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The impact of COVID-19 on the food industry in Canada with the help of PR Agencies

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Charlotte Leung

By Charlotte Leung,Contributor” on April 21, 2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic over three years caused a significant impact on the food industry in Canada, as it did worldwide. With the specialty of Canada’s agriculture and food industry in Canada as a diverse and significant sector of the economy ranging from agriculture and food processing to distribution, retail, and food service, the food industry needs help to pick up the business routine and adapt back to the new normal. PR agencies are therefore vital in supporting food businesses, helping them to promote the business in providing food to the Canadian population and even fostering the country’s economic growth and international trade. Before digging deep into the help PR can offer, we can first investigate the Canadian food industry’s key aspects.
Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area covering approximately 9.98 million square kilometres. The vast land stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and borders the United States and diverse climate conditions give it an advantage in producing a variety of crops and livestock, including grains, oilseeds, fruits and meat. Food processing is an essential part of the Canadian food industry, converting raw agricultural products into consumable goods.
The sector includes industries such as meat and poultry processing, dairy processing, grain milling, bakery products, and beverage manufacturing. After producing the food, Canada has an advantage in distributing them with a well-built transportation system. The processing facilities allow Canada to store food products for wholesalers, transportation companies, and warehousing providers. As an essential player in the global food market, not only does Canada provide food for Canadians, but also exports to countries worldwide. Within Canada, the Canadian food industry with the variety of grocery stores, supermarkets and specialty food retailers and the rise of e-commerce and online grocery shopping serves as a platform for consumers to purchase a wide variety of food products. Canada also has high regard for its regulatory practices from federal and provincial agencies to ensure food safety, quality and fair practices such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada, and local ministries of agriculture and health.

With the importance of the Canadian food industry in providing food for the nation and worldwide with its contribution to the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on the food industry in Canada alongside changes in technological advancements, global market dynamics, supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, consumer behaviour shifts, and stringent health and safety regulations.

With the impact of COVID-19, the global supply chain has been disrupted and resulting in delays or shortages of raw materials, ingredients and packaging supplies for food businesses and even temporarily closing down certain product offerings.

Apart from food shortages, there are also issues with labour shortages in food processing plants and agricultural sectors due to worker illness, quarantine measures and travel restrictions resulting in a reduced workforce. COVID-19 enhances people’s awareness of health and safety regulations where food businesses are required to implement strict health and safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This included increased sanitization measures, social distancing protocols, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers which increases operational costs and logistical challenges.

Consumers are now more drawn towards local food systems where food security is ensured. Furthermore, they have started to shift their consuming behaviour to their preference for online grocery shopping, home cooking, meal kits and food delivery services. This quick change requires food businesses to adapt quickly and invest in e-commerce, digital marketing, and new product development to meet changing consumer demands.

Hence, the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the Canadian food industry, forcing businesses to adapt quickly to supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, changing consumer behaviour, and new health and safety regulations. Despite these challenges, the industry demonstrated resilience and innovation, with many businesses finding ways to adapt and thrive in the face of adversity.

How PR agencies are helping food businesses adapt to the new normal

With the changes in the important food industry in Canada, many food businesses have to quickly adapt to the new normal and need public relations (PR) agencies in helping them navigate the changing landscape with strategic communication support, crisis management and reputation enhancement. PR agencies can help Canadian food businesses navigate the new normal and recover from the challenges they faced during the crisis for food businesses to adapt and thrive from communication methods, and marketing techniques to employee and company structure.
PR agencies can help food businesses communicate with their customers and stakeholders about changes in their operations, safety measures and product availability. With professionally tailored messages crafted from PR, it can give customers and stakeholders assurance of the food quality. The advance in technology also asks for digital marketing guidance and online presence in optimizing businesses’ websites and utilizing social media platforms to engage with customers to promote their products and services.
Marketing techniques can be used to promote new product launches or services, such as meal kits, ready-to-eat meals, and contactless delivery options, generating buzz and driving customer interest. PR agencies can help to generate buzz and drive customer interest through targeted promotional campaigns. With the change, different issues and crises may arise and PR agencies are there to offer reputation management in addressing any negative sentiment or misinformation that could impact the brands. With monitoring from PR, they are there to handle crisis communications, coordinate media interviews and craft timely press releases to maintain a positive brand image.
To improve brand image, PR agencies will advise businesses to engage in the community such as supporting frontline workers, donating to charitable organizations and providing assistance to vulnerable populations. Not only can these ways build goodwill for the company, but also strengthen relationships with its customers.

Sustainability is a crucial focus nowadays as well where PR agencies can help food businesses to highlight their commitments to sustainable practices, local sourcing, and reducing food waste which resonates with customers during the pandemic about environmental and social issues. Communication within the company cannot be neglected as well and this is where PR agencies can come in to guide food businesses to communicate effectively with their employees. 

This guidance ranges from safety protocols, changes in operations and any other pandemic-related updates to maintain employee morale and productivity during challenging times. By providing these essential services, PR agencies can help food businesses in Canada navigate challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. To position them for success in the post-pandemic era and maintain the food industry in Canada as a significant sector of the economy, positioning for success in the evolving market landscape.

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