Welcome to 2025: A Year of New Opportunities!
As the calendar turns to a fresh page, we’re ringing in 2025 with a spark of inspiration and a bounty of resources to fuel your goals for the year ahead! Whether you’re aiming to grow your business, secure funding, build an exceptional team, or tackle new opportunities, we’ve got everything you need to kick off the new year with momentum.
Let’s make January 2025 a launchpad for your best year yet!
Here’s what’s in store:
- Note from FBA President – Peter Chapman
- Masterclass: Blueprint for Export Success: Launching January 23rd
- NEW WEBINAR: Cut Costs, Cut Carbon: Fast Energy Solutions for your Food & Beverage Business
- NEW WEBINAR SERIES: Discover the Future of Food: Atlantic Food Futures Webinar Series
- LAST CHANCE: CFIA Info Session – Front of Label Requirements
- NEW INFO SESSION: Starting and Building a Food or Beverage Business in New Brunswick – Info Session for Newcomers
- Perennia Food Safety Training – FBA Members save 25%
- Navigate Food Safety Training – FBA Members save 25%
- Welcome New Members
- FBA Members can now see our past webinars!
- EVENT ALERT – Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia
- News from Ottawa
Note from the President of FBA – Peter Chapman
We hope the fourth quarter was a successful one for your business and that you’re entering 2025 with exciting opportunities on the horizon.
A new year brings fresh possibilities, but in the ever-evolving food and beverage industry, some constants remain. Consumers and customers will continue to focus on value, and we’ll navigate challenges related to inputs, labor, sustainability, and the competitive marketplace together.
At Food and Beverage Atlantic, we are committed to helping you thrive. Whether it’s improving operations, sharpening your sales and marketing strategies, or tackling the unique opportunities of this year, we’re here to support you. The implementation of the Grocery Code of Conduct this year will bring valuable insights, and changes in our trade relationship with our largest partner create new opportunities for innovation and growth.
We look forward to keeping you informed and working together to make 2025 a remarkable year for the industry.
Training & Events
LAST CHANCE: Masterclass: Blueprint for Export Success
Thinking about exporting or ready to take the leap?
Launching in January join our 8-week Masterclass and gain the tools to succeed. Guided by industry experts and supported by a network of regional peers, you’ll discover proven strategies that save time, cut costs, and set you up for success.
Don’t go it alone—get the insider edge!
Pssst…FBA Members save $300 on this program!
Deadline to apply is January 10th, 2025
NEW WEBINAR: Cut Costs, Cut Carbon: Fast Energy Solutions for your Food & Beverage Business
Join Food & Beverage Atlantic and Green Economy Canada for a practical session tailored to Atlantic Canadian businesses. Learn how to lower your energy consumption, cut costs, and take meaningful steps toward aligning with Canada’s climate change goals—all with simple, actionable strategies.
When: February 13th, 2025 , 1pm – 2pm
Where: Virtual
NEW WEBINAR SERIES: Discover the Future of Food: Atlantic Food Futures Webinar Series
Are you a food and beverage business in Atlantic Canada looking to grow sustainably and innovate for the future? Join Atlantic Food Futures, a dynamic three-part webinar series designed to equip food and beverage business owners like you with actionable insights and global expertise, tailored for our local markets.
Presented by Branchfood, a global leader in food innovation, and proudly supported by ACOA, this series connects Atlantic Canadian businesses with cutting-edge trends, proven strategies, and industry experts. Whether you’re enhancing your sustainability efforts, optimizing product development, or embracing digital transformation, these webinars offer the tools and inspiration you need to thrive.
Webinar Lineup
Sustainable Packaging Solutions for Food & Beverage
Wednesday, February 26 AT 1:00pm
Explore eco-friendly packaging innovations that reduce waste and align with global sustainability standards.
Innovation in Product Development for the Future of Food
Wednesday, March 5 at 1:00pm
Learn how to create the next generation of food products, focusing on market trends, consumer demands, and sustainable practices.
