Whether you want to expand your operations here or source some of the highest quality services and products in the world, Ontario is fertile ground for growth and success.
Ontario's food and beverage manufacturing sector is the third largest in North America with manufacturing revenues of more than $48 billion. The sector has more than 3,000 establishments in the province, employing over 104,800 people, including global companies such as CocaCola, Nestle, Pepsico, Kellogg’s, Unilever and Kraft Heinz, and homegrown companies like Maple Leaf Foods, Dare Foods Limited and Weston Foods.
Ontario-based firms have access to superior, end-to-end supply chain solutions including processing, packaging, specialized storage and transportation, in addition to 3.6 million hectares of cropland growing over 230 agricultural commodities on 49,600 farms as of 2016. The province also boasts a concentration of academic institutions with specific expertise and infrastructure dedicated to agrifood and agritech research and development.
Thanks to the continuous support of the Ontario government and to the strong commitment of the Ferrero Group, the Brantford production plant is taking another big step in our history. All these investments represent in an excellent way our industrial footprint, based on quality, innovation and efficiency. These projects are enabling us to create new jobs in our facility and also externally through our suppliers and partners within Brantford and the surrounding area. We are very proud to be the first Ferrero plant outside Europe to process raw cocoa beans and to produce the brand new Tic Tac Gum for North America!
Fabrizio Secco, Managing Director,Ferrero Canada Ltd.
From large cities to our smallest rural communities, thousands of food processing companies are flourishing in Ontario's moderate, four-season climate. Ontario's food production resources include ingredient manufacturers, specialty importers and other value-added processors, as well as essential services such as analytical laboratories, specialty packaging, storage and transportation businesses.
Ontario's multicultural diversity embraces more than 200 distinct ethnic backgrounds and adds to the richness of what is produced here in Ontario for consumption in the world's markets.
Ontario is home to an extraordinary breadth and depth of food industry expertise and experience. That's why many global food industry giants and tomorrow's emerging stars have invested in Ontario.
[Our] expansion..represents one of the largest rollouts of any vertical farming company in North America to date as we aim to offer local, high-quality produce to people everywhere.
Erez Galonska, CEO, Infarm
Geographically, Ontario enjoys a position in the heart of North America—a cultural epicentre next to some of the largest urban centres in the world. Your products can reach the $20 trillion U.S. market, with 142 million consumers fast and fresh, thanks to Ontario's expansive transportation network that includes 4 international and 300 regional airports, 250,000 km of roads and highways, a dozen border crossings and the 6th most internationally connected airport in the world.
Ontario’s Food and Beverage manufacturers also benefit from trade agreements with 50 countries around the world, including CETA and CUSMA.
If you are looking for the right people, Ontario offers a deep talent pool for sourcing agricultural and manufacturing personnel, including managerial and technical staff. Our province has a high-quality, publicly funded network of 24 universities and 24 colleges. As a result, 70% of Ontario adults workers have post-secondary education, more than any other country in the OECD.
What’s more, in manufacturing, the province boasts a 9.5 year average on-the-job tenure (compared to 5.5 in the U.S.) which translates to significantly lower transition and training costs.
Ontario is working to create business certainty and improve timelines for proponents as well as committed to cutting red tape in the food and beverage and agrifood sectors to attract global investment, expand the industry and create new jobs.
Learn more, visit Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
