Discover why food companies invest in
Ontario East!
Ontario’s food processing industry is thriving - and the Eastern Ontario Food Competitiveness Study has confi rmed what many already knew: Ontario East is a high-value and low-cost place to do business. A strong economic partnership among food manufacturers, educational institutions and local economic development
offices helps to keep the area’s food processing industry strong and highly productive. With a strategic location in the heart of the eastern, North American market, a stable supply of educated, skilled and motivated workers and the low cost of doing business, it’s no wonder that Ontario East is a prime choice for processing companies.
Sample the Benefits
Ontario is home to more than 1,500 food processing firms and the region of Eastern Ontario is host to one of the province’s largest food clusters. From Peterborough to Cornwall, Ontario East has a vibrant representation of companies from small specialty producers to multi-national firms with a full range of support related services including: cold storage, research and development, distribution, training programs, equipment fabrication and packaging.
Ontario East is your ideal location!
- Lower operating costs - Ontario East is one of the lowest cost, food processing jurisdictions in the G7, according to the Competitive Alternatives report from KPMG. We offer low costs, low taxes and high research and development (R&D) tax credits.
- Dependable workforce - Ontario East boasts a highly motivated, loyal workforce with lower than average employee turnover rates (2.5 percent). Ontario East offers an educated, trained and highly-skilled workforce with more than 9,000 food processing sector workers.
- Leading edge training - Ontario East has training rebates for innovative programs including a Food Processing Operator Apprenticeship - one of the only offerings of its kind in North America.
- Leading edge technology - Eastern Ontario is a centre for research and development with world-class educational institutions, specializing in food and agriculture with related science and technology clusters focused around Trent University, Loyalist College, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, University of Guelph (Kemptville Campus), University of Ottawa and GreenCentre Canada – a national green chemistry centre.
- Location - Ontario East is connected to suppliers and markets via road, rail and seaway, with intermodal and refrigerator transport capacity. Airports and three international bridges link us to the entire Northeast and Midwest US markets. Ontario East offers a varied landscape with four seasons with a mix of highly desirable urban and rural living.
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Ontario East Economic Development Commission promotes Eastern Ontario as a centre for investment – representing over 200 communities, with more than two million residents, connecting three of Canada’s economic drivers - Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Ask today about the Ontario East advantage!
Invest in Ontario East’s Growing Food Sector
Location – Eastern Ontario connects three of Canada’s economic drivers – Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa. With three international bridges leading to the US, and international markets, Ontario East is a destination for investment.
Skilled, motivated workforce - Ontario East offers more than 9,000 highly-skilled food sector workers.
Superior support services – Eastern Ontario has a vibrant food processing cluster offering strong supply chains including: temperature-controlled trucking, warehousing, co-packing and stainless steel fabricators.
Market ready property - From market ready properties to serviced, accessible, industrial lands - Ontario East is ready to serve you!