Canada runs on its own rules. Regional differences can sideline brands that come in unprepared. Master them early and the opportunity is massive.
Avoid expensive missteps and grow without losing what made your brand work in the first place.
In a country with 100,000+ foodservice locations generating over $124B in sales, our coast-to-coast footprint and local relationships mean you can scale quickly, the right way.
We stay locked in with operators and distributors, pushing until products stick, deals get signed, and orders keep coming.
Our dedicated BI team uses global and regional industry and trend data to find high-value accounts you’re not reaching, prioritized by segment, local market, and GPO or FSM.
We pair in-person selling with tools and solutions operators count on to grow accounts and drive engagement, so sales keep moving when we’re not in the room.
Turn food shows and trade spend into sales. CORE helps manage your trade and program spends, so nothing gets missed and investments drive better returns.
IN GREAT HANDS
EXPLORE FURTHER
Curious about expanding internationally?
How strong is CORE's presence in Canada?
We are well established in Canada. CORE works day-to-day with all major national foodservice distributors, including Sysco Canada and Gordon Food Service, plus key independent and regional partners like Greenbridge, Flanagan’s, Pratts, Yen Bros., Colabor, Mayrand, FLB Solutions Alimentaires, and Dubé Loiselle.
Our teams collaborate directly with distributor partners to position products, align by region, and keep momentum moving after products land.
How is your Canadian sales team structured?
CORE runs coordinated coverage across the U.S. and Canada aligned by geography, distributor, and operator segment. That gives manufacturers:
You get a scale and unified plan without losing the local nuance.
What’s different between the U.S. and Canadian foodservice markets?
Pricing, case packs, labeling, distributor expectations, and buying dynamics all vary. Execution has to reflect that.
Canada’s market is smaller than the U.S., but more concentrated in four growth regions: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta. Fewer national distributors and operators control a large share of volume, making access, compliance, and relationships critical. Missteps are harder to recover from.
Beyond restaurants, foodservice includes institutional channels like healthcare, education, and business dining. At the same time, ready‑to‑eat and ready‑to‑heat meals are growing through grocery and convenience stores, creating new crossover opportunities for brands that are positioned right.
French language and packaging regulations are non-negotiable, especially in Quebec.
What does a realistic go-to-market path look like in Canada?
Most brands start by identifying one or two priority regions or segments where their product is the strongest fit. From there, distributor alignment, operator approvals, and getting packaging, pricing, and specs right. Brands then expand, leveraging early wins to unlock broader distribution. CORE helps brands build momentum without overextending.
Can CORE help my brand gain initial distribution in Canada?
CORE delivers the most value once distribution is in place. If you’re still working toward initial distribution, we can help you assess readiness and where to focus.
If you already have distribution, CORE brings the field execution, distributor alignment, and local relationships needed to drive velocity.
Get selling across Canada.
