January 27, 2026 (OTTAWA) – Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC) welcomes the federal government’s recent announcement aimed at improving food affordability, supporting producers, and strengthening Canada’s food supply chains. 

For some time, FBC-ABC has been calling for measures that strengthen Canada’s food system and improve the competitiveness of domestic food and beverage manufacturing. In that context, these new measures will help manufacturers make critical investments to mitigate elevated input costs and continue supplying Canadian families with the affordable, nutritious foods they rely on. 

“Since before the election, our members have been advocating for dedicated support for Canada’s domestic food and beverage manufacturers – most notably through our proposal for a Domestic Processing Fund,” said Kristina Farrell, CEO of Food and Beverage Canada. “We welcome the government’s decision to set aside $500 million from the Strategic Response Fund to help businesses manage supply chain disruptions and invest in capacity, as well as the $150 million Food Security Fund targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises.” 

However, addressing food affordability sustainably will require more than short-term relief measures. Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing industry – the country’s largest manufacturing industry – faces persistent structural challenges, including aging infrastructure, high capital costs, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment that adds costs and delays productivity-enhancing investments, weakening competitiveness. Without target investments and regulatory reform to modernize facilities and expand domestic processing capacity, long-term affordability will remain at risk. 

Food and Beverage Canada looks forward to working with the federal government and contributing to the development of a National Food Security Strategy, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic food and beverage manufacturing. 

About Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC): Food and Beverage Canada is the national industry association representing Canada’s domestic food and beverage manufacturers. FBC-ABC works with members, provincial and regional associations, and government to advance policies that support a competitive industry that provides safe, high-quality food for Canadians and global markets.  

Media contact: 
Kristina Farrell 
CEO, Food and Beverage Canada 
613-322-9235