5 Questions Food Companies Should Ask Before Choosing Their Next Expansion Location

For food and beverage companies, choosing where to expand in North America is about much more than finding a building and getting products to market.

The right location can determine how efficiently you source ingredients, access talent, develop new products, manage costs and reach customers. As companies rethink supply chains and look for new ways to build resilience and capture more value, location is a strategic decision.

From my conversations with companies across the seafood, agri-food and aquaculture sectors, I see five questions that should be at the centre of any North American expansion decision.

1. Can we get closer to the resources and ingredients that give our products an advantage?

For food companies, proximity to supply matters.Being closer to high-quality agricultural products, seafood and other natural resources can create opportunities to improve supply chain control, reduce costs, develop new products and capture more value through processing.

Nova Scotia has a particularly strong foundation in seafood, agriculture and aquaculture. The province is Canada's #1 seafood exporter, with $2.2 billion in fish and seafood exports to more than 65 countries in 2025. Nova Scotia also exported $532 million in agri-food products to more than 75 countries that year.
There is growing potential to move further up the value chain, from seafood processing and ready-to-eat products to functional ingredients, nutraceuticals, extracts, fermentation and other value-added applications.

For companies looking to build a North American operation, establishing production closer to supply can mean greater control over inputs while opening new opportunities for product development and differentiation.

2. Can the local ecosystem help us scale?

A new facility is only part of an expansion. Companies need suppliers, partners, researchers, technical expertise, processing capabilities and people who understand their industry.

Nova Scotia brings many of these capabilities together within a relatively concentrated ecosystem. Across food, seafood and agriculture, companies can access established processing infrastructure alongside expertise in areas such as biofermentation, extraction, freeze-drying, nutraceuticals and marine bioproduct development.

Applied research is another important part of the equation. Organizations including Perennia, the Verschuren Centre, Dalhousie University and federal research centres work with industry to help companies solve technical challenges, improve processes and bring products toward commercialization.

For an expanding company, that ecosystem can reduce the distance between an idea and a commercial product.

3. Can we build a competitive operation and find the people to run it?

Food manufacturing is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Automation, advanced processing, biotechnology, quality control and product innovation are changing the skills companies need. Finding a location with access to people who can support both today's operation and tomorrow's growth is critical.
Nova Scotia's food and seafood ecosystem includes a workforce experienced across food production, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.

The province also offers access to a broader talent pipeline through its universities, colleges and applied research organizations.

For companies considering a new North American facility, that combination matters. In Nova Scotia you can build a talent base that will support the operation as it grows.

4. Can this location help us reach more markets?

Nova Scotia's location on Canada's Atlantic coast provides access to established transportation networks connecting businesses to markets across North America and internationally. The province has ice-free ports, road, rail and air connections, including daily air service to Europe, Asia and North America.
That makes Nova Scotia an interesting option for companies looking to establish a North American base while maintaining connections with European and other international markets. And for food companies, diversification can be particularly valuable.

Nova Scotia's agrifood and seafood sectors are already highly export-oriented, with products reaching markets around the world. The province's new 2026–2029 Seafood Sector Strategy also places a strong focus on market and product diversification, value-added processing, innovation and operational efficiency.

5. Can we find the right partners to help make the expansion happen?

Perhaps the most overlooked question in site selection is also one of the most important: Who will help us navigate the expansion?

Entering a new country or establishing a new production footprint involves more than selecting a site. Companies need to understand regulations, workforce requirements, infrastructure, incentives, supply chains and potential partners.

That's where having an investment attraction partner can make all the difference. At Invest Nova Scotia, my role is to work with international companies exploring opportunities in seafood, agrifood and aquaculture and help connect them with the people, resources and opportunities they need to evaluate and be successful in Nova Scotia.

That can include identifying potential sites and partners, understanding the sector ecosystem, exploring incentives and connecting companies with the right organizations across government, industry and research.

Expansion doesn't have to mean choosing the biggest market or the largest industrial centre. Sometimes the better opportunity is finding a location where resources, infrastructure, talent, innovation and market access come together in a way that supports long-term growth.

That's what makes Nova Scotia worth a closer look.

Considering your next expansion?

If you're evaluating locations for food processing, ingredient production, seafood value-added operations, aquaculture or other food and beverage investments, I'd be happy to talk about what Nova Scotia could offer your business.

Connect with me to explore expansion opportunities in Nova Scotia.