Harper Government Announces Support for Food Safety Manufacturer in Newmarket

NEWMARKET, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 9, 2015) - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

FedDev Ontario Minister of State Gary Goodyear and Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown announced today, on behalf of the Harper Government, an investment of up to $995,000 for Gum Products International Inc. to expand its line of food safety products, introduce a new line of products and extend their global market reach in the food processing and biotechnology sectors.

FedDev Ontario's repayable contribution, through the Investing in Business Growth and Productivity initiative, is aimed at helping established businesses to expand their operations, invest in productivity improvements and compete globally.

Gum Products International Inc. is an innovative manufacturer of food additives for the food processing industry. The company's project includes purchasing new processing equipment to accommodate product expansion and introducing a new food-safety product, to target more food-borne pathogens.

Gum Products International Inc. is one of the few experts in manufacturing food additives with natural ingredients. This investment will allow the company to make improvements to new technology and expand its global markets. This funding will help the company achieve their goal of transitioning from a food additive manufacturer to a biotechnology company. This will also help diversify the biotechnology sector for Newmarket and surrounding areas.

Following the announcement, Minister Goodyear and MP Brown visited BionX Canada Inc., a manufacturer of electric drive systems for bicycles with customers world-wide. In the spring of 2013, the company received a contribution of nearly $31,000 through the Yves Landry Foundation`s AIME Global Initiative to help train its workers.

Quick Facts

- Gum Products International Inc. was founded in 1992 and operates from a 47,586-square foot facility in Newmarket.

- Gum Products International Inc. a Canadian manufacturer of anti-microbial vinegar and bacteria-based ingredients, which are used to protect against food-borne illnesses.

- Funding for this project will allow Gum Products International Inc. to diversify into new markets - as the new line of bacteria-based products will be used to help prevent the development of salmonella and other food-borne pathogens

- Gum Products International Inc. exports 97 percent of their products and will sell their new bacteria-based products to the United States market.

- This project is expected to create up to four full-time, high quality jobs for Newmarket by 2017 and three additional jobs in the two years following the project's completion.

- Investing in Business Growth and Productivity funding is currently available for eligible small- and medium-sized enterprises and not-for-profit industry associations or regional economic development organizations.

Quotes

"Today's announcement speaks to our Government's ongoing commitment to building a strong and competitive manufacturing sector in Ontario, which is vital to our economy. Smart investments, such as this, lead to the development of groundbreaking products and services, and pave the way to economic growth.

- The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

"This investment is excellent news for Newmarket, as it will help grow the health and knowledge-based sectors for this region. This funding will help Gum Products International, a manufacturer for the food processing industry, to expand its product line and extend its reach to the biotechnology sector."

- Lois Brown, Member of Parliament for Aurora-Newmarket

"This funding will allow GPI to effectively implement its plan to bring new innovative products that are leading-edge and novel to the market. Food-borne pathogens and the microbial safety of food are a growing concern worldwide. There is a huge latent demand for these anti-microbial ingredients which are highly effective but totally natural. Our goal is to continue to be pioneers in this niche and this investment will ensure we continue to achieve that."

- Kenneth Tan, Managing Director- Gum Products International Inc.

Related Products

Investing in Business Growth and Productivity Initiative Funding Announcement for Gum Products International Inc.

Associated Links

Investing in Business Growth and Productivity initiative

GPI Inc.

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