Food & Beverage

Do you lead an emerging food and consumer packed goods brand? Join the Toronto Startup Village at the upcoming SIAL Canada in Montreal. Learn more and apply below by February 28.

The Toronto region’s Food and Beverage sector employs more than 64,000 workers with annual wages totaling $3.2 billion. 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.

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.

Toronto SIAL Startup Village in Montreal

The City of Toronto is on the hunt for 12 emerging Toronto food and consumer packed goods brands to participate at SIAL Canada in Montreal from April 29 to May 1. SIAL is Canada’s largest food innovation exhibition that brings together more than 1,000 exhibitors from at least 78 countries and more than 30,000 professional visitors. It is part of one of the world’s leading food and beverage trade event networks with major shows across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

To qualify companies must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be based in Toronto with at least 50 per cent manufacturing or headquarters operations located within the city
  • Be incorporated for less than six years
  • Be a food and beverage, food technology, packaging or food innovation company
  • Employs at least one person other than business owner
  • Actively exports and has capacity to grow
  • Uses ingredients that are at least 51 per cent Canadian origin
  • Reports annual sales of less than $1 million

The subsidized registration fee is $750 plus HST per company and includes:

  • Turnkey booth in the Startup Village
  • One stool and one counter
  • Refrigerated storage
  • One electrical outlet
  • One identification sign, co-branded with City of Toronto
  • Two exhibitor badges
  • Listing in the Exhibitor guide on Sialcanada.com
  • The Basic package is included in the new online App
  • Opportunity to enter startup Pitch Competition
  • Free access to conference sessions
  • Free registration to the hosted buyer program
  • 50 free invitations for visitors and clients
  • Documentation in the Media Lounge

Vendors are responsible for their own promotional materials, samples, travel, accommodations, meals and all other expenses not related to booth.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants are encouraged to complete the online application below. The deadline to apply is February 28.

Apply Now

For questions or help with your application, please email Eric Wood, Office of Technology and Innovation, at Eric.Wood@toronto.ca, by February 21.