There are currently 20 businesses involved in food products manufacturing, 11 of which were established in the Brantford·Brant area between 1996 and 2004. In total, food manufacturing companies account for approximately 2,000 jobs in the region. In response to the large proportion of food manufacturers within the region, a Work @ Food initiative was undertaken in 2006.

The Work @ Food initiative was established to address the employment needs of the food processing industry in Brantford, Brant County, Norfolk and Haldimand County areas through GETAB (Grand Erie Training & Adjustment Board) in partnership with community organizations, school boards and employers. The objective of this initiative is to offer a variety of training programs to build the food processing workforce by increasing opportunities for the local labour market.

To date, two programs have been launched targeting two markets of potential employees. The first was delivered to high school students to give them industry knowledge and experience. The second program currently being delivered is aimed at the unemployed, underemployed and adult learners in the community. To date, 551 participants have been trained with the basic components to work in the food industry which include:

• Working Today
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP)
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Workplace Hazardous Material Information Systems (WHIMIS) and the Health and Safety
• Safe Food handling (certification)

Click on the following link to download the learning outcomes from the Work @ Food Intiative in pdf format.

If your business is interested in any of the individuals who have completed the training please contact:

Jill Halyk Trudy Belanco

Executive Director Sr. Small Business Consultant

Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie Business Resource Enterprise Centre

519-756-1116 519-756-4269

Brantford·Brant Recent Investments

• The Ferrero Group - $385 million investment for North American Production Facility (Opened October 2006). The Ferrero site consists of over 160 acres of land. Phase 1 approximately 900,000 square feet and initially employing over 800 people. The site provides Ferrero the feasibility to double the plant size in the future and increase its workforce
• Maidstone Bakeries - $200 million joint venture with Tim Horton’s and Cuisine de France – 335,000 sq.ft. new par-bake manufacturing facility employing 340
• Western Waffles - $25 million – 132,700 sq.ft new manufacturing facility producing waffles, employing 200
• Dure Foods - $1.6 million, 35,000 sq.ft. new facility manufacturing and packaging powdered and flavour coffees, employing 27
• Export Packers Foods Ltd . – joint venture with Export Packers Company Limited and Tyson Foods Inc. - 40,000 sq.ft. facility producing fully cooked ready-to-eat chicken Pillers Fine Foods Inc . – 61,000 sq.ft. facility producing meat products, employing 40

Download our 2010 Food Quickfacts sheet in PDF format.

Ontario Market – Key Facts

Ontario produces more than 200 agricultural commodities, a diversity unmatched in most parts of the world. The province is a world leader in food technology research and development, and the agri-food sector has a proven track record in successful export marketing with exports worth $8.5 billion annually and accounts for 28% of Canada's total annual agri-food exports. The value of food shipments for 2005 was $32.5 billion.

Producers:

• 59,728 farms
• 130,000 job equivalents
• $9.1 billion annual revenues

Food & Beverage:

• 3,500 firms
• 120,000 jobs
• $32.5 billion annual revenues

Foodservice:

• 36,436 firms
• 298,200 jobs
• $19.5 billion annual revenues

Food Stores:

• 13,731 firms
• 178,000 jobs
• $24.1 billion annual revenues

Source: Ontario Investment Service (www.investinontario.com), Sept.2008.

Download a brochure on Ontario's Food Industry in .pdf format

Brantford·Brant's Advantages

• Transportation options that include superior access to 400 series highways, two international airports, international border crossing at Niagara Falls and inter-modal facilities in western GTA
• Proximity to Ontario and Northern US customer market and suppliers
• Strong labour force growth trends
• Productive, skilled labour force
• Competitive wage levels
• Access to suppliers and competitively priced high quality raw materials
• Low land and construction costs when compared to other Southern Ontario locations
• Low cost electricity and telecommunication costs
• Cost competitive business conditions
• Proximity to major consumer markets considered a major factor in attracting warehouse and distribution facilities
• Many firms have already located in Brantford·Brant including: The Ferrero Group, Maidstone Bakeries, Western Waffles, Pillers Fine Foods Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., Maple Leaf Poultry, Neo-Nutritionals Inc, and Export Packers Foods Inc.