Business opportunities

Increased sales and profits

Expanding into international markets gives your company a chance to increase sales and profits. Exporting may lead to higher economies of scale in production that will save costs and lead to higher profit margins.

Gain global market share

Companies can reduce dependence on existing domestic markets by expanding internationally. Exporting can also help small companies grow and become more competitive.

Stabilize market fluctuations

By expanding into foreign markets, companies are less affected by economic changes, consumer demands and seasonal fluctuations within the domestic economy.

Sell excess production capacity

By choosing to export excess supply, your production capacity or length of production may increase. This could reduce average cost per unit and increase economies of scale.

Enhance competitiveness

Exporting in the global marketplace increases your exposure to international best practices, varying customer preferences, ideas and alternative ways of doing business, which improves your chances of competing domestically and internationally.

Support and services

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) helps food, beverage and agricultural companies expand their business into new and existing markets.

Contact an OMAFA advisor to learn more about what supports and services are available.

Trade and investment

OMAFA advisors work with Ontario companies to:

  • help them become export-ready
  • find the right resources in key and emerging markets
  • facilitate in linking targeted international buyers
  • support growth and expansion to worldwide markets

This is done by providing insights on market trends, challenges and opportunities, and other regulatory, health and border considerations in international markets.

The ministry’s trade and investment activities focus on creating export opportunities for Ontario companies in markets such as:

  • United States
  • United Kingdom and European Union
  • Mexico
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan)
  • emerging markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East such as Singapore, Vietnam and nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Through targeted export programs, our advisors work with Canadian Trade Commissioners and Ontario government representatives in overseas embassies and consulates to help promote Ontario products to key and emerging markets.

Trade activities

Hosting incoming buyers’ missions, participating in international trade shows and offering informational seminars are just some of the ways that Ontario is helping promote export opportunities for the province’s food and beverage companies.

Export programs

Use the OMAFA calendar to find a list of dates and times of trade missions, business-to-business programs, international tradeshows and seminars.

Trade missions

Trade missions bring Ontario companies face-to-face with buyers in export markets. Working with the ministry’s advisors, pre-qualified Ontario companies gain exposure to international markets through trade missions that are hosted as:

  • incoming buyers' missions: International buyers visit Ontario to meet with pre-qualified Ontario suppliers to discuss business opportunities and view production facilities
  • international missions: Delegations of Ontario suppliers travel to international markets for OMAFA-planned business activities such as attendance/exhibiting at key global trade shows, curated business-to-business programs and market intelligence-gathering programming

Through these missions, Ontario businesses have direct access to key decision-makers, which can help establish close relationships that may also generate export sales.

Business-to-business programs

OMAFA business-to-business programs bring Ontario businesses face-to-face with buyers from export markets. Working with the ministry’s advisors, pre-qualified Ontario businesses pitch their products in one-on-one, business-to-business meetings. These meetings support introductions to new markets and growth in current markets.

International trade shows

Ministry advisors arrange for Ontario companies to exhibit at select international trade shows, which are key events for the food and beverage sector.

By participating at these events, Ontario companies have inclusive opportunities to promote their products to a network of potential buyers.

These shows are also important in promoting Ontario’s agri-food industry to international markets.

Seminars

Practical, hands-on seminars are delivered by ministry staff to help new and experienced exporters. Seminars focus on helping businesses become export-ready by understanding export regulations, distribution channels and other key considerations impacting successes in international markets.

The ministry’s Program to Raise Ontario Food Investment and Trade (PROFIT) seminar is designed for those who are new to exporting to US markets. Industry speakers and key contacts provide knowledge to help organizations succeed in exporting to the US.

The ministry also regularly hosts webinars focused on international markets to help Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturers gain knowledge and information on doing business in different markets.