Food manufacturing and processing
Where quality
drives growth
Around the world, the maple leaf is a symbol of high-quality Canadian food and beverage products. Canada exported processed products to over 200 countries, reaching a record high of nearly $60 billion in 2024.
Canada has all the right ingredients for global companies with bold ambitions, starting with a bounty of farm-fresh crops, fruits and vegetables, premium meats, seafood and fish. The availability of fresh, raw ingredients and established supply chains allows companies to expand to Canada and scale for long-term growth.
What’s more, it’s a reliable and strategic location. Global companies enjoy the world’s most educated workforce, of which 300,000 are skilled agri-food workers. The sector is Canada’s largest manufacturing employer.
Discover why so many global food companies have chosen Canada to expand their business operations.
Canadian leadership in food and beverage processing
Advancing food manufacturing and processing
Canada’s food manufacturing and processing sector is rich with innovation. Backed by a strong culture of scientific research and engineering expertise, the industry is leveraging AI, automation and robotics to improve manufacturing processes and productivity.
Future-focused industries are developing markets and opportunities – opening doors for global companies with bold ambitions. From plant-based proteins to specialty foods and drinks, Canada is a great place to grow.
Take, for example, maple syrup. Canada produces about 70% of the world’s maple syrup – an industry that is both lucrative and growing. It’s also the world’s largest producer of ice wine and many other specialty food and beverage items, including baked goods, dairy products and frozen foods.
Canada investment highlight
Danone expands in Québec
France-based Danone is relocating the majority of its Silk® Yogurt production to its Boucherville, Québec manufacturing plant.
The company is also investing a $9 million to launch production of new eco-friendly yogurt cups made from PET resin, a more sustainable packaging material.
“At Danone, innovation is the driving force behind our sustainable development approach. These new yogurt cups from Oikos represent an important milestone in our ambition to reduce the environmental footprint of our packaging and inspire other companies to follow suit towards more sustainable solutions.”
Agri-food R&D yields results
Across the country, innovation clusters are bringing together top researchers, entrepreneurs and global companies to reimagine how we grow, process and consume food.
Among them are the Canadian Agri-food Automation and Intelligence Network and Canadian Food Innovation Network, which collaborate with industry to advance food production technologies.
Canadian universities and research centres are bringing ideas to life – from coast to coast to coast. The Alberta Food Centre helps the value-added food processing industry move ideas to market. In Manitoba, the Food Development Centre offers technical and research assistance in product commercialization. The Québec Agri-food Innovation Centre partners with start-ups and companies of all sizes to conduct applied R&D in the agri-food and biotechnology sectors.
The Government of Canada works with agri-food businesses to drive breakthroughs in crop science and sustainability through the agriculture and agri-food research centres.
Canada investment highlight
Red Bull chooses Chilliwack for expansion in North America
Austria-based Red Bull is building a new production facility to support its expansion in North America. Located in Chilliwack, British Columbia, the 15-acre site will soon be home to a 185,000-square-foot ingredient preparation facility.
The facility will produce dry premix ingredients for Red Bull energy drinks. It will create 60 new highly skilled jobs and generate hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Chilliwack Economic Partners Corp., which facilitated the transaction, said the city’s proximity to the Port of Vancouver and U.S. border were key factors in Red Bull’s decision.
“This, combined with Chilliwack’s business friendly approach to investment attraction, a skilled workforce, and a high quality of life in a scenic setting that aligns well with the overall Red Bull brand helped make it a good fit.”
Top food processing industries in Canada
Canada’s food processing industry is a major driver of the national agri‑food economy, with a diverse range of sectors contributing to total sales. In 2024, meat products, dairy, grain and oilseed milling and other goods represented the largest segments of the industry, reflecting strong domestic demand, robust export performance and well‑established supply chains. The table below highlights the top food processing industries by their national share of sales in 2024:
| Industry | % share | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Meat product manufacturing | 25.3% | $43.8 billion |
| Dairy product manufacturing | 11.3% | $19.6 billion |
| Grain and oilseed milling | 10.9% | $18.9 billion |
| Other food processing* | 10.8% | $18.8 billion |
| Bakeries and tortilla processing | 10.7% | $18.5 billion |
| *Includes: coffee and tea, snack foods, syrups, seasonings and dressings, and perishable prepared foods. | ||
Funding and incentives to support your success
Companies can tap into programs and incentives designed to support growth in the food and beverage processing industry:
Agriculture and agri-food funding: Provides funding for pre-commercial science and R&D, demonstration and commercialization, and technology adoption.
Agricultural workforce resource hub: Offers labour market information and guidance to recruit international staff and hire temporary foreign workers.
Canadian Agri-food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN): Supports R&D projects in the areas of automation and robotics, data-driven decision-making and product validation and commercialization.
Canadian Food Innovation Network: Funds projects that support the advancement and commercialization of food technologies.
Programs, tax credits and incentives: Supports companies looking to conduct R&D, write off manufacturing and processing equipment costs, or run large innovation projects.
Why choose Canada
Wide range of farm-fresh crops, fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood and fish
Innovation-driven sector that is leading change through AI and automation
Explore Canada's value-added agriculture sector
Let’s work together
At Invest in Canada, we are dedicated to your company’s success. Our team is your trusted guide to investing in Canada. We get to know your business, offer insights and information and connect you with the right people and places to support your decision.