(Image Credit: Curtis Goodrum / CFJC Today)

By Curtis Goodrum

LOCAL BUSINESS RESILIENCE

Venture Kamloops reports strong 2025 for local businesses despite economic uncertainty

Jan 14, 2026 | 5:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — New data from Venture Kamloops indicates that an estimated 700 new business licences were registered in Kamloops in 2025, and the economic development organization for the City of Kamloops says those numbers exceed pre-pandemic levels.

Venture Kamloops says it saw 300 new clients in 2025, which included a mix of new startups, existing businesses that expanded and businesses that moved to Kamloops.

“We don’t have the December numbers, but that will likely exceed 700 new business licenses for the year. We know from experience that if we get above that 700, things look pretty good,” said Jim Anderson, the Executive Director of Venture Kamloops, who noted 2025 was a bounce-back year for many local businesses despite economic uncertainty.

One of those newly opened businesses is The Manila Social – Kamloops’ first Filipino restaurant – which is trying to bring a new flavour to the city.

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“It’s definitely a very different cuisine especially for people in Kamloops. They never really had a Filipino restaurant as well,” Romeo Oloresisimo, the Executive Chef at the Manila Social said. “We’re not going strictly Filipino. We’re using a lot of those flavour profiles. We do have some classic Filipino food, but we are still keeping it a little bit more Western.”

Restaurants saw a sharp decline as a new report from Dalhousie University stated that over 7,000 had to shut their doors in 2025, with about 4,000 expected to close its doors this year. The Manila Social believes it can be an exception due to its “unique offering.”

“I love the ethnic food scene of Kamloops. We’re hoping to deliver something just a little different for everyone,” added Narain Spolia, a managing partner at The Manila Social. “I know that a lot of restaurants have come and gone over the past years, not just in Kamloops, but all over. We’re seeing ups and down but people still need to eat.”

Venture Kamloops says that businesses that call the city home are resilient and and the believe many will be able to ride out any potential rough patches that come their way in 2026.