Overview

Canada’s food processing industry consists of over 6000 establishments, producing $50 billion+ in sales revenue yearly. 

If you have noticed the variety of employment opportunities available in food processing and are wondering how to get started in the industry, remember skills, experience and training are often transferable.

Skills such as literacy, the ability to delegate responsibility, schedule shipments, take inventory, report writing, people skills, mathematical accuracy, manual dexterity and many other skills, are valued in every field of employment. Transferable training such as Occupational First Aid, FoodSafe, WHMIS, are valued by all employers. Transferable experience includes the manufacturing, warehousing, machine operating, and hospitality sectors as well as other sectors.

If you are not a Canadian Citizen, remember Canada’s 220,000 food processing employees are people from all over the world, including Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and the United States and they work on a full, part-time or seasonal basis. There are many programs to assist you!

Canada’s food processors require many workers to keep their plants and equipment in good working order. More than half are production workers (skilled precision workers, machine operators, laborers) but there are many other opportunities.

Supervisors are needed to direct the activities of production workers, graders and sorters, production inspectors and quality control technicians are necessary to evaluate foodstuffs before, during and after production.

Packaging and transport employees play a vital role. There are freight, stock and material movers, hand packers and packagers, machine feeders and offbearers.

Industrial truck and tractor operators move goods and transport, livestock, materials, and merchandise. Drivers deliver and sell goods and Sales Representatives sell the manufactured goods to wholesale and retail establishments.

The industry employs a variety of managerial and professional workers. General Managers are needed, as well as Plant Managers, Managers for Sales and Marketing, Quality Control and Assurance, Industrial Production, Human Resources, Health & Safety and more.

Engineers, scientists and chemists, laboratory workers, and quality control and assurance technicians direct and implement automation and food safety processes. They plan machine and equipment layout and installation, tools, equipment and machine maintenance, and facilitate work flow. Chemists perform tests, develop products, and maintain the quality of existing products. Food scientists and technologists work in research laboratories or on production lines to develop new products, test current products and control food quality.

Computer programmers and systems analysts develop computer systems and programs to support management and scientific research. Bookkeeping, accounting, and procurement personnel keep track of the food products and other inventory going into and out of the plant, and finally, janitors and cleaners keep buildings clean and sanitary.

There is a place in the food processing industry for you!