Jobseekers

Ready to start your career today? We're here to support you.

We have assembled informative videos, webinars and resources for you. Follow the links below to learn about the Ontario food and beverage processing industry, employers and career opportunities.

Learn about careers in Ontario’s growing food and beverage processing industry.

Meet Ontario's food and beverage processing employers

Education to Careers

Meat Alternatives and Plant Based Foods

Explore the exciting growth of plant-based foods, the innovation driving the industry, and the incredible career opportunities emerging in the alternative protein sector.

Food Automation

Learn how automation is shaping production processes, creating new career opportunities, and driving innovation in food and beverage manufacturing.

Food Waste

Get an inside look at how purpose-driven decision-making can address social challenges like food waste while advancing your career in the food and beverage industry.

Podcasts by our Partners at FoodGrads

Laurent Dallaire – CEO of Innodal, Revolutionizing Food Safety with Targeted Antimicrobials (#101)

Davis Jaeger, R&D Leader, Culinary Expert and Food Scientist – Solving R&D problems (#92)

Shaping Food Safety Policy with Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., Founder of Food Safety Strategy (#94)

Career Guidance

Learn How To Get The Job You Want From Industry Experts from FGF Brands!

Join Saeid Alaghbandrad, Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety and Jason Brown, Director of Operational Excellence at FGF Brands, to talk about how to land the job you want!

Learn How To Get The Job You Want From Industry Experts at Yoso!

Join Francis Lo, co-founder of YOSO, a manufacturer of dairy-free yogurts and spreads, and food scientist Amelia Laplante to learn how jobseekers can grow a career in the food and beverage processing industry, get access to free education and skills training, and get actionable advice to help you get the job you want!

Breaking Into The Job Market: FREE Advice for Newcomers! (Part 1)

Learn about developing job search strategies, entering the labour market and the skills needed for success. You’ll learn also learn how to get access to free education and skills training and get actionable advice to help you land the job you want!

Companies & People

Join Joel Flatt and the team from Give & Go Foods to learn about the great (and delicious!) opportunities in food and beverage processing.

Lola Adeyemi, Founder and CEO of It’s Souper, shares the reason why she started her business and why YOU should get into the food and beverage processing industry!

Co-Founders of Remix Snacks, Jamie Lee and Isabelle Lam, share the reasons they started their business in the food and beverage processing industry, and why you should, too!

Exciting Reads

From Passion to Profit: Shawn Docksader’s Food Entrepreneurship Journey with Oneida Sweet Treats

From Bangladesh to Ontario: Johny Palma’s Success Story in the Food and Beverage Processing Industry

How a Co-op Placement at Conestoga Meats Transformed a Student’s HR Experience

Campus Tour

Trailer – FoodGrads Campus Road Trip

Join CareersNOW! Representative and TMU undergraduate, Veronica Hislop, as she embarks on a road trip to meet with students and professionals who’ve made the jump into the world of food and beverage processing.

Manahil Zaid

Applied Human Nutrition at University of Guelph

Balasubramanian Mohan

Bio-Chemistry Student at University of Guelph

Employer Spotlight - Experience Working in the Industry

Spotlight – Conestoga Meats Co-Op Experiences

Spotlight – SunOpta

Spotlight – Working at GayLea

Breaking Into The Job Market: FREE Advice for Newcomers! (Part 2)

FoodGrads Talent Solutions Manager Nicole Gallace is once again joined by Shahina Suleman, program manager at PTP Adult Learning and Employment Programs, for a deep dive into why jobseekers should consider a career in Ontario’s food & beverage industry.

About Skilled Trades (Part 1)

Skilled trades are positions that require a special skill, knowledge or ability which can be obtained at a college, technical school or through specialized training e.g., apprenticeship. In the food and beverage manufacturing industry these include: Maintenance Mechanic, Millwright, Electrician, Plumber and Boiler Operator.

About Skilled Trades (Part 2)

Becoming an Auditor / Food Safety

Food safety professionals ensure the quality and safety of food and beverages products. Auditors play an integral role in verifying proper food safety practices are in place and determine if the production environment is safe, in addition to ensuring hazards are properly identified, controlled and eliminated.

