Food manufacturing is a major industry in Canada, accounting for 15 per cent of all manufacturing in the nation.
The food manufacturing industry employs about 240,000 people — 14 per cent of all manufacturing employees — according to Statistics Canada.
Most people don’t realize the resiliency of food manufacturing. When the recession of 2008-09 struck, all other manufacturing sectors slowed, except for food in Canada.
The demand for food doesn’t decline during recessions but other sector sales are quite sensitive in those times.
Canadian food manufacturing sales have averaged 2.3 per cent growth since 1992, while other manufacturing grew an average of 1.8 per cent.
Food manufacturers compete in the global food trade with about one-third of product value — $35 billion — exported .
In 1992, Canadian food exports and imports just about matched each other at $5 billion. Last year imports reached $26 billion — 74 per cent of exports.
Meat exports accounted for more than half the $9 billion food export surplus.
A Farm Credit Canada report notes the five largest food manufacturing sectors are: dairy, $14.75 billion; slaughter of red meat animals, $13.05 billion; starch, vegetable fat and oil, $8.88 billion; poultry processing, $8.07 billion; animal food, $8.07 billion.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
