Food Producers & Agri-Food
BBN Labs helps food businesses grow beyond the farm gate or the first retail shelf. That means packaging and brand design, product photography, e-commerce and wholesale ordering, and export-readiness groundwork. Agri-food has dedicated funding streams in every province. Before you spend, we screen your project against programs that may apply, subject to intake timing and program rules.
Pain points
What food business owners tell us
Packaging undersells the product
The product holds its own against bigger brands, but the label does not. Redesigns feel daunting once bilingual labelling and nutrition requirements enter the picture.
Wholesale runs on texts and memory
Standing orders, weekly counts and price lists live in phone threads. Errors creep in. Growth multiplies the chaos faster than the revenue.
Margins are squeezed at both ends
Input, packaging and energy costs keep rising while retail price points stay sticky. Refrigeration or processing equipment quietly compounds the pressure.
Harvest peaks with no direct channel
When product is most abundant, there is no pre-order or e-commerce pipeline ready to capture demand. Peak supply meets improvised selling.
Upgrade paths
Where to start, in order
- 01
Look like the shelf leader
Brand, packaging design and product photography that hold their own beside national brands. Built around the label content you are required to carry.
- 02
Sell direct and wholesale, online
E-commerce for consumers, pre-orders for market days and a proper wholesale ordering flow replace the text-message order book.
- 03
Prepare for bigger markets
Export-readiness groundwork, energy efficiency in processing and storage, and staff training that scales with your ambitions.
Funding categories
Programs that may relate
Agri-food, export and rural development programs may support some food business projects, subject to intake timing and program rules. Eligible costs vary widely by program, so we screen before you commit.
120 verified programs across Canada may apply to a food business right now. Here are examples from different provinces — check your funding fit to see the ones your province offers.
Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) for Northern Ontario
Up to 50% of costs
This Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario program helps for-profit and not-for-profit organizations build or adopt AI. You…
Last verified July 2, 2026
Advancing Agri-Food Processing
Up to $50,000
Boost your production capacity and efficiency with cost-share funding for equipment upgrades or process analysis. This program helps New Brunswick…
Last verified July 2, 2026
Horticulture Diversification Program
Up to $40,000
Expand your PEI horticulture business with cost-share funding for infrastructure and agronomic services. You pay upfront and get reimbursed for…
Last verified July 2, 2026
Food and Beverage Industry Financing (FCC)
Access tailored financing from Farm Credit Canada to build, expand, or equip your food and beverage operation anywhere in Canada. This loan supports…
Last verified July 2, 2026
Retrofit Program
Up to 50% of costs
The Retrofit Program helps Ontario businesses lower operating costs by covering up to 50% of eligible energy-efficiency upgrades like lighting, HVAC,…
Last verified July 2, 2026
takeCHARGE Business Efficiency Program
Up to $100,000
TakeCHARGE helps commercial businesses in Newfoundland and Labrador reduce energy consumption through tailored efficiency projects. You receive a…
Last verified July 2, 2026
Solutions
Built for food businesses
Branding, Print & Promotional Materials
Logos, brand guidelines, menus, cards and print that match your storefront. One consistent identity everywhere.
E-commerce & Online Catalogues
Online stores and product catalogues that sell. Shopify, WooCommerce or custom, with payments, shipping and training.
Photography, Video & Drone Media
Food, product, storefront and aerial media that makes everything else work harder: site, menus, ads, signage.
Export Readiness & Market Diversification
Market-specific websites, translated marketing materials, catalogues and B2B portals, built the way export programs expect.
Business Websites
Fast, search-ready websites your customers can actually use. Built, hosted and maintained by one accountable team.
Packages
Bundles that fit
Export Market Launch Package
A business ready to sell beyond its home market, with materials, systems and paperwork in order.
Details →Website & E-commerce Growth Package
A website that earns its keep: found locally and easy to buy from.
Details →Business Launch Package
Everything a new business needs to open its doors looking established.
Details →Where you are
Funding and upgrades in your province
Frequently asked questions
Can you help us get retail-ready or export-ready?
We handle the commercial groundwork: brand and packaging design, product photography, a website buyers take seriously, e-commerce or wholesale ordering, and export-readiness research and materials. Food-safety certifications, labelling compliance and regulatory approvals remain with you and your food-safety advisors, though we design packaging around the label content you provide. Where export programs may apply, we screen fit and point to official sources.
Is there funding for packaging, branding or marketing work?
Sometimes, usually inside a bigger project. Marketing and brand costs have at times been eligible within agri-food, export-development or regional programs rather than as standalone grants, and each program defines eligible costs differently. Intakes open and close through the year. We screen your project against current programs, flag what the rules appear to cover, and you confirm the details with the administrator.
We mostly sell at farmers' markets. Does e-commerce make sense for us?
Often, in a focused form. Pre-orders for market pickup, seasonal boxes and local delivery let you capture demand during harvest peaks without building a national shipping operation. It also keeps customers ordering between market days. We usually recommend starting with a simple ordering setup, proving demand, and only adding shipping complexity when the numbers support it.
Upgrade your food business
Tell us about your business and project. You get a practical plan, a clear quote, and an honest read on which programs may help pay. It's all free, with nothing to lose.
Free No obligation Reply within 1 business day
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Final decisions are made solely by each program administrator.