Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a total investment of $12.7 million for five innovative food processing and packaging businesses to seize new opportunities for growth and create over 180 jobs.
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This investment includes support for the following projects:
Ferrero Canada is a leading manufacturer of chocolate and confectionery. With a $5-million investment, through the Jobs and Growth Fund, Ferrero Canada will increase capacity and further automate two main production lines to meet rise in consumer demand.
As a result, Ferrero will be able to move to 24/7 automation and adopt industry 4.0 technologies to enhance its made-in Canada production by 30 percent. This project will also create more than 100 skilled jobs in Brantford.
Tempo Flexible Packaging Inc. is an award-winning, woman-owned manufacturer of flexible packaging products for the food industry and a signatory partner to the Canada Plastics Pact.
With a $3.5-million investment, through the Business Scale-up and Productivity stream, Tempo will expand its facility by 10,000 sq. ft. to adopt new advanced manufacturing technology and increase production of its recyclable food packaging in response to increased demand for more sustainable packaging products.
As a result, this project will contribute to a cleaner environment and create 30 skilled jobs in Innisfil.
Sheen Legend Packaging Corp. (operating as Beneco Packaging and SoOPAK), is a leading, woman-led packaging company for the food and beverage industry. With a $2.5-million investment, through the Jobs and Growth Fund, Sheen Legend will expand production of environmentally-friendly and bio-degradable plant-based manufacturing materials at its new Cobourg-facility.
As a result, the company will leverage greener manufacturing equipment to increase production of sustainable packaging by 50 percent, while also creating 37 skilled jobs in Cobourg.
Summer Fresh Salads Inc. is a leading, woman-owned and led, manufacturer of salads, hummus and dips for major retailers and food service companies across North America.
With a $1-million investment, through the Jobs and Growth Fund, the company will adopt new technologies and expand its Woodbridge-facility by 80,000 sq. ft. in order to establish new production lines to increase hummus making capacity as well as add new plant-based products.
As a result, it will create 10 skilled jobs in Woodbridge.
Casa Bonita Foods Inc. is a food manufacturer that produces Mexican-style soft corn tortillas and chips for retailers across Canada and the US. With this $720,000- investment, through the Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF), Casa Bonita Foods will acquire new equipment to further automate and commercialize its production and packaging lines, supporting additional product development, including protein added super-foods.
As a result, this project will expand sales across Canada and into new global markets, as well as accelerate revenue growth and create 7 skilled jobs in the GTA. ■
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