Meat product: NAICS 3116

Overview

Ontario’s meat product sector is integral to Ontario’s food industry. Meat production is either sold as a finished product or used as ingredients in further processing. Ontario’s meat sector accounts for over 16% of the food and beverage manufacturing sector’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ^{footnote 1[1]}. The three meat product subsectors are:

• animal slaughtering
• rendering and meat processing from carcasses
• poultry and small game processing

2020 Key indicators

In 2020:

• the meat product sector was responsible for $2.28 billion in GDP, which is an increase of $55 million over the last five years ^{footnote 1[1]}
• there were 342 meat product businesses in Ontario, which is a decrease of 3.9% over the last five years ^{footnote 2[2]}
• there were over 21,000 people employed in the meat product sector. Employment in this sector has increased by 3,771 or 4.0% over the last five years ^{footnote 3[3]}
• the food and beverage sector was responsible for $10.4 billion in revenue from goods manufactured, which is a 21.5% growth rate over the last five years ^{footnote 4[4]}
• there were $1.6 billion in exports and $3 billion of products imported into the province. The United States is our main export market, followed by China and Japan ^{footnote 5[5]}

Ontario at a glance

Ontario is home to about 127 meat processors, along with nationally recognized associations such as the Canadian Meat Council and Meat and Poultry Ontario.

Burnbrae Farms is a fifth-generation Canadian family-owned and operated company. Burnbrae Farms continues to be one of Canada’s leading egg farmers, with farms, grading stations and processing operations across the country ^{footnote 58[58]}.

Cargill Limited is one of Canada’s largest merchandisers and processors. Their interests include the processing of beef, poultry and oilseed and the manufacturing of livestock feed. They are also involved in crop input product retailing, as well as grain handling, milling, salt distribution and merchandising ^{footnote 7[7]}.

Conestoga Meats, founded in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, provides premium pork products to those who desire healthy and quality products through the commitment of local families and farmers ^{footnote 59[59]}.

Maple Leaf Foods is a leading consumer food company known for producing plant protein and meat raised products without antibiotics. Dedicated to helping transform the world’s food system that is capable of survival, and thriving for generations to come, Maple Leaf Foods strives to be a sustainable protein company ^{footnote 60[60]}.

Sofina Foods Inc. is one of Canada’s leading manufacturers of primary and processed protein products for both the retail and foodservice sectors. Sofina is the exclusive distributor of Italy’s finest Rio Mare, Lavazza and San Benedetto products in Canada ^{footnote 61[61]}.

Highlights and investment activities

Olymel invested over $1 million in two new production lines, creating approximately 350 jobs ^{footnote 62[62]}.

PepsiCo Foods and Maple Leaf Foods signed an exclusive alliance for distribution of Schneiders Pepperettes in Canada ^{footnote 63[63]}.

Trends

Trends in this sector include:

• busy lifestyles driving the consumer uptake of convenient, value-added meat formats. Innovations which highlight benefits such as ease-of-use/preparation and suitability to eat on-the-go are likely to appeal ^{footnote 64[64]}
• meat and poultry products with no hormones or animal feed additives being popular amongst consumers ^{footnote 64[64]}
• more than half of Canadians saying that they have been cooking more with meat at home during the COVID‑19 pandemic ^{footnote 64[64]}
• North America having the biggest share of meat and poultry product launches featuring natural and hormone-free claims, causing consumers to want to continue seeing clean labels ^{footnote 64[64]}
• North Americans wanting brands to focus on animal welfare by committing to higher ethical standards, improving living conditions and using humane practices ^{footnote 64[64]}