Starting a food processing business

Looking for resources to help get your food processing business off to a smooth start?  There are many things to consider before you begin, including:

• location and zoning (including rental and shared space)
• regulations
• food safety
• packaging and labelling
• insurance.

Use these tools and resources to help you with your planning. We’ve sorted them by topic so you can browse and find the links that are most helpful to you.

Getting started

• Your Guide to Food Processing in Ontario

First Steps

Learning about production

• Co-packing
• Food Safety/Inspection/Quality Control
• Packaging / Labelling
• Sourcing Supplies
• Developing New Products

Reaching local and international markets

• Marketing
• Distributing
• Exporting your Ontario food products

Winning in your market

• Specialty Markets
• Food and Beverage Processing

Learn more

Contact one of our food and beverage sector specialists. More info

Visit the Ontario Business Service Centre online for business information, guides, factsheets, advice and services.

If you are a smaller business, read Your Guide to Small Business and visit Government Programs for Small Business. It’s the provincial government's searchable database of government programs for small and medium-sized business.

Find more resources to start your food business.