systems necessary to monitor the quality of all ingredients shipped to customers. Jacquie also assists our customers with their technical and documentation requests.
Jacquie studied Agriculture at the University of Manitoba and obtained an Animal Health Technology Diploma from Red River Community College. Jacquie worked as an Animal Health Technologist for 17 years. She worked for Pizzey’s
Milling for six years as a Quality Assurance Technician and at a canola oil refinery for one year before joining Pizzey Flax™ in 2014.
Lady Diaz
Assistant Quality Assurance Manager
Lady Diaz is Pizzey Flax™ Assistant Quality Assurance Manager. She assists our Quality Assurance Manager with maintaining our facility’s quality standards, testing samples, documenting procedures, and upkeep of manuals. She works on research and development projects in our onsite lab and assists with Pizzey Flax’s compliance with
regulatory and industry standards including SQF.
Lady holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Biology from Bulacan State University and has over a decade of experience in quality assurance. Prior to joining Pizzey Flax™ in 2026, Lady held various quality assurance positions with multi-national corporations in the
Philippines.
Jackie Sawchuk
Finance Manager
Jackie Sawchuk is the Finance Manager of Pizzey Flax™. Jackie holds a diploma in Business Administration from the Stratford Career Institute.
As one of our longest serving employees, Jackie worked in the finance department at Pizzey’s Milling prior to its sale and after its transition to new ownership. Jackie joined Pizzey Flax™ in 2013.
Jane Herchak
Logistics
Jane Herchak coordinates the shipment of our flaxseed products and provides excellent customer service. She has several years of experience in the flax industry.
Cassidy Leatherwood
Sales and Marketing Specialist
Cassidy is the Sales and Marketing Specialist at Pizzey Flax™. She helps customers find the right flax products for their applications while providing knowledgeable support. Cassidy assists with day-to-day customer service, sales, and marketing projects.
Cassidy holds a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Food Business Management from Oregon State University. She has experience working on a commercial blueberry farm and as a technician for the USDA. Prior to joining Pizzey Flax™ in 2024, she taught English in Taiwan.
Jane Herchak
Logistics
Jane Herchak coordinates the shipment of our flaxseed products and provides excellent customer service. She has several years of experience in the flax industry.