Digital Transformation in the Food Industry
Wednesday, March 12 at 1:00pm
Discover how digital tools and technologies can revolutionize your operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth.
LAST CHANCE: CFIA Info Session – Front of Label Requirements
Learn everything you need to know about Canada’s new Front-of-Package Labelling Requirements coming into effect in 2026. We’ll break down the rules, answer your questions, and help you better understand so that you can prepare your products for compliance.
This is your chance to get ahead and ensure your business is ready for the future—without the stress.
Register today and let’s navigate these changes together!
NEW INFO SESSION: Starting and Building a Food or Beverage Business in New Brunswick – Info Session for Newcomers
Dream of starting your own food or beverage business in New Brunswick?
Join Food & Beverage Atlantic for a free, hands-on workshop designed for newcomers!
When: February 6th, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: 22 Church St T-120, Moncton, NB
Discover expert insights, build valuable connections, and learn how to kickstart your entrepreneurial journey in New Brunswick’s thriving food and beverage industry.
This event is hosted in partnership with MAGMA and it is FREE!
Membership Updates
Join us and welcome the newest Members of FBA. Together, we can achieve anything!
ISPIRE – Inspired Technologies, Saint John, NB
NF Petrie Quality and Food Safety Solutions, Canning, NS
Cocoa and Fusion, Moncton, NB
REMINDER: Have you completed your Annual Membership Survey yet?
All survey participants will receive a summary of the feedback PLUS you could win a free year of FBA membership just for completing it!
NEW MEMBER PORTAL FEATURE
Looking for a past FBA Webinar?
We have started to upload our past webinars into the FBA Member Portal.
Next time you login click “Video Library” in the top navigation and check them out.
Currently we have our training session form GS1 as well as our Distributor/Broker Education Session with This Commerce Life.
This is a FBA Member Only feature.
(Don’t know your login? Email admin@atlanticfood.ca and we’ll help you out!)
International Events
*EVENT ALERT*
Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia
Led by the Honourable Mary Ng
Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service is seeking small, medium and large-sized companies, including exporters from diverse backgrounds, to join the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development for a Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia
Dates: Sunday, May 25th to Friday, May 30th, 2025
Market: Bangkok, Thailand and Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Priority Sectors: The trade mission is open to companies and organizations from all sectors. The trade mission program will focus on the following priority sectors:
- Agri-food and processed foods (including fish and seafood) (Thailand and Cambodia)
- Clean technologies and sustainable infrastructure (Thailand and Cambodia)
- Information and communications technologies (Thailand only)
- Life sciences (Thailand only)
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Members of the Canadian business delegation will participate in:
- networking opportunities with Minister Ng and Thai and Cambodian business leaders
- on-site business briefings by our Trade Commissioners, senior officials, and key local industry players
- market overviews and/or roundtables with local industry and experts
- pre-arranged business to business meetings (only applicable to companies selected for the B2B program stream)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Team Canada Trade Missions welcome:
- export-ready Canadian companies of all sizes, including exporters from diverse backgrounds, with strong potential to address opportunities in Thailand and/or Cambodia and generate tangible business outcomes
- provinces and territories, municipalities and other Canadian organizations, such as trade associations and chambers of commerce, looking to expand their reach and engagement in the Thai and Cambodian markets
Each application will go through an extensive assessment process to determine the most suitable stream for the organization.
TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS AND EXPENSES
Participants are responsible for organizing their own travel arrangements, including all air and ground transportation to and from the airport, and to make their own accommodation reservations. Programming and travel information (such as local transportation options and hotel block bookings) will be provided to confirmed participants as information becomes available.
There is no fee to participate in the trade mission. However, participants are responsible for covering all related travel costs, including airfare, accommodations, ground transportation and meals not included in the program.
Funding Programs
The Government of Canada, as well as provincial and territorial governments, also offer export financing and other programs that help Canadian businesses expand internationally. Please consult the Business Benefits Finder to find programs and services suitable to your needs.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
To be considered for the business delegation of the Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia, submit your application as soon as possible, and no later than January 31st , 2025 23:59 P.T. We anticipate a high demand for participation in this mission. To maximize the number of participating organizations, a maximum of two representatives per organization can register for the trade mission.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TODAY!
