The Original Cakerie
British Columbia, Canada
This Canadian company has grown to be the largest privately owned dessert manufacturer in Canada. It distributes frozen desserts from coast to coast and across North America. When its original plant in Delta, British Columbia reached capacity, The Original Cakerie looked east to Ontario, at the heart of the North American market. The company has invested $45M in a new 150,000 square foot plant, employing 250 people when they reach full capacity.
Ferrero
Italy
This Italian-owned confectionery giant had $11 billion in sales in 2009. It ranked number four in confectionary sales globally. Ferrero's products include Tic Tac, Rocher and Nutella. In 2006, the company opened a 900,000 square foot plant in Brantford, close to the U.S. border. Ferrero ships products around the world from their Brantford location. The plant has 500 permanent employees, hiring up to 900 people at peak times.
Maidstone Bakeries
Ireland
If you have ever eaten a Tim Hortons donut, Timbit or other baked goods, you've had food from Maidstone Bakeries. Like Ferrero, Maidstone operates in Brantford, near the U.S. border. There, from its 400,000 square foot, state-of-the art bakery, Maidstone can produce and distribute bakery products by road or rail across North America. Maidstone has invested over $200 million in their Ontario plant with a current workforce of over 340.
Bolthouse Farms
California, United States
The Bolthouse family began commercial vegetable farming in western Michigan in 1915. Now its product line includes fresh and baby-cut carrots, juices/smoothies and salad dressings. In 2010, the company invested $8.5 million and created 40 new jobs to retrofit an existing facility in Wheatley to make baby-cut carrots from locally grown carrots. Bolthouse supplies Loblaws and other major grocery chains.
