Canada’s food manufacturers grow sales, despite challenges: FCC report

Buoyed by pent-up demand and greater selling prices, Canada’s foods manufacturing market done well in 2021, according to the most recent FCC Yearly Food stuff Report.

Food stuff manufacturing profits increased 14.8 for every cent to additional than $125 billion in 2021 and are projected to improve 7.4 for each cent in 2022. Past 12 months was the strongest calendar year-more than-12 months product sales growth recorded due to the fact 1992.

“Consumers appeared to unleash strong disposable incomes and gathered price savings throughout the pandemic in 2021,” explained J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist in speaking to this year’s report. “This resulted in increased foodservice volumes that far more than offset quantity declines at grocery retailers.”

In addition, a robust export market contributed to an estimated 36.8 for each cent of revenue. Overall, Canadian food stuff production exports grew by 16.9 for each cent in 2021, pushed by bigger costs and powerful desire for nutritious and substantial-high quality foods. Export development came from the United States, Mexico, Philippines and South Korea. Conversely, exports to China declined in excess of 16 for every cent on lessen pork desire.

Food items imports greater in 2021, albeit advancement was at a much more modest tempo of 3.6 per cent. Most imports came from U.S. suppliers, but also from a range of other nations, led by China, Brazil and Italy.

The share of domestic use of Canadian made food stuff also climbed by virtually two for each cent in 2021, immediately after declining the two preceding many years. This boost was largely due to a mixture of a “buy local” solution by lots of, as nicely as amplified investments in marketing and advertising and operational effectiveness by manufacturers.

“The sturdy development we’ve witnessed in Canada’s meals sector is mainly a reflection of innovation, resiliency and the means to rapidly adapt to the transforming economic atmosphere,” Gervais said. “This has enabled most food manufacturers to conquer major difficulties posed by the pandemic, these types of as increased input fees, amplified labour shortages and shifting consumer consumption developments.

The report notes that whilst gross margins enhanced a little bit in 2021, meals manufacturers go on to battle to thoroughly go on better labour and product prices. Inflation is also predicted to be above the Financial institution of Canada’s target rate for most of 2022, which will generate interest charge improves.

“Inflation is starting to diminish the paying for electric power of several homes and the progress in 2022 will count on quite a few other components, these kinds of as the evolution of the pandemic and how organizations adapt to curiosity price raises and elevated input expenses,” Gervais said. “But if the past is any indication of the upcoming, Canada’s meals processors will go on to take benefit of the quite a few prospects that exist amid the several troubles.”

The FCC Once-a-year Food Report functions insights and analysis on grain and oilseed milling dairy, meat, sugar, confectionery, bakery and tortilla merchandise seafood planning and fruit, vegetable and specialty food items. FCC Economics will be releasing a different report on Canada’s beverage production sector later this 12 months.

By sharing agriculture economic awareness and forecasts, FCC provides reliable insights and skills to enable those in the business of agriculture and foodstuff realize their objectives. For far more economic insights and evaluation, check out FCC Economics at fcc.ca/Economics.