Manitoba association pitches CentrePort for national food terminal

A Manitoba association is vying for federal dollars to build a major food terminal as Ottawa unrolls its national food security strategy.

Michael Mikulak, head of industry advocate group Food & Beverage Manitoba, said he’s in talks with several federal departments.

He’s envisioning a 120,000-square-foot site at CentrePort Canada, the trimodal inland port spanning parts of Winnipeg and the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

About 15,000 sq. ft. would become a production-focused commercial kitchen for Manitoba companies to rent as they grow. A warehouse to store and distribute food — from Manitoba and elsewhere — would consume most of the building, Mikulak said.

He’s in talks with a Manitoba-based food distributor and potential partner. “It is a truly transformational project.”

Ottawa unveiled its national food security strategy in June.

The document highlights intentions for three food terminals nationally, where products are gathered and then dispersed to wholesalers, offering an alternate to current grocery store providers.

The strategy doesn’t say how much money will be allotted to the terminals. It outlines a 10-year, $1-billion fund for food distribution systems.

Prime Minister Mark Carney launched his food strategy at the Ontario Food Terminal and promised an expansion. The Toronto facility moves more than two billion pounds of fruits and vegetables annually.

Mikulak says he hopes Manitoba will house one of the other two sites.

He pointed to the province’s transportation network: CentrePort connects companies via rail, air and road. It’s signed an agreement to work closely with Arctic Gateway Group, which oversees the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway in northern Manitoba.

“Manitoba can position itself not just as a gateway to the east and west and south … but to the North and eventually through that northern Arctic gateway, to Europe and other parts of the world,” Mikulak said.

“I want to see us competing and bringing in international dollars.”

Mikulak said he’s conversing with entities including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and he’s going to Ottawa this month to meet with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

He’s estimating the project cost will range between $150 million and $200 million. A mix of public and private funding would be required, Mikulak said.

“Manitoba can position itself not just as a gateway to the east and west and south … but to the North and eventually through that northern Arctic gateway.”

He’s aiming to have a complete proposal to government by the end of the year.

Food & Beverage Manitoba has long called for a rentable commercial kitchen stocked with equipment seen on factory production floors, such as packaging machines. It planned to build a site inside Market Lands, a mixed-use development in the Exchange District in Winnipeg.

That fell through last year due to costs, Mikulak said.

“(We’d be) building off of assets we already have and moving as quickly as possible,” he said.

Most of the association’s 350 members are part of the “missing middle.” They’ve outgrown farmers’ markets and small retailers but can’t afford the set-up required to go national or international, Mikulak said.

The plan would involve charging renters more once they’ve grown, encouraging them to leave and make room for new businesses. They’d have access to food stored on site, Mikulak said.

Part of the hub would include programming such as business planning; a business adviser would be on site to assist with growth.

Ottawa has set a goal of breaking ground on the food terminals by the end of 2028.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com