President and CEO of HyLife named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 Prairies  

A global food company. More than 20 international markets. Thousands of employees. Farms, feed mills, trucks, processing and distribution working together across one integrated system.

Behind that scale are decisions made one improvement, one opportunity and one person at a time.

That approach to business has earned Karan Sangfai, President and CEO of HyLife, both the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Prairies Overall Award and the Manufacturing & Processing Award.

For more than 30 years, the EY program has celebrated visionary Canadian business leaders who are redefining what is possible, driving innovation, and creating lasting impact in their industries and communities. The awards are widely regarded as one of Canada’s most prestigious business honours. Karan was selected by an independent judging panel and recognized during a celebration in Calgary alongside 12 regional winners and other leading entrepreneurs from across the Prairies.

For EY, the achievement reflects an ability to navigate a changing agriculture and food industry while keeping growth connected to people.

“The agricultural and food production sector is facing rapid change, and Karan has shown how entrepreneurial leadership can turn uncertainty into opportunity. Through a combination of global ambition and a deep commitment to people, his work is strengthening one of Canada’s most vital industries while creating lasting value across the supply chain,” shared Ivana Cvitanusic, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Program Co-Director

Building for a Global Market

Headquartered in Steinbach, Manitoba, HyLife has grown into one of North America’s leading premium pork producers, with operations spanning feed production, farming, transportation, processing and distribution.

Today, HyLife products reach customers in more than 20 markets around the world.

Under Karan’s direction, the company has continued to sharpen its focus on operational excellence and international growth while developing specialized processing capabilities designed around the needs of global customers.

But progress is not limited to equipment, facilities or markets.

Across the organization, employees are encouraged to identify practical solutions that improve safety, efficiency and sustainability. That culture of continuous improvement has become an important part of how the business evolves.

Growth With People at the Centre

As HyLife has expanded, so have efforts to create opportunities for the people behind the business.

Learning and development, workforce inclusion and employee wellbeing remain important priorities. For newcomers arriving in Manitoba, the workplace can also become one of the first places they begin building a new life, career and sense of belonging.

Karan made that point himself on stage. Speaking to more than 600 business leaders and entrepreneurs, he thanked Team HyLife:

“Across our farms, feed mills, processing plant, and everything in between, more than 2,700 people come to work every day with a shared purpose. From truck drivers on our roads, to barn teams caring for animals, to employees in Neepawa producing food for families around the world, every person plays a role in HyLife’s success. As leaders, we are nothing without our teams.”

That connection between business performance and people was central to EY’s assessment.

“Karan’s leadership is rooted in a genuine commitment to people, but what makes it especially impactful is how he has successfully balanced growth, innovation and purpose. We’re proud to celebrate him alongside an outstanding group of entrepreneurs whose leadership and vision are strengthening the region’s economy,” shared Rob Jolley, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Prairies Program Co-Director

A Memorable Year at HyLife

The EY honour adds another significant moment to an already eventful 2026.

Earlier this year, the company continued its longstanding success as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, marking two decades within the program.

More recently, HyLife received the Community Engagement Award from Food & Beverage Manitoba, recognizing the many ways employees, business partners and company initiatives contribute throughout the province.

That work has included a $100,000 investment with the HSC Foundation in life-saving medical technology, while the 2026 Fun Days initiative brought employees and business partners together to direct more than $90,000 toward food banks and local gathering spaces across Manitoba.

Each achievement tells a different part of the story.

Together, they reflect a company continuing to grow internationally without losing sight of the people and places that have shaped it at home.

For Karan’s latest honours, the name may be engraved on the trophies.

But behind them are more than 2,700 people helping move HyLife forward every day.

Congratulations, Karan, on being named the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Prairies Overall Award winner and the recipient of the Manufacturing & Processing Award.

Read the official press release here: https://www.ey.com/en_ca/newsroom/2026/10/president-and-ceo-of-hylife-named-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-2026-prairies