Supporting Ontario Food Startups with Smart HR Solutions
When your company’s barely out of the gate and already juggling funding reports, operations, and HR hiring headaches, the right support system can be a game-changer.
For Alinova, a joint venture in Ontario’s food and beverage processing sector, that support came in the form of Food and Beverage Ontario’s CareersNOW! program.
Treasa Pauley, who supports Alinova’s executive team, knows that startup mode is no joke.
“We’re federally and provincially funded, the executive VP is based in Ontario, I’m in Nova Scotia, and the site’s in Morrisburg, Ontario,” she says. “It’s a lot of moving parts.”
And while Treasa’s background spans two decades in the food industry, she admits HR wasn’t originally in her wheelhouse. But in rural Ontario, finding the right people for highly specialized roles like food process operators or QA managers isn’t just tough, it’s a full-time job.
“Our industry’s workforce is aging, and it can be difficult to connect with the younger, trained talent coming in,” she explains. “Add in rural location challenges, and you’ve got a recruitment puzzle that’s hard to solve on your own.”
Connecting with CareersNOW! Through RecruitNOW!
Treasa first connected with the CareersNOW! team at a Food and Beverage Ontario event in Toronto.
“I walked by their booth and thought, ‘finally, a resource focused on solving one of the biggest issues for small and medium enterprises: finding and keeping staff,’” she says. “It’s especially valuable for startups that might not have a dedicated HR manager yet.”
From that first conversation, the CareersNOW! team provided hands-on, tactical support through their recently announced RecruitNOW! service. They helped Alinova source benefits providers, benchmark competitive salaries for their region, and, most importantly, navigate the recruitment landscape.
“Isabel and the team were super responsive. I’d send an email asking about something, even tangentially HR-related, and they’d get back quickly with links, resources, even direct introductions,” says Treasa.
One of those introductions made all the difference. CareersNOW! connected Alinova with several specialized recruitment firms, firms that actually understood the nuances of food and beverage processing.
“We interviewed two and selected one,” Treasa says. “That alone saved us about 20 hours of research. And they’ve been instrumental in helping us staff up with people who get the industry.”
Building a Team with Purpose
That support has already paid off. Alinova recently filled a key quality assurance role, and their new QA Manager, Nicole Murekatate, is already feeling the momentum:
“Being part of Alinova has been such a rewarding experience. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to grow with a company that’s not only bringing innovation to the Canadian food industry but also investing in our local community and creating meaningful employment,” says Nicole.
“It’s inspiring to see sustainability, excellence, and innovation come together in such a purposeful way. I’m proud to be part of Alinova’s journey and its vision for a stronger and sustainable food security.”
Advice for Ontario Food and Beverage Employers
Treasa says CareersNOW!’s real value lies in its practicality.
“They don’t just give you theory or generic advice. They give you real, useful tools. The kind of help that lets you move forward with confidence.”
Her advice to other food and beverage producers, especially those in startup or growth mode?
“Engage early. Don’t wait until you’re scrambling,” she says. “Reach out to CareersNOW! at the beginning of your hiring process and let them help guide you.”
Because when you’re building something new, it’s not just about filling seats. It’s about laying the groundwork for a team that’s built to last!
