Why Northwest Ohio
Cultivating the Regional
Food Processing Industry
Northwest Ohio has many of the primary advantages for businesses to flourish in food processing, including workforce, fresh water, logistics, abundant/affordable natural gas and proximity to market. But just as important, this region brings forth an agricultural heritage built around experience, pride and ingenuity – characteristics which have elevated Northwest Ohio into a leading location for investment in the food industry.
Northwest Ohio Food Processing Industry – Quick Facts
Food processing workforce of 16,000
300 food/ag companies
CIFT kitchen incubator helps accelerate startups
Home to the world’s largest soup plant
Home to the largest ketchup factory in U.S.
Lowest taxes in Midwest for food/ag industry
74,000 farms, 14 million acres of agriculture statewide
What They’re Saying
“You’ve got efficient access to a lot of big markets but yet you’ve got a lot of the benefits of operating in a small town, matched with a workforce that’s passionate about the business.”