1. FOODANDBEVERAGE
INDUSTRYSERVICES
consumer business
www.bdo.ca
The food and beverage subsector of the
consumer business industry presents numerous
challenges. Companies are striving to build value
and meet consumer needs as they work to stay
ahead of the competition. While protecting and
building your brand is critical, as well as taking
advantage of the most recent developments in
innovation and technology, there are constant
challenges and complex questions. These include:
• Understandingchangingconsumertastes and
building adiverse productoffering
• Howto adapttothecurrentcompetitive
landscape and market pressuresfacingthe
industry
• Changing regulatoryenvironment
• Retailerconsolidation and margin squeezes
• Managing and keeping keytalent
• Technologyenablers and/or hurdles
• Foodchain sustainability and understandingthe
barriersto improvingthis issue
Understanding your industry
Part of our commitment to our clients is
understanding the changing economic
environment, and the priorities and concerns
facing organizations in their respective industries.
To ensure we stay current on the issues facing food
companies in Canada, we have conducted the
Food Processers Survey to learn how organizations
are evolving to build sustainable value in their
businesses. Outlined below are some initial
findings from our proprietary market survey:
• Respondents are operating in a fiercely
competitive environment and increasing
competitive pressures is one of the key issues
they now face
• Pricing, cost management, selection,
retention and motivation of key talent are
biggest priorities
• To stay ahead of the competitive curve,
organizations recognize the importance of
growth, and protecting and strengthening
their revenue streams
• Respondents felt new market ventures and
acquisitions were key considerations for
achieving exponential growth
• CEOs are expected to be strategic thinkers
who can deliver business results
• There is a shift in focus from day-to-day
operations to short- and long-term growth
strategies to increase sales and profitability
• Respondents strive to put more emphasis on
their people, processes and products
• They recognize the importance of creating
a cohesive work environment, process
excellence and continued focus on the core
business to prepare their organizations for the
next stage of growth
• As consumers become more increasingly
aware and are able to access new information
about the products they consume, survey
respondents felt they had to anticipate
these changes and create products that
meet consumer’s demands in order to stay
competitive and avoid losing market share.
As a leader in serving the food and consumer
products subsector, we help clients grow their
revenue in new markets, build their brands, and
control costs to maximize profitability. Our
team of over 300 food and consumer products
partners and professionals has worked with
thousands of clients in the consumer business
industry across Canada.
We serve organizations in the following industry
subsectors:
• Produce, dairy, meat and meat products
manufacturing
• Beverage manufacturing
• Sugar and confectionery products
• Retail and commercial bakeries
• Food and beverage wholesalers and
distributors
• Grocery and food specialty stores
• Product preparation and packaging
With changing consumer tastes driving this
subsector, food and beverage companies are
constantly challenged to maximize growth
opportunities in a competitive market.

2. BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms. BDO is the
brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.
Consumer Business | Food and Beverage Industry Services
BDO adds value
Frequently,businessescannotinternallyassesstheirworldwidetaxpositionbecause
they lackthe necessary in-housetax resources, knowledgeof multijurisdictional
tax systems,orexperience inthe mosteffective international planning structures.
ThetaxprofessionalsinBDO’sglobalnetworkofMemberFirmofficescanhelpyou
navigate tax regimes around the globe to identify risks and opportunities.
Our global tax team is your international tax resource – we work closely
together to share knowledge and ensure that you experience service
excellence. Our international tax professionals do this by meeting and
exchanging ideas regularly through BDO’s eight Centres of Excellence,
which enables our tax specialists to collaborate and work together on
projects. Our tax professionals from around the globe work together to
ensure that you receive a seamless level of service.
BDO in Canada
BDO has 90 years of experience offering value-added assurance,
accounting, taxation and advisory services to a broad range of clients across
the country. Our team of more than 2,700 partners and professionals has
the industry knowledge and expertise to understand your professional
needs. From Vancouver, British Columbia to St. John’s, Newfoundland, we
build strong relationships with businesses and communities coast to coast.
BDO around the world
The international BDO network is comprised of public accounting firms around
the world, called BDO Member Firms.We are the fifth largest accounting and
advisory network in the world, with a full range of related services tailored
to each respective locale. As part of this worldwide network, our Canadian
member firm has access to more than 1,000 offices in over 100 countries.
Our services
BDO is an international network of independent
member firms (‘the BDO network’). BDO is the
brand name for the BDO network and for each of
the BDO member firms.The combined fee income
of all the BDO Member Firms was $5.67 billion
in 2011.The global network provides tax advisory
services in 135 countries, with over 48,000 people
working out of 1,118 offices worldwide.
BDO’s distinctive reputation for building
excellent relationships with our clients is built
upon our commitment to all our stakeholders
that what matters to them matters to us and
we remain focused on helping our clients
worldwide navigate ever-changing economic
and market conditions by providing high quality
advice and service on a consistent basis.
Our member firms work together to facilitate
cooperation, develop the skills and expertise of
our staff on a global level, and encourage the
formation of strong relationships between staff
across the network internationally so we can
provide seamless and consistent cross-border
services to our international portfolio of clients.
Assurance and advisory
• Assurance and accounting
• Risk management
• Governance advice
• Financial management and best practices
• Operational effectiveness
• Preparation of financial statements
Tax
• Domestic and US tax compliance
• SR&ED and other government incentive
programs
• Tax effective structures for investing in the
United States and abroad
• Tax loss planning
• Maximizing resource deductions and
allowances
• Maximizing provincial resource credit claims
• GST and HST planning
• Transfer pricing strategies for international
organizations
Advisory
• Strategic planning and business valuations
• Cash flow, inventory and operational
analysis
• Finance, estate and succession planning
• Workers’ compensation returns
• Risk advisory
• Internal audit services
• Litigation support
• Technology, risk and security
• BDO Solutions — IT implementation
Business transition, succession planning
• Succession strategies that meet your
business and your personal goals
• Developing the right ownership structures
• Contingency planning to mitigate risk and
ensure sustainability
• Recommendations to improve overall
business management