Nice Cans, Big Flavour: Chef Charlotte Langley’s Bold Return To The Tin

Celebrity chef Charlotte Langley is back to shake up your pantry in the most delicious way. After helping redefine tinned seafood with Scout Canning, Charlotte is diving headfirst into flavour-forward territory with the launch of Nice Cans—a cheeky, chef-crafted canned food brand that’s making tinned fish sexy again. Think Mediterranean-inspired sardines, sustainable seafood packed with purpose, and zero compromise on indulgence or integrity.

In this Q&A, we catch up with Charlotte to talk about the inspiration behind Nice Cans, her mission to elevate everyday eating, and how a good can of fish can be the ultimate act of self-care. Spoiler: this isn’t your grandmother’s pantry staple. —Noa Nichol

You’ve already made major waves with Scout Canning—what made you want to return to the world of tinned seafood with Nice Cans, and how is this brand different from anything you’ve done before?

Scout was the appetizer. Nice Cans is the whole damn feast.

I’ve worked in tins for a long time—because I believe in them. They’re smart, sustainable, and honestly, underrated. With Nice Cans, I wanted to do it my way. This brand is rooted in joy, cheekiness, and a serious commitment to great food. Yes, we’re starting with sardines—but we’re not stopping there. I’m dreaming big: snacks, sides, even canned cocktails. The vision is to build a whole pantry of wildly delicious, thoughtfully sourced food that makes people feel good—inside and out.

Nice Cans is unapologetically bold—from the name to the flavours to the packaging. Why was it important for you to inject this kind of playful personality into the pantry aisle?

Because I got tired of playing small.

Nice Cans is the first brand I’ve built that truly sounds like me. It’s cheeky, confident, and it doesn’t apologize for taking up space. We need more of that—especially from women founders. I wanted something that stood out in a sea of sameness. The name makes you laugh, but the product makes you stay. It’s not just about selling tins. It’s about creating a moment of delight, even on the shelf. That’s where joy lives—in the unexpected.

You’ve said this brand is about joy, confidence, and living deliciously. How do you hope people feel when they crack open a tin of Nice Cans?

Like they just made a great decision.

Whether you’re eating our sardines straight from the tin in your car, tossing them on toast, or making a dinner party snack board—there’s no wrong way to enjoy Nice Cans. I want people to feel proud of what they’re choosing. It’s real food. It’s full of flavour. It’s nourishing and fun and a little bit rebellious. That’s how I cook, and that’s how I live. And I hope our tins pass that feeling along.

You’re a champion for sustainable seafood. Can you talk about how your partnerships and sourcing practices reflect your commitment to ethical, ocean-friendly food?

This part of the work is non-negotiable for me.

I’ve been working in sustainable seafood for over a decade. As the MSC’s Canadian Chef Ambassador, I’ve seen firsthand what responsible sourcing can look like—and what happens when we don’t get it right. That’s why all of our seafood is MSC- or ASC-certified. I’ve partnered with José Gourmet in Portugal because they share that same commitment. Our tins are recyclable. Our ingredients are thoughtfully chosen. I want every part of the Nice Cans ecosystem to feel like something you can believe in—not just consume.

Your sardines are truly next level—flavour-packed, beautifully presented, and good for you. What was your creative process like in developing the recipes for each tin?

I approached them like I would a dish in a restaurant.

I’m a chef first. So flavour leads everything. I wanted each tin to feel like a tiny celebration—herby, smoky, briny, bright. I leaned into ingredients I love: rosemary and fennel remind me of cooking in my kitchen. Tomato and pepper bring that sweet zing. We didn’t cut corners. No preservatives, no junk—just damn good food, packed at peak freshness. The sardines are where we started because they’re beautiful, sustainable, and loaded with nutrition. But trust me, we’ve got more coming.

You brought this brand to life under your revived family banner, Langley Foods. What does it mean to you to build a legacy brand rooted in both tradition and culinary innovation?

It means everything.

Langley Foods was the name of my grandfather’s company, and after he passed, I inherited his old inc stamp. That felt like a sign. I re-registered the business in his honour, but with my own mission: to build a new kind of food company—one led by values, creativity, and equity. It’s not just about legacy. It’s about building something better. Something more inclusive, more joyful, more sustainable. Something I’m proud to put my name on.

Let’s talk pantry glamour. How do you think Nice Cans is changing the way people think about canned food—and what’s your ultimate vision for where this category can go?

We’re here to make the pantry cool again.

There’s so much potential in shelf-stable food—but most people still associate it with low quality or not delicious! . I want to change that. I want you to open your pantry and feel inspired, not bored. Nice Cans is about taking that familiar format and flipping it into something that feels premium but is accessible, playful, and personal. My vision? A full shelf of tins you’re excited to pull from, create and craft delicious experiences for any meal or occasion! From seafood to snacks to bevs—it’s all coming. And it’s going to be Boldly delicious.

Food is always personal. What’s your earliest or most meaningful memory tied to tinned seafood—and how has that shaped the way you tell stories through flavour today?

One hundred percent, it’s with my dad.

I grew up in Prince Edward Island, surrounded by the ocean and a fishing culture that was just part of life. I will never forget eating chicken haddie cakes with molasses and fresh bread with butter…. That stuck with me. It’s why I believe in real ingredients and honest flavours. Because food isn’t just fuel—it’s memory. It’s a connection. And every tin I create is a little piece of that.

Win! A $250 Nice Cans Prize Pack!

One lucky Canadian winner will receive a $250 Nice Cans Prize Pack including:

• A few cans of each Nice Cans product
• Cheekbone x Nice Cans Lipstick collab
• Mini cocktail kit from a beverage partner 
• Other Nice Cans swag 

To enter, head over to Vita Daily on Instagram, follow @chefcharlottelangley and @langleyfoods and @justnicecans and @vitadailymedia and make sure to fulfil all the entry rules in the caption of the corresponding contest post. Contest opens May 7, 2025 and closes May 14, 2025. Complete contest rules and regulations here. Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.