Ford in Pickering Monday for Wonderbrand groundbreaking
Published July 14, 2023 at 3:44 pm
Premier Doug Ford will be back in Pickering Monday for the groundbreaking of the Wonderbrands Innovation Business Park in Seaton.
Once full build-out is complete, the business park will be the largest food manufacturing campus in the GTA, as well as one of the largest employers in Pickering with 3,000 new hires.
The first phase of development, located at the south-west corner of Highway 7 and Whites Road, will consist of three manufacturing plants and a distribution centre, with an overall gross floor area of more than one million square feet.
The Province and the City completed the sale of 151 acres of provincial lands in Pickering’s Innovation Corridor to FGF Brands in the spring to make the development of the high-tech Wonderbrands food manufacturing campus happen.
FGF Brands is the largest producer of fresh breads, rolls, croissants, fully baked muffins, and sweet goods in North America, and has become a global leader in using robotics, integrated AI systems, machine learning and supply chain innovations in their operations. Some of its brands include Wonder Bread, D’Italiano, Country Harvest, Casa Mendosa, Gadoua, Stonefire, and ACE.
FGF Brands’ acquisition represents the largest provincial transaction to date on the Seaton employment lands.
“We are thrilled to announce this landmark investment,” enthused Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe in April. “This is truly an exciting time for our city as this deal represents just one of many that will bring jobs, prestige, and economic strength to Pickering.”
Pickering has been “aggressively marketing” the Innovation Corridor of late, Ashe said, citing Seaton’s “superior logistics” and access to major highways, rail lines and GO Transit and three airports within an hour’s drive.
“We are committed to investing in partnerships and economic development initiatives that will attract as many jobs as possible for our residents now and into the future.”
Seaton, when it is completely built out, is expected to house 70,000 residents and provide 35,000 jobs.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Monday.
