CLUSTER INFORMATIVE
Tony Middleton

A Valuable Cluster
Food & Beverage cluster is
The
Canada’s third largest sector
2004, this cluster had annual
In
sales exceeding $17 billion

A Valuable Cluster
Continued
are over 2,000 established food
There
and manufacturing establishments
accounts for more than 50%
Toronto
of all food processing in Ontario

A Valuable Cluster
Continued
2002, there were 50,000 people
In
employed in the Toronto Food &
Beverage industry
the next 10 years, employment
Within
rates are expected to double
cluster is the second largest
This
that operates in Canada

Food Cluster Leaders
in the GTA
Limited
Cargill
Schweppes
Cadbury
Campbell Soup Company Wrigley’s
Bakeries
Weston Unilever
Leaf Foods
Nestle Maple
Foods
Fiera Kraft

Helping the Industry Grow
The Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) is a
not-for-profit research and consultation centre that
helps food businesses develop new products and
processes to remain competitive within the GTA.
Activities include newsletters, job opportunity
postings and workshops.

Further Aid
Currently, Toronto does not have an innovation
centre; however, a proposed template is currently in
development. As it is a market leader in North
America and is in close proximity to major
markets, an innovation centre will be influential in
raising Ontario’s food industry sales

Incubation
The Toronto Food Business Incubator is an
independent non-profit organization that aids
entrepreneurs and small enterprises. Its
goals are to assist companies in becoming
established to help foster the economic
growth, creativity, and vitality of the food
manufacturing industry. The incubator
provides members with access to a
production space, a fully equipped
commercial kitchen, mentoring/training, and
industry contacts

Competing Cluster - Illinois
Due to its vast and fertile farmland, the food processing and agriculture industries are
well developed within Illinois. The industry generates more than $8 billion annually. It is
the number one manufacturing activity in the State, with an annual value of $14 billion.
Illinois also plays host to the largest food trade fairs in the United States, such as the
Food Marketing Institute and National Restaurant Association.
Chicago is home to a business centre located
at the University Technology Park at IIT. It
offers 126,000 square feet of office space to
be used by high-tech companies, including
those operating within the food industry

Competing Cluster - California
California is the top agricultural state in America and has been for 50 years. As a
correlated result, it is also the largest food-processing employer. With a large variety of
crops, excellent growing conditions, and increasing demand for prepared food
products, California is the centre for food processing, shipping $50 billion worth of food
products. California provides the nation's consumers with premium quality
fruits, juices, sauces, cheeses, snacks, nuts, seasonings, and many other foods
The California League of Food Processing (CLFP)
represents the business interests of California's
dynamic food processing industry. It is a valuable
resource, allowing members to obtain additional
information on the industry

THANK YOU
I hope you found this presentation on the Food and
Beverage cluster informative