Feds, Ontario to invest $127K in Belleville, Ont. chocolatier
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Donini Chocolate to scale up, focus on exporting with funding stream
BELLEVILLE, Ont.—The Canadian and Ontario governments are sweet on Bay of Quinte chocolate.
To help increase productivity and create new jobs, the federal and provincial governments have announced $127,000 in funding for Belleville, Ont.’s Donini Chocolate. The company produces the sweet cocoa treat in liquid form—shipping 1.8 million kilograms of milk chocolate via tankers to Canadian and international customers every year.
“The agri-food processing sector is of vital importance to Canada’s economy,” Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s minister of Agriculture, said. “Investments in this industry are helping to drive growth, foster innovation and create new market opportunities.”
The funds will contribute to Donini’s expansion plans—boosting its processing capacity and U.S. sales efforts, as well as creating five new full-time jobs. The company’s president, Joe Pulla, said the investment has already helped Donini secure a new contract with a large American retail client.
The investment was made available through Ontario’s food processor growth program, Growing Forward 2.
