Processed Food and Beverages
The Canadian food and beverage processing industry supplies approximately 75% of processed food and beverage products available in Canada. In 2011, the industry had sales of $ 92.9 billion.
Food processing, which is defined here as per the North American Industry Classification (NAICS 311), is an important industry to the Canadian economy. It is the second largest manufacturing industry in Canada after transportation equipment. The food industry employs approximately 258,000 people. In 2011, sales of food processing products were valued at $ 83.7 billion.
Beverage processing (NAICS 3121) includes soft drinks and bottled water manufacturing, wineries, breweries and distilleries. It employs approximately 32,000 people and in 2011, it sales were valued at $ 9.1 billion.
Industry Overview
Food Processing and Beverage Industry
This section provides an overview of the significance of the food and beverage processing industry in Canada. As well, industry snapshots and profiles of sub-sectors within the industry are presented.
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals is a rapidly growing category within the agri-food industry.
Fish and Seafood is a unique and important segment within the food sector, for markets both in Canada and internationally.
Canada's red meat sector is the largest sector of the Canadian food manufacturing industry.
Canada's dairy sector plays an important role in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food economy.
Regulations
Food Policy and Regulatory Issues
This section includes links to the official Acts and Regulations that govern the products and operations of the agri-food industry, and provides information on regulatory issues that can have an impact on agri-food industry investment, innovation and competitiveness.
Spirit and Drinks Trade Act Enforcement Policy
The purpose of the Spirit Drinks Trade Act (SDTA) Compliance and Enforcement Policy is to provide guidance to regulated parties on the legislative requirements regarding the use of names of certain spirit drinks of foreign countries, as well as the range of options available to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in order to achieve compliance with the SDTA.
Further information on this policy can be found at:
Sources of Assistance for the Industry
This section provides links to financial programs and services offered by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and other federal departments and organizations to which food and beverage processors are eligible to apply. It also includes a link to the Canada Business Services for Entrepreneurs site which provides single window access to business information including Federal and Provincial financial assistance programs.
Statistics
Food Manufacturing Statistics (Industry Canada)
Various statistics are presented for the food industry and it's sub-industries, including definitions, number of establishments, value of production, employments, GDP, trade, etc...
Beverage Manufacturing Statistics (Industry Canada)
Various statistics are presented for the beverage manufacturing industry and it's sub-industries, including definitions, number of establishments, value of production, employments, GDP, trade, etc...
Dairy Facts and Figures
This section provides detailed statistics related to dairy cattle improvement, quota exchanges and prices, milk production at the farm, shipments to processors, dairy farming revenue and expenses, processing, sales of fluid milk and cream, supply and disposition, consumption of dairy products, and retail prices, index prices and dairy household expenditures in Canada.
North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2002 - Canada (Statistics Canada)
This provides a description of the Classification System and, in particular, how the food and beverage industries are defined and further subdivided within the Classification.
Associations
A list of Canadian Agriculture and Agri-food Industry Associations by products.