About Food & Beverage Ontario

Building success, prosperity and growth in the food and beverage processing sector

Meet the non-profit connecting jobseekers with Ontario’s processing employers through CareersNOW!

About Food and Beverage Ontario

Food and Beverage Ontario is the non-profit leadership organization for the +4,000 food and beverage processors employing more than 125,000 across the province. Governed by an industry-led Board of Directors, Food and Beverage Ontario advocates for a robust business environment to ensure Canada continues to be a global leader in safe, premium food and beverage production for consumers at home and abroad.

Leading Advocacy, Innovation, and Workforce Development in Ontario’s Food and Beverage Sector

A powerful sector advocate since 2003, FBO is driven by a passionate membership of sector employers, professionals, and industry partners working collaboratively to facilitate sector growth, awareness, and prosperity.

Since its formation, FBO has played a vital role in shaping the future of Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector, working on key industry priorities, including:

Advocacy: Working alongside government to represent the needs and interests of the sector and inform smart regulations and policy that stimulates growth.
Innovation: Supporting businesses with valuable tools, research, and knowledge-sharing on critical topics like automation and environmental sustainability delivered in partnership with its network of subject matter experts.
Networking: Connecting industry leaders through tailored events, workshops, and its annual conference to promote networking opportunities that foster lasting connections and cultivate a unified community of food and beverage processing professionals.
Awareness and workforce development: FBO is committed to building a strong, skilled workforce for Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector.

Through initiatives like CareersNOW!, FBO connects job seekers with employers, offers free job-ready skills training, and supports businesses in recruiting and retaining top talent. By promoting career pathways in the industry and fostering diversity and inclusion, FBO ensures that the sector remains competitive, innovative, and prepared for future growth.

Our Partners

Workforce Diversity & Demographics

Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry has a diverse workforce. Immigrants make up 31% of the workforce which is higher than the overall Canadian workforce at only 23%. However, only 3% of the industry are Indigenous People and only 40% are women. Ageing demographics are also impacting this industry with 24% of the workforce aged between 55 and 64 and eligible to retire in the next ten years. CareersNOW! works to raise awareness of the industry with underrepresented groups and supports employers with recruitment and retention best practices that welcome all people to explore career opportunities.

Hiring People with Disabilities

CareersNOW! has partnered with the Discover Ability Network — a free employment portal that helps jobseekers with disabilities match with employment opportunities. The Discover Ability Network also provides employers with resources to help them employ people with disabilities and foster inclusive workplaces. Jobseekers with disabilities face many barriers navigating the job market and the Discover Ability Network helps to remove those barriers.

Connecting with Indigenous People

To engage with Indigenous People on careers in the food and beverage processing industry and share the potential for food entrepreneurship, CareersNOW! has partnered with the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association. This organization of First Nation Education Counsellors recognizes that the development of Native communities requires specific tools and programs and the partnership with CareersNOW! is based on this foundation.