Ottawa, (ON) - The honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities (ACOA) and la Francophonie, is pleased to announce that a delegation of 12 businesses and organizations from Atlantic Canada’s food and beverage industry will attend the largest food and beverage trade show in North America. The Americas Food & Beverage Show (AFBS) takes place November 14 and 15, 2011 in Miami, Florida.
“It is a priority for our Government to support the opening of new markets for our companies, which create jobs here for Canadians. In Atlantic Canada, one of every three jobs is linked to exporting,” said Minister Valcourt. “This mission will allow Atlantic Canadian companies to exhibit their goods and services, secure and make contacts, gain knowledge of new trends and technologies and participate in pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings with potential buyers from Brazil and the southeastern US, both priority markets for Atlantic Canada.”
“We’re attending the Americas Food & Beverage Show so we can expand into the US market and beyond,” said Joshua Degenhardt, Sales and Marketing Director of New Brunswick-based Degenhardt’s European Sausage. “This will be the third Miami show for us, and we find that every time we go, new contacts and opportunities are discovered.”
The business mission is organized by the Atlantic Food & Beverage Processors Association Inc. (AFBPA). This is a forum for Atlantic Canadian delegates to connect with buyers from 28 countries. Miami is at the heart of a thriving, trillion-dollar food market that includes the southeastern US, the Caribbean and Latin America. This year’s show will host over 7,000 international buyers including 1,700 who represent the Caribbean, Central America and South America.
The Atlantic Canadian food and beverage industry exported more than $3 billion worth of products in 2010, making it the region’s second leading export sector. In Atlantic Canada, one quarter of the workforce is employed directly or indirectly by the food and beverage industry.
Participation of the Atlantic Canadian delegation is supported by an investment of $117,445 from ACOA’s Business Development Program.
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INFORMATION:
Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
613-790-3637
Jennifer Goostrey
Manager, Client Services
Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-229-0295
(This news release is available on the ACOA’s website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca under Media Room.)
FOR BROADCAST USE
A delegation of 12 companies and organizations from Atlantic Canada’s food and beverage industry is heading to the largest food and beverage trade show in North America. The Americas Food and Beverage Show (AFBS) takes place November 14 and 15, 2011 in Miami, Florida and will host over 7,000 international buyers.
ACOA Minister of State Bernard Valcourt says that creating jobs and economic growth are the Government’s top priorities and supporting business missions like this one drives growth in Atlantic Canada, where one of every three jobs is linked to exporting.
The Atlantic Canadian food and beverage industry exported more than $3 billion worth of products in 2010, making it the region’s second leading export sector. In Atlantic Canada, one quarter of the workforce is employed directly or indirectly by the food and beverage industry.
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
Atlantic Canada Business Mission to America’s Food & Beverage Show
The following is a list of companies and organizations participating in the business mission:
Atlantic Food and Beverage Processors Association: This industry association, located in Moncton, NB, works on behalf of the food, seafood and beverage processors and related companies and organizations that do business in the Atlantic region.
Barry Group: Based in Corner Brook, NL, Barry Group has been harvesting and processing a variety of pelagic, groundfish and shellfish species since the 1830s. Today, Barry Group has a large and skillful workforce throughout Atlantic Canada that processes thousands of tons of various species for the international market.
Cavendish Farms: Cavendish Farms is one of the largest processors of frozen potato products in North America. Based in Dieppe, NB, Cavendish supplies products to leading grocery, food service and quick service restaurants around the world. Cavendish Farms has operations in eastern Canada and the United States, and has 15,000 employees.
Degenhardt’s European Sausage: Degenhardt’s is a second generation, family-owned business based in Petitcodiac, NB, with over thirty years of meat manufacturing experience. Today their products, including fresh bratwurst, smoked sausages and deli meats are distributed locally and have been featured in publications and food exhibitions internationally.
Fancy Pokket Corporation: Since 1989, Moncton, NB-based Fancy Pokket Corporation has established itself as one of Atlantic Canada's leading manufacturers of pita bread, bagels, Greek pita, flat bread, panini and tortilla wraps. The company is working to expand its business into the US, Caribbean and Central and South America.
Gidney Fisheries Ltd.: This Centreville, NS-based company is a wholesaler and worldwide exporter of the finest quality lobsters harvested from the Bay of Fundy, Saint Mary's Bay and Southwestern Nova Scotia. Their traditional harvesting methods have been passed on through four generations of Gidneys, and have earned them worldwide renown.
McCain International: McCain International, of Florenceville, NB, is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen French fries and potato specialties and produces a wide range of frozen food products. McCain sells in more than 160 countries around the globe to both retail outlets and foodservice operators.
Pearlmark Foods Inc.: Pearlmark Foods is a primary producer of Atlantic Canadian fresh and frozen fish and seafood and is an importer and exporter of frozen seafood from around the globe. With operations in Kings County, NS, Pearlmark sells to wholesalers, food service distributors, supermarkets and restaurant chains across North America.
Sea Star Seafoods: Family-owned and operated Sea Star Seafoods specializes in the processing and marketing of quality salt fish such as cod, pollock, cusk, haddock, hake and herring and operates out of its Clarks Harbour, NS, facility.
Skipper's Fisheries Ltd. (Comeau's Sea Foods): Skipper’s Fisheries Ltd. is part of the Comeau’s Sea Foods family and specializes in the production of salt fish, smoked fish and dried fish. Skipper Fisheries is located in West Pubnico, NS, and has been in operation since 1976.
Tropical Shipping: With Canadian operations based in Saint John, NB, Tropical Shipping is one of the leading containerized cargo carriers working in the Caribbean region. The company currently operates 15 vessels and serves more than 28 ports with 42 offices and receiving locations throughout Canada, the US, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico.
W.P. Griffin Inc.: W.P. Griffin Inc. is a second generation, family-owned and operated potato grower, packer and shipper located in Elmsdale, PEI. In the business for 63 years, W.P. Griffin Inc. presently farms 3,000 acres of potatoes, grains, and soy beans.
