Supporting Meat Processors - Economic Diversification and Growth in Northern Ontario

Supporting Meat Processors - Economic Diversification and Growth in Northern Ontario

By Doris Valade, Malabar Group

As the former owner/operator of Malabar Super Spice Co., providing seasonings and ingredients for meat processors across Canada, I had the opportunity to visit many meat processors and their facilities from coast to coast, and north to south. The challenges in the Canadian meat industry are many, however none are as great as they are for those processors living in the northern regions of each province. Access to supplies and equipment, the logistics of transport, availability of trained employees, and business training and support are all areas where northern meat processors struggle, and yet they do persevere!

The Canadian federal and provincial governments recognize the importance of our meat industry to the Canadian food supply, and they are providing funding and programs to meet the needs of meat processors and abattoirs in the northern regions.

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) is the Government of Canada’s economic development organization for Northern Ontario. Through its programs and services, and financial support of projects that lead to job creation and economic growth, FedNor works

with businesses and community partners to build a stronger Northern Ontario.

FedNor offers the Jobs and Growth Fund, which provides funding to businesses and organizations to help create jobs and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund, delivered by Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), provides $700 million nationally over three years.

This funding includes support for the Responsive Advancement for Meat Processing (RAMP) Program which is for northern Ontario abattoirs and free-standing meat processing plants RAMP is a comprehensive approach to the sector that provides advisory support, expert consulting, and funding for eligible projects. One of the most recent programs that has been funded by RAMP is an 8 week comprehensive business development training program for Northern Ontario meat processors and abattoirs.

I have the opportunity to put together this program, supported by David Thompson and the Rural Agri-Innovation Network

(RAIN), to provide business strategies and resources to meat processing business owners, and also their senior team members. In October (2022), David and I visited more than 10 northern Ontario meat processors and abattoirs, from Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay, and a few small places in between. We listened to the owners tell us about their challenges and also about their plans to grow and adapt for continued success. They do not give up easily!

After listening to their stories, their challenges, and their hopes for the future, I created an 8 week business development program to help support the people in the sector with their growth and development goals. The program started on January 10th and runs twice a week for 2 hours. We are thrilled to have the Honourable Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs joining us on our last night.

Each of the 8 weeks includes presentations, expert guest speakers and resources on a variety of topics including Leadership and Teamwork, Continuous Improvement, Human Resources (hiring challenges), Food Safety and Traceability, Health and Safety, Sales and Marketing, Financial Benchmarks, Succession Planning, and Selling Your Business. Participants are provided with handouts, worksheets and templates throughout the course to help them achieve their goals. We are very excited to have 14 business owners participating every week. Their interest and willingness to learn is as strong as their commitment to growing their business, and their industry.

The support and funding from FedNor and in recognizing the needs of our meat industry in northern Ontario and providing the opportunity to host this 8 week Business Development Training is truly appreciated. There is still a lot more support needed for our northern Ontario meat processors and abattoirs. This training is hopefully just one step of many to come! We have 14 companies participating;

• Penokean Hills Farms

• Creative Meats

• Cloverbelt Country Meats

• Canada Meat Group Inc

• 287 Farm Production Inc

• Fresh Market Foods

• Rico’s

• Rainy River District Regional Abattoir

• Charkuu 102

• Superior Foods

• Grand North Bison

• Bay Meats Butcher Shop

• Burt Farm Country Meats

• Dabrowski’s Smoked Meats