Third Annual Food and Beverage Processing Summit

Hosted by the City of Brampton, on September 19, 2025, the 3rd Annual Food and Beverage Processing Summit gathered Mayor Patrick Brown, Brampton Councillors, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, the Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, and leading voices from the food and beverage business to discuss challenges and opportunities in the global food and beverage sector, with a focus on global growth, innovation, and sector development.

Photo Highlights From The Event

Event Agenda: Mayor Brown’s Third Annual Food and Beverage Processing Summit

Agenda

10:00 a.m. – Doors Open / Registration / Tradeshow Exhibits

• Networking, refreshments and tradeshow exhibits open

10:30 a.m. – Land Acknowledgement

• Regional Councillor and Chair Economic Development, Gurpartap Singh Toor, City of Brampton

Opening Remarks

• Mayor Patrick Brown, City of Brampton
• The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament, Brampton East

10:40 a.m. – Keynote Address – Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

• Introduction by Regional Councillor and Chair Economic Development, Gurpartap Singh Toor, City of Brampton 
• Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University: Join renowned food industry expert Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, often referred to as ‘The Food Professor’, as he explores the evolving dynamics of food sector competitiveness. Drawing on global insights and cutting-edge research, Dr. Charlebois will uncover the trends, challenges, and strategies shaping the future of food and beverage processing in Canada and beyond.

11:10 a.m. – Panel Discussion: Compete, Diversify, Transform: Shaping Canada’s Global Food Future

• Panel Discussion moderated by Brad Bida, Partner at MNP, in conversation with industry leaders exploring strategies from Brampton on how Canadian food companies can lead globally through innovation, diversification, and collaboration. Insights from MNP’s “Global Agri-Food – Most Influential Nations Ranking” report will also be highlighted.
• Panelists:
  • Ashley Kanary, Director, Global Agri-Food at Export Development Canada
  • Kiran Mann, CEO, Brar’s
  • Brad Bida, Partner, MNP
  • Alain Brandon, Vice President, Sustainability, Social Impact & Gov’t Relation, Loblaw Companies Limited

11:30 a.m. – Networking Break: Tradeshow Exhibits Re-Open

12:00 p.m. – Case Study Discussion – Leading the Charge: Energy, Climate, and the Business of Food

• Case study discussion with Maple Lodge Farms and Matt Brunette, Program Manager, Energy Performance, Partners in Project Green exploring how industry leaders are driving energy performance and climate action through innovation in Canada’s food processing sector.

12:20 p.m. – Economic Overview and Outlook 2026

• Economic Overview and Outlook with BDC’s Chief Economist, Pierre Cléroux

12:40 p.m. – Sponsor Remarks 

• Oz Zafar, Vice President TD Commercial Banking  

12:43 p.m. – Convertus York Biofuel Facility Remarks

• Arun Gudla, Vice President Strategic initiatives, Convertus Group 

12:45 p.m. – Remarks

• The Honourable David Piccini, Ontario Minister Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

12:42 p.m. – Closing Remarks

• Mayor Patrick Brown, City of Brampton

12:55 p.m. – Networking Lunch and Tradeshow Exhibits Re-Open

2:00 p.m. – Event Concludes

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Note: Various services and programs will be showcased at exhibitor resource tables during  

registration, networking break and lunch.  

1. Invest Brampton Photo Booth   

2. BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)  

3. Bluicity 

4. Canadian Food Innovation Network 

5. Crawford Packaging 

6. Enabled Talent 

7. FoodGrads + CareersNOW  

8. Food Processing Skills Canada 

9. MNP  

10. Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) 

11. Ontario Chamber of Commerce 

12. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness 

13. Partners in Project Green 

14. Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst 

15. TD Commercial Banking 

Click here for the second annual Brampton Food and Beverage Processing Summit highlights

Read more about Brampton’s Food and Beverage Processing Sector.