When you think of Ontario, you may imagine lakeside, greenery and home to Niagara Falls. And you would be right. But it’s also the largest food and beverage manufacturer in Canada, making it the perfect home for highly-skilled food and beverage manufacturers looking for a new job. 

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So why does Ontario dominate the food and beverage processing sector, contributing 37% of the industry’s revenue in Canada?

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Let’s explore what makes Ontario perfectly positioned for food and beverage companies to invest in. 

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Sit tight. We are about to rattle off a few stats that will make you rethink Justin Bieber’s birthplace as so much more than vast countryside and maple syrup delights but rather as the economic hub it is. 

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How Ontario is leading Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing growth 

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1. Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector employs more than 125,000 people.
2. The province is home to 4000 food and beverage manufacturing plants.
3. Ontario's food and beverage manufacturers are located strategically with access to more than 400 million prosperous consumers. 
4. Ontario is an investment hub for international giants such as Nestle, Kellogg's, Coca-Cola, Kraft, AB InBev and PepsiCo. 
5. Ontario offers lower land costs, with almost 25% of Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturers based in rural Ontario.
6. Ontario has a lower turnover rate than its counterparts in the US.
7. Ontario is an export hub due to its close proximity to major U.S. markets. 
8. The province has a top-ranked business climate with good R&D incentive programs and government support for food and beverage manufacturers. 
9. Great government support with approximately $4.5 million invested in the food and beverage processing industry. 

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                           (Source: www.omafra.gov.on.ca and www.canada.ca)

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Impressive right? 

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So what does this mean for a highly skilled food and beverage professional searching for a food production job? 

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It may be worth considering starting your job search in Ontario. With its rich agricultural focus and large customer base, career opportunities will continue to grow for ambitious food and beverage processing professionals. 

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‍Ontario is the perfect place to launch a  food production career 

With 82% of Ontario's food and beverage manufacturers actively seeking to employ skilled food and beverage processing professionals, the world (or rather Ontario) is your oyster. 

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Whether you are looking for a dream role as a food scientist or to explore new automation and technology as a food technologist, Ontario is hiring from production managers to automation technicians, electricians, and quality control technicians. 

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So what advantages does this big opportunity pool have? 

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1. Better compensation and flexibility

With talent shortages, good skills can demand higher compensation. As food and beverage processing companies compete for greater talent, benefits like flexible working can also be negotiated.  

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The Ontario Agri-Careers Support Initiative is also geared toward providing higher pay and better benefits for food and production workers in the province. Because of Ontario’s massive number of food and beverage manufacturers across the country, you can be picky and choose a factory closer to where you live, saving you hours on commute time. 

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With more open food production jobs on the market, you can move quickly in your career, not only vertically but laterally as well, developing more specialized skill sets.  

2. Opportunities for growth and innovation 

Ontario is investing large amounts of cash into training and development programmes with initiatives such as CareerNOW!, where you can access free training at your fingertips. Whether you want to learn from mentors in the field or up your certifications with short courses, you can attend events and access resources. 

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In addition, Ontario-based processors are investing in the latest technologies and processes, which will allow you to hone your skills for the future by working on the most up-to-date innovations. 

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3. Stable supply chain and infrastructure 

The pandemic and almost immediate rebound of the food and beverage processing industry was a testament to its solid infrastructure and its importance to Canadians (as people may stop buying clothing, but everyone has to eat and drink). 

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Ontario-based processors have superior, end-to-end supply chain solutions, including processing, packaging, specialized storage and transportation, and access to almost 50,000 farms that grow over 30 agricultural commodities. 

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If you are looking for your next move in the food and beverage industry, QTalnet is here to help. QTalent is Ontario’s first talent acquisition platform that connects highly-skilled food and beverage professionals to top food and beverage manufacturers in Ontario. 

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Find your dream job with our cutting-edge technology that matches your skill sets and requirements to the most suitable positions at the click of a button.  

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