Product Development / R&D

Food Technologists, Product Developers and R&D professionals are responsible for creating the food and beverage products available in grocery stores and restaurants. These professionals decide how a product tastes, its shelf life, safety regulations and even assist in making the appropriate packaging.

About Finance & Accounting

The food and beverage manufacturing industry in Canada employs over 280,000 people at 7,600+ businesses. These businesses achieved $117.8 billion in sales in 2019 which was managed by finance and accounting professionals such as Plant Controllers, Chief Financial Officers, Cost Accountants and Finance Managers.

Human Resources

Food and beverage manufacturing businesses have facilities employing hundreds of professionals across multiple departments. From plant employees to corporate and administrative functions—there are over 280,000 people employed across Canada. HR Managers, Recruiters, Benefits Specialists are just some of the roles in demand.

Production / Operations / Continuous Improvement

Production professionals ensure the plant is running successfully at maximum capacity, in addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility. To build and maintain improvement processes, food production facilities also require Continuous Improvement professionals—Production Manager, Operations Supervisor, Six Sigma Specialist are just a few of these positions.

About Sanitation / Health, Safety & Environmental

Sanitation professionals keep the plant clean and safe. These professionals ensure product is processed on clean machinery, reducing or eliminating the risk of microbe, pest and allergen,
and related issues. Health & Safety professionals are critically important to a successful business preventing workplace accidents or injury. The impact on the environment is also within the scope of a professional in this career focus area.

About Communications / Food Writer

Food is important to everyone and consumers expect to be informed on different issues related to agriculture/raw ingredients, processing and end products. Professionals that can effectively communicate information with a depth of subject matter expertise are essential. Roles include Director of Communications and Food and Agriculture Writer.

Become an Engineer (Packaging, Food, Mechanical)

A designer and builder—an engineer—is an essential role in the food and beverage manufacturing industry. Engineers lead complex jobs of developing food production processes through innovation, automation, robotics and new technology. From Industrial, Electrical, Mechanical, Packaging, Food—add the word Engineer—afterwards and you have some of the most in-demand positions in the industry.

About Sales & Marketing

Sales and Marketing professionals are the champions of finished food and beverage products ensuring a business achieves its targets in domestic and export/global markets. Positions in this career focus area range from Sales Manager, Marketing Coordinator, Business Development Manager to Technical Sales Representative where a food science degree may be required to provide solutions to customers.

How did Ran Goel of Fresh City Farms get started in the food and beverage processing industry? He shares is journey and what he’s learned.

Angeli Mehrotra, EDI Employment Engagement Specialist from the University of Guelph answers questions about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for jobseekers in Ontario’s food & beverage processing sector.

CareersNOW! offers jobseekers free Job Ready skills training, access to recruiters and employers through job fairs, and insight into career pathways through mentorship sessions with leading industry professionals. Watch this video to learn more!

Working in food and beverage processing means you play an important part in making products people across the country enjoy. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how yogurt is made at Hans Dairy!

Have you ever thought about doing an internship, co-op, or placement? After talking to the students at Western University who had amazing placements in the food and beverage processing industry, we think it’s a must-do to give you a leg up in your career!

Kevin Vizio, Junior Project Engineer at Italpasta, talks about the demand for engineers in the food industry, what he loves about working in food and beverage processing and more!

Baking or culinary…what is the difference? Diamond Donnon, a Culinary Skills student at Algonquin College, breaks it down.

Bryan Jurek, Corporate Executive Chef at Griffith Foods, shares his career journey and advice to those looking to get into the industry.

How do culinary education and food and beverage processing education overlap? Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies Division at Niagara College, is here to tell us!

Why should YOU consider starting a business in the food and beverage processing industry? Venturepark Labs Vice President, Mike McNeil, has the perfect explanation!

Meet Austin Amog from Reiser Canada! Austin gives advice for those interested in getting into the technical side of meat & poultry!