Restaurant Canada Show to feature Ukrainian business owner who saw opportunity in northern Ontario

May 9, 2022

Restaurant Canada show has northern Ontario representation

Dimitry Korotkin and Oleksandr Zahrebelnyi of Canada Meat Group at the Restaurant Canada Show Monday May 9, 2022


Sault Ste. Marie, ON, May 9, 2022 – After having established Lans Trans Ltd; a meat processing plant, abattoir, and a fully-fledged cattle operation in Kiev, Ukraine, Oleksandr Zahrebelnyi saw an opportunity to establish in North Bay, Ontario. As a highly regulated supplier of high quality, halal-certified Canadian beef products, Canada Meat Group operates a meat processing plant and cold storage facility out of the northern Ontario location. Their goal is to increase availability and sales of high-quality meat, Kosher meat products and Halal meat products in Ontario, across Canada and globally through exportation to countries in the Middle East and Asia.


Despite facing challenges presented by the conflict in Ukraine and the onset of Covid-19, Canada Meat Group has reached great success in obtaining new customers across Ontario, especially with northern Ontario businesses who are excited to work with the new start-up.

“Finding skilled employees has been a challenge,” says Tia Dave, Finance Manager of Canada Meat Group, “We welcome the opportunity to hire skilled candidates from Ontario and the Ukraine. Ukraine is home to many skilled people in the meat industry but due to the war, immigration procedures have become more difficult.”


The company places emphasis on direct cooperation with farmers, producing environmentally friendly products, that uses the latest technology to create a superior product. More recently, the company has been exploring the establishment of an abattoir in the North Bay region that would fit into Canada Meat Group’s value chain.


“Having a complimentary abattoir in the region is a great opportunity for Northeastern Ontario famers,” says David Thompson, Manager of the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN). “We wanted to bring Canada Meat Group to the Restaurant Canada Show to help promote their business and share the opportunity for others to work with CMG (Canada Meat Group), and to highlight their latest endeavour, Near North Meats, that offers people the option to shop for clean, locally sourced meat products online.”


The Restaurant Canada Show will host thousands of people in the food industry between May 9-11 and will give business owners like Zahrebelnyi a chance to showcase their products and potentially create new partnerships. Tia Dave shares, “we hope to connect with the retail sector at the show and provide all those interested in learning more about products a chance as we will be featuring products like steaks and burgers.”

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Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program Launches

October 11, 2024
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has launched the Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program to empower agri-food entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario to develop new food products. By offering workshops, training sessions, networking events, and a mentorship program, NOVA aims to equip Northern entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge needed for long-term business growth and sustainability. Supported by $42,080 in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, NOVA will address the critical need for professional development in the agri-food sector. It focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial skills, improving safety and risk management practices, and providing strategies to expand market presence at home and abroad. “The agri-food promise and potential of Northern Ontario is immense, and our government will continue to work with Northern partners like the SSMIC to help seize it,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “NOVA will help unlock more of the huge untapped entrepreneurial energy and ambition of Northern agri-food entrepreneurs to build strong local businesses, create good-paying jobs and strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy.” Program goals include strengthened business capabilities, job creation, and increased economic activity, leading to a more vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector in Northern Ontario. By fostering public engagement with agriculture and local food, NOVA will also contribute to rural development and enhanced community well-being. "Through the NOVA Program, we are excited to provide agri-food entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to thrive," said Peter Bruijns, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. "This initiative not only supports individual businesses but also strengthens our entire region's agricultural ecosystem." For more information visit: https://rainalgoma.ca/programs/the-northern-ontario-value-added-agriculture-nova-training-program/ SSMIC would also like to thank FedNor the Government of Canada, and the Sault Ste Marie Community Development Corporation for their support in this exciting program. 

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