Ontario’s Food and Beverage Processing Industry
A Growing and Essential Industry
An essential industry creating the food loved at home and across the globe!
Ontario's F&B Processing — By the Numbers
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry is the largest in Canada and a cornerstone of the province’s economy. It produces approximately 70% of all processed foods available in the country and is the largest buyer of Canadian agriculutral products.
Ontario’s F&B processing industry contributes $14.8 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in the province, accounting for 1.7% of Ontario’s GDP. Despite the sector’s massive economic impact, 90% of processors are small businesses.
The food and beverage processing industry in Ontario is diverse, encompassing 11 subsectors:
- Seafood
- Beverage manufacturing
- Fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty
- Dairy Milk Manufacturing
- Bakeries and tortilla manufacturing
- Grain and oilseed milling
- Pet/animal food
- Sugar and confectionery
- Other foods
- Cannabis product
Within Ontario, the Toronto economic region is a significant hub, housing over 42% of the province’s food and beverage manufacturing workforce. Other notable areas include Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie and the Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula.
A Growing and Essential Industry
Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector is the largest manufacturing employer in the province, employing over 125,000 people and contributing billions to the economy. The sector is home to more than 4,000 businesses, ranging from small, family-owned operations to some of the largest multinational brands in the world.
Food and beverage processing is essential—people will always need food. This industry remains recession-resistant and provides stable, long-term career opportunities in a variety of roles, from production and quality assurance to logistics, management, and product development. Whether you’re seeking hands-on work or a corporate role, Ontario’s food and beverage sector offers rewarding opportunities for jobseekers at every stage of their careers.
Ontario's Food Makers
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry is as diverse as the products it creates. Behind every meal on a grocery store shelf or food item in your cabinet is a vast network of skilled professionals working in roles that blend science, technology, craftsmanship, and business expertise.
At the heart of the industry are those who transform ingredients into finished products—the teams that oversee production, packaging, and quality control to ensure food is safe, consistent, and ready for market. Skilled tradespeople, operators, and technicians work with cutting-edge machinery and automation to keep facilities running efficiently, while food scientists and product developers push the boundaries of innovation, responding to changing consumer preferences and emerging health trends.
Our Partners
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.
