$500,000 for family-owned wholesale bakery to install leading-edge equipment and quadruple production
January 12, 2022 - Barrie, Ontario
Canada's food and beverage producers are vital to our nation's food security and economic stability. The Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), is committed to ensuring businesses have the tools they need to scale up and create new jobs and opportunities as communities continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced a $500,000 repayable contribution for Zappia Fine Foods Ltd., operating as Via Oliveto Bakery. This funding will allow the company to outfit its new Barrie facility with a leading-edge bakery production line, including a tunnel oven and mixer. With this support, Via Oliveto Bakery will quadruple its production, launch new products such as flatbread pretzels, and secure new contracts with large retailers. The contribution will leverage $1.5 million in private investment.
This family-owned and operated company began in 1988 when Pasquale Zappia started baking artisanal flatbreads from his home basement for Toronto-area hotels, restaurants and businesses. The company now employs four people and is expected to add two new jobs to its roster.
This expansion project will allow the wholesale bakery to pursue market growth opportunities and drive economic growth in the region. Rachel Zappia, manager of Via Oliveto Bakery, is from the M'Chigeeng First Nation and leads the company's new inclusive hiring plan of Indigenous Peoples, which is a direct result of this funding.
Today's announcement reinforces the Government of Canada's commitment to supporting Canadian businesses and stimulating job creation in our communities as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
