Ontario food manufacturer receives more than $1.9M from feds for automation

A Norwich, Ontario food manufacturer is receiving more than $1.9 million from the federal government to automate its process with a new production and packaging line.

Established in 1984, Schep’s Bakeries Ltd. is a family-owned manufacturer of Double Dutch Syrup Waffles and other private-label waffle cookies.

The new automation will quadruple the company’s current output, allow Schep’s to fill larger orders, and increase its market reach domestically and internationally.

The funding, provided by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, will create 17 new full-time jobs and triple the company’s supply chain spending in the Oxford County region by 2021.

Founder Arie Schep and his sons Jacco, Peter and Jonathan are in the midst of a four-year plan to scale up their production of their “stroopwaffles,” which are sold at grocery stores in Canada and the U.S.

In 2017, the team added 32,000 square feet of production space and two advanced waffle cookie production and packaging lines.

Now, Schep’s Bakeries Ltd. operates from its 52,000-square-foot processing facility with over 60 employees.

“With this project, we can capitalize on significant opportunities to grow our business within the bakery and snack industry of North America,” says Jacco Schep, president of Schep’s Bakeries, in a statement.

“We want to thank Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for sharing our vision for growth and supporting this important project and milestone in our company’s history.”