Private-label producer opens plant in Ontario

Cobourg, Ont. – Iceland’s Bakkavor, an international supplier of fresh prepared foods and produce, has opened its first Canadian facility in Cobourg, Ont.

Bakkavor Foods Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Bakkavor USA Inc., will produce 80 products for the Canadian market, including Italian and Asian meals, soups, sauces and side salads.

According to the company, the 70,000-sq.-ft. facility will supply one of the country’s largest grocery retailers. Bakkavor also notes that the Cobourg location will allow it easy access to target markets in the Greater Toronto Area.

Bakkavor has 57 operations in 10 different countries, and works with eight of the world’s top 10 grocery retailers. It currently produces more than 6,000 fresh prepared food products in 18 product categories.

“Our entry into the Canadian retail market reflects Bakkavor’s long-term strategy to be a leading supplier of fresh prepared foods,” says Bakkavor CEO Agust Gudmundsson. “We are focused on maintaining a selective approach to capital investment where we can support retail customers as they seek to expand and grow their business. This entry is a prime example on where we have been able to do this, using the strong market and operational expertise we have developed in our existing market.”