Food and Beverage

Refrigerated foods in store.

The food and beverage industry has long contributed to the Canadian economy. It’s our country’s largest manufacturing employer and is essential to our daily lives. In addition to traditional food and beverage products, natural health products, such as vitamins, minerals and homeopathic medicines, are surging in popularity.

This is also a sector full of opportunities. Artificial intelligence is making manufacturing more efficient and productive. Emerging companies bring fresh ideas and game-changing technologies to consumers and established players. Increasing consolidation through M&A activity could bring even greater economies of scale to this industry, delivering value and allowing for more R&D investments.

Businesses in this industry are not without its challenges, including high regulatory and administrative costs and intricate and overlapping regulations at various levels of government. Supply chain disruptions and changing customer behaviours are putting pressure on old business methods.

How we can help

Osler’s food and beverage law practice provides practical legal solutions covering the issues that matter to you. Our team works with a wide variety of clients in the food, beverage and natural health product sectors, helping them expand into new markets, navigate regulatory requirements, and identify and mitigate potential risks. Our lawyers can help develop procedures to reduce risk and exposure, engage with regulators, including Health Canada, and vigorously defend claims in an increasingly litigious consumer market. Osler has extensive experience in the food and beverage industry in all aspects of the supply chain and across various dispute-resolution processes. From franchise litigation to product liability and class actions, our team of lawyers is here to support the needs of your business.

Download