A Business Development Initiative
of the Alberta Foothills Region

Agriculture Value-Added/Processing

Alberta's food processing sector is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the province. In the past five years, over $1 billion has been invested in Alberta by some of the world's top food processing companies. With only 10% of the population, Alberta accounts for 21% of Canada's total farm cash receipts (Source: Government of Alberta). Alberta’s strategic location, transportation infrastructure and extensive and diverse agriculture staples base crop industry are well-positioned to be further leveraged with investment in value-added activity.

The M.D. of Foothills has a thriving and extensive agricultural base with ready access to Calgary and its superior global transportation linkages. Investment opportunities exist in organic foods, processing, horticulture (flowers, bulbs, berry crops, nurseries, specialty crops and processing), food processing, and food production.

Anchors companies located in the Foothills Region:

• Cargill Foods (established 1989) - beef processor, employs 2,000
• Highwood Distillers (established 1976) - production of broad line of distilled spirits, employs 35
• Rollover Premium Food - production of premium pet food, employs 49
• Anna’s of North America (established 2002) - cookie factory, international company