Food & Beverage

The Toronto region’s Food and Beverage sector employs more than 64,000 workers with annual wages totaling $3.2B. Sector businesses located within the city of Toronto account for more than 50 per cent of this workforce.

  • Bakeries & Tortilla Manufacturing – 34.5%
  • Other Food Manufacturing – 16.8%
  • Meat Product Manufacturing – 14.6%
  • Beverage Manufacturing – 13.5 Percent
  • Sugar & Confectionery Product Manufacturing – 8.7%
  • Fruit & Vegetable Preserving & Specialty Food – 6.1%
  • Dairy Product Manufacturing – 4.4%
  • Grain & Oilseed Milling – 1%
  • Seafood Product Preparation & Packaging – 0.4%
  • Animal Food Manufacturing – 0.2%

[Sector data is derived from a number of sources including the Labour Force Survey, 2006 Census, 2011 National Household Survey, Canadian Business Counts, and the City of Toronto’s Employment Survey. The methodology used to identify clusters and their sizes is based on methodology used by the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity in their 2017 Cluster Study.]Distribution of jobs in the food and beverage sector in the Toronto region: bakeries and tortilla manufacturing 34.5 percent of sector jobs; other food manufacturing 16.8 percent of sector jobs; meat product manufacturing 14.6 percent of sector jobs; beverage manufacturing 13.5 percent of sector jobs; sugar and confectionery product manufacturing 8.7 percent of sector jobs; fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food 6.1 percent of sector jobs; dairy product manufacturing 4.4 percent of sector jobs; grain and oilseed milling 1 percent of sector jobs; seafood product preparation and packaging 0.4 percent of sector jobs; animal food manufacturing 0.2 percent of sector jobs

[While not comprehensive, the above list provides a snapshot Toronto’s Food and Beverage sector and some of the companies located here.]

  • Ontario Food Terminal
    Canada’s largest wholesale fruit and produce terminal, it ranks among the top four terminal markets in Canada and the United States by volume of produce distributed. The terminal plays a central role in the food industry and supports grocery stores, restaurants and caterers.
  • Food Innovation & Research Studio
    George Brown College research facility that specializes in getting new food products into market and onto store shelves.
  • On the Line Culinary Program
    Toronto District School Board training and certification program that provides youth with the skills to start a career in the food service sector by connecting participants to employers—building skills and meeting recruitment needs.
  • Industrial Water Rate Program
    Toronto Water program offering a discounted water rate to manufacturers in Toronto to help support economic growth and encourage water conservation.
  • Join the Toronto section at SIAL Canada Startup Pavilion, April 29 to May 1

    The City of Toronto is seeking qualified Toronto-based Food and Beverage manufacturers to join our Toronto section at SIAL Canada Startup Pavilion, April 29 to May 1. SIAL is the premier international food and beverage trade event and brings over 20,000 visitors from 44 countries around the world.

    This package includes a turnkey micro booth, show passes, registration in the hosted buyer program and more. It is available to qualified companies for a small entry fee of $500 for the three day show, regularly priced at $3,500 with all inclusions.

    Qualifying companies need to be:

    • Located in or manufacturing in Toronto primarily
    • Have a revenue of under $1 million per year
    • Have at least one employee other than ownership
    • Have not previously exhibited at SIAL
    • Be currently exporting outside of Canada

City of Toronto encourages applications from a diverse range of food and beverage manufacturers, including those led by women, IBPOC and other equity-deserving entrepreneurs.

To apply or for more information, please email Eric Wood, Sector Development Officer, Food and Beverage production at eric.wood@toronto.ca by March 31.

  • Buyers Missions
    The City of Toronto facilitates missions from U.S. and international food retailers and food service buyers several times a year, with one-on-one meetings that allow Toronto-based companies to show their products to potential buyers.