Registration deadline: January 31st 2025, 23:59 P.T.
CONTACT US
For more information on the Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia , visit the event page or contact us at: tctm-mcec.tha-khm@international.gc.ca
December 23, 2024
FBA-ABA Members:
Happy holidays from Food and Beverage Canada! FBC-ABC wishes all Members a joyful holiday season. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration throughout the year. We look forward to achieving great things together in 2025!
Federal Government releases 2024 Fall Economic Statement
On December 16, the Federal Government released the long awaited 2024 Fall Economic Statement (FES). Below are measures of interest to Members:
Accelerating Digital Adoption for Small Businesses: The FES proposes to provide up to $500M over four years to the Business Development Bank of Canada to provide financing and expertise to help small- and medium-sized businesses adopt digital technologies, with a priority focus on AI.
Extending the Accelerated Investment Incentive: The FES proposes to fully reinstate the Accelerated Investment Incentive, as well as immediate expensing for manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment. These incentives would apply to qualifying property acquired on or after January 1, 2025 and that becomes available for use before 2030. The full re-instatement of these measures would be followed by a four-year phase-out between 2030 and 2033.
Mandatory Climate-related Financial Disclosures: The FES announces the government’s intent to introduce legislative amendments to the Canada Business Corporations act to create a regulatory authority to enable climate-related financial disclosure requirements for large, federally incorporated privately held corporations. The government will launch a regulatory process to determine the substance of these disclosure requirements and the size of private federal corporations that would be subject to them.
Cutting More Red Tape: The FES proposes to provide $27.8M over five years for a new Red Tape Reduction Office, which will accelerate the cutting of red tape from the regulatory system and establish measures to track, assess, and communicate results. The FES also proposes to provide $4.3M over three years to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to advance mutual recognition in the agriculture and agri-food sector and support businesses in building capacity to meet federal regulations and expand trade across the country.
Eradicating Forced Labour from Our Supply Chains: The FES announces the government’s intent to introduce legislation to create a new regime for supply chain due diligence, requiring businesses to scrutinize their international supply chains for risks to fundamental labour rights and take action to resole these risks. A new oversight agency would be created to ensure ongoing compliance.
Note: The House International Trade Committee intends to hold at least four meetings about forced labour in Canada’s supply chains in the New Year.
FBC-ABC will be discussing the FES in more detail during the next political update call on Tuesday, January 14, 11:30–12:30pm EST. You can join the call by clicking here.
Update from FBC-ABC on 25% Tariff Threat
FBC-ABC is actively engaging with government officials regarding the implications of a 25% tariff on products from Canada. Following the information sharing call held on December 5, Kristina Farrell, CEO will be holding another call for Members on Thursday, January 16, from 11:30-12:30pm EST. You can join the call by clicking here, or by reaching out to FBC-ABC for a calendar invite. During the call, Kristina will be debriefing members on a roundtable on the subject with the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food the week before.
Members are encouraged to share the potential short-term and long-term impacts of tariffs on their operations to inform advocacy efforts in Ottawa.
Prime Minister announces changes to the ministry
The Prime Minister has announced changes to the Ministry, following several departures from cabinet and a number of Ministers announcing they will not be running again. Of interest to Members, these changes include:
· Anita Anand becomes Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
· Steven MacKinnon becomes Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
· Nate Erskine-Smith becomes Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
FBC-ABC will be writing congratulatory letters to each of these ministers.
Canada sets 2035 emissions target, releases final Clean Electricity Regulations
The Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change has announced that Canada will aim to reduce emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035, building on Canada’s existing 2030 target. The government will soon seek feedback on how to help companies take advantage of the economic opportunities that come with building a clean economy.
Additionally, Minister Guilbeault has presented Canada’s finalized Clean Electricity Regulations, which set an emissions limit without prescribing specific technologies.