Food and Beverage Processor Forum

Growing the Next Generation of Food Industry Leaders

It's no secret that the industry is pressed to attract a sustainable flow of talent to its field. But that's only part of the picture. With intense competition among adjacent industries to attract talent and about a quarter of the workforce set to come to retirement age by 2025, the push is on to engage with promising job seekers. But attracting new talent is one thing—growing the future of industry leaders is another.
 
Chances are, if your career path has led you to a leadership position in your organization—as is the case with many of our listeners—then you know it's not a path you walk alone. There are many people who support you along the way, whether through mentorship, professional development opportunities, or just taking a chance on you. These relationships not only enrich your career journey but play a crucial role in shaping you into the leader you are today. Today's episode is about that journey.
 
Here to help us explore how employers can connect with a young and promising generation, foster an environment where they can flourish, and arm them with the tools and resources to begin shaping their businesses for the better, we are joined by three industry experts who are at the leading edge of employee attraction, retention, and career development.
 
Working passionately to develop food leaders in our region, we welcome FBO's very own Isabel Dopta, Director of Communications. Isabel is also the project lead for CareersNOW!, a platform that connects employers with qualified job seekers in the food and beverage processing sector.
 
We're also joined by Nicole Gallace, who you may know from CareersNOW! Job fairs and mentorship series. Nicole is the founder of FoodGrads, which focuses on closing the gap between students/recent graduates and employers in Food Service & Food Processing. She's an experienced recruiter who's dedicated to helping young professionals find their perfect fit in the food and beverage industry. Nicole's enthusiasm for empowering the next generation of leaders and her deep understanding of the recruitment landscape make her an invaluable resource for both employers and job seekers.
 
Finally, we welcome Karolina Rachtan. Karolina is on the front line of career development and youth engagement. She's a Career Advisor with the U of G since October 2016 and has worked for U of G since 2012. Karolina’s portfolio includes targeted services for students from the Ontario Agricultural College, as well as a focus on students with disabilities. Prior to 2016, she worked as an Employment Counsellor as well as Job Developer within the Employment Ontario sector.
 
Together, we'll have a look at the role mentorship and professional development programs play in cultivating future leaders and explore how employers can create a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in their organizations. Finally, we'll take stock of what's catching the eye of youth entering the workforce, be it the opportunity to work with leading-edge technology that's transforming the sector, an inclusive workplace culture, or a business's commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Let's dive in!
 
About Food and Beverage Ontario
Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. The organization's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector - a $40 billion industry and a major contributor to the province's economy.
To learn more about Food and Beverage Ontario, visit https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/

What the Latest Economic Trends Mean for Food and Beverage Processors

Welcome to another episode of the Food and Beverage Processor Forum! Today we are joined by our guest, JP Gervais, Vice President and Chief Economist at Farm Credit Canada. JP has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to economics and finance, and we are thrilled to have him with us today to discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting the industry.
 
In this episode, we will dive into the topic of rising interest rates and inflation, and how these factors are impacting both processors and consumers. With JP's expertise and insight, we will explore the latest economic trends, what this means for businesses in the food and beverage processing industry, and what we can expect in the future.
 
To learn more about Farm Credit Canada and its resources, visit https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en.html
 
About Food and Beverage Ontario
Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. The organization's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector - a $40 billion industry and a major contributor to the province's economy.
To learn more about Food and Beverage Ontario, visit https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/

Bringing the Labour Market Into Focus

Welcome to the Food and Beverage Processor Forum. A podcast tailor-made for Ontario's food and beverage processors.
In this episode, we're taking stock of the past few years in regard to the industry, labour challenges, and what Food and Beverage Ontario has been working on in 2022 to support Ontario's processors.
To help us contextualize this tectonic shift in the industry, we're joined by Kevin Elder, Project Manager, Labour Market Information with Food Processing Skills Canada.
In discussion with Kevin, we shed some light on the industry's labour gaps—specifically where these gaps lie in relation to the sector's workforce: front line, trades, and management. We also take a look at industry participation rates by demographics. Is the industry making concerted efforts to recruit underrepresented groups, and what role do temporary foreign workers play in the industry?
Kevin studied International Development at the University of Calgary and has lived and worked all over the globe. Kevin joined Food Processing Skills Canada in 2017 and has been leading the organization’s Labour Market Information insights since that time. At FPSC, he coordinates and analyzes the latest qualitative and quantitative information for all industry stakeholders. Kevin also represents FPSC and the industry on a variety of national and regional committees to ensure decision makers have access to the best available information.
To learn more about Food Processing Skills Canada and their work, visit https://fpsc-ctac.com/
 
About Food and Beverage Ontario
Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. The organization's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector - a $40 billion industry and a major contributor to the province's economy.
To learn more about Food and Beverage Ontario, visit https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/

Trailer - Welcome to the Food and Beverage Processor Forum

Welcome to the Food and Beverage Processor Forum. A podcast tailor-made for Ontario's food and beverage processors. Whether you're an owner or an industry professional with a passion for food and business, you've come to the right place. Together with myself, Dyson Wells, and Food and Beverage Ontario's CEO, Christopher Conway,  we'll engage with experts and leaders in the food manufacturing industry to uncover insights that help you run your team and business the way you know it can. We'll explore anything from emerging consumer trends to addressing the industry’s labour challenges. Each episode, we'll also get you up to speed on everything Food and Beverage Ontario has been working on, to keep you informed on the sector and resources to give you the leading edge in labour attraction, business operations, and strategy.
 
You can find a new episode of the Food and Beverage Processor Forum free to stream each month on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcast.
 
About Food and Beverage Ontario
Food and Beverage Ontario is a not-for-profit leadership organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Ontario's food and beverage processors. The organization's focus is on the success, prosperity and growth of the food and beverage processing sector - a $40 billion industry and a major contributor to the province's economy.
To learn more about Food and Beverage Ontario, visit https://foodandbeverageontario.ca/