RecruitNOW, a recently launched workforce development initiative, is now providing recruitment support specifically to Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry. The program, delivered through CareersNOW, offers free services to help employers connect with qualified candidates and access training resources.
Program Background and Scope
CareersNOW is Food and Beverage Ontario’s flagship workforce development initiative. Created in 2021, it helps to address growing workforce shortages in the provincial food and beverage processing sector. The program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. It serves an industry that represents over 4,000 businesses across the province.
The RecruitNOW component launched personalized on-site sessions beginning June 1, 2025. Program representatives visit employer facilities to introduce available resources during one-hour meetings that include a provided lunch.
Available Resources and Services
The initiative provides access to a candidate pool of over 8,700 jobseekers and students, many with industry-specific training in food and beverage processing. Services include virtual job fairs featuring approximately 150 candidates each, free and discounted job postings, and wage subsidies of up to $7,000 per student for co-op placements.
Additional program elements include fully funded employee skills training, monthly labour market reports, and company spotlight opportunities through CareersNOW marketing channels. The program also offers employer mentorship series focused on HR best practices and workplace culture development.
Industry Response
According to Sarab Hans, CEO of Hans Dairy, “Many businesses in Ontario are like Hans Dairy, focused on making great food for Canadians but with limited time or expertise to connect with job seekers. CareersNOW is making certain that people developing their careers have every opportunity to match their skill sets and ambitions with employers in our sector.”
Laura Fineberg, VP of Human Resources at Give & Go Prepared Foods, noted that “CareersNOW has provided numerous partnering opportunities and collaborative avenues to build our Give & Go brand to prospective candidates, and to establish another channel to identify early talent.”
Relevance to Norfolk County
Norfolk County’s strategic location and established agricultural infrastructure make it well-positioned for food and beverage processing operations. The county’s proximity to major transportation routes supports distribution to North American markets, with over 150 million consumers within one day’s drive.
Food and beverage processing businesses in Norfolk County can create employer accounts and schedule RecruitNOW sessions through the program website at careersnow.ca/employers/. The initiative represents a systematic approach to addressing workforce challenges facing the food processing sector across Ontario.
To learn about other government assistance programs, visit: https://norfolkbusiness.ca/governmental-assistance-programs/.