Brantford, Ont. metal manufacturer investing $85M to create new food packaging facility

Ontario Premier Doug Ford at a press conference at Massilly North America in Brantford, Ont. on Jan. 27, 2027. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News)

A Brantford, Ont. business is betting big on the future of metal manufacturing.

On Tuesday, Massilly North America announced an $85 million investment to build a state-of-the-art food packaging facility. According to a press release from the province, it will result in 50 new jobs in the city, while also securing critical supply chains.

“Metal packaging is infinitely recyclable, making it the most sustainable way to preserve food and reduce waste,” explained Garnet Lasby, president of Massilly North America.

He also noted that it would also help reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

“It is a Made-in-Canada solution. We’re using high quality Canadian steel packaging to make high quality Canadian agricultural products. This ensures that food on Canadian grocery shelves is supported by Canadian industry from start to finish.”

Premier Doug Ford, who was also at Tuesday’s press conference, also announced an additional $5 million in funding for the project through the Ontario Together Trade Fund.

Ford told reporters about a conversation he had with the owner of another company in the agri-food industry. He said they discussed how raw materials were shipped outside the country for the next step in the manufacturing process, only to be brought back across the border again. He said he wanted to eliminate that extra step.

For the premier, it was part of the province’s plan to “onshore every product we can” in response to tariff threats from the U.S.

“We don’t have to take a backseat to anyone,” Ford boasted. “We sure the heck don’t have to take a backseat to President [Donald] Trump.”

He also called the additional funding a vote of confidence in Ontario’s future.

“It’s a plan to build an economy that is more competitive, more resilient, and more self-reliant so we can stand up to tariffs, economic uncertainty and anything else that comes our way,” Ford said.

Massilly’s metal packaging, including food cans and closures, is used by companies around the world.