Stakeholders

The dairy industry is composed of many participants and stakeholders. Described below are five organizations that play an important role in the industry. For a list of other industry participants, please visit our Links page.

Restaurants Canada

Since its founding in 1944, Restaurants Canada, formerly the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, has grown to more than 30,000 members across the country. Through advocacy, research, member savings and industry events, it helps its members to grow and prosper. Restaurants Canada members represent every sector of Canada’s foodservice industry, including restaurants, bars, cafeterias, coffee shops, and contract and social caterers. Suppliers to the industry are also associate members of Restaurants Canada.

Restaurants Canada is governed by a volunteer board of directors, made up of industry leaders from every province and every foodservice sector. CRFA’s head office is in Toronto, and it has regional offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montreal and Halifax. More information and contact information can be found on the Restaurants Canada Web site.

Consumers Association of Canada

Supporting the public's right to food information, safety, quality and choice is among the most important goals addressed by the Consumers Association of Canada. As a member of the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee, the Association brings the dairy product consumer's voice to the government/industry table.

The Association's head office is located at 267 O'Connor Street, Suite 307, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1V3. It can be reached by telephone (604) 418-8359, on the web at www.consumer.ca or by email at info@consumer.ca.

Dairy Farmers of Canada

Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is the national lobby, policy and dairy product promotion organization representing all dairy producers in Canada. Funded by producers, it is a non-profit organization structured as a federation of provincial milk marketing boards, dairy producers' associations, co-operatives and national dairy breed organizations.

Since its foundation in 1934, DFC has been the voice of milk producers and was instrumental in the establishment of Canada's milk supply management system. The organization ensures that the views of dairy producers are considered in any matter pertaining to the industry.

In February 1994, the policy activities of the former Dairy Farmers of Canada (1993) and the product promotion and marketing activities of the Dairy Bureau of Canada were merged within the same structure, which retained the name of Dairy Farmers of Canada, to form one fully integrated dairy producer organization.

The DFC have offices at 21 Florence St., Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0W6, and at 1801 McGill College Avenue, Suite 700, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2N4. They can be reached by phone at (613) 236-9997, (514) 284-1092 or toll-free at 1-800-361-4632. Their web site can be found at www.dairyfarmers.ca.

Dairy Processors Association of Canada

Founded in December 2003, the Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC) unite organizations of all sizes that manufacture dairy products. Its mandate is to advance and protect the interests of its members and promote the growth of the Canadian dairy processing industry which employs 22,429 people and processes table milk, fresh cream, cheese, yogurt and ice cream products valued at over $17.3 billion annually.

DPAC works to influence government policies, legislation and regulation with a view to improving the competitiveness of its dairy industry members who operate within a regulated sector. It focuses on ensuring that the interests of its members are well understood and responds to developments on the domestic and international trade fronts and to significant regulatory changes impacting the dairy sector. For further information, visit www.dpac-atlc.ca.

Food and Consumer Products of Canada

Food and Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) is the national industry association in Canada representing the food and consumer products industry. The association represents member companies ranging from small independently and privately-owned companies to large, global multinationals who manufuacture and distribute products in Canada.

Deliveries of the manufacturing sector of the food, beverage and consumer product industry total approximately $86 billion each year and generate almost $26.5 billion annually to the GDP. The industry employs nearly 30,000 Canadians across the country, making it the largest employer in the Canadian manufacturing sector.

On behalf of its members, FCPC works to further efforts related to products manufactured and sold in Canada. It works with government, regulatory bodies, retail and foodservice partners to find solutions to important issues including food safety, innovation and supply chain efficiencies, health and wellness and food labelling, among them.

Food and Consumer Products of Canada offices are located at 100 Sheppard Ave. East, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario M2N 6N5. They can be reached by telephone at (416) 510-8024, by fax at (416) 510-8043 or by email at info@.fcpc.ca . The FCPC Web site can be found at www.fcpc.ca.

Retail Council of Canada

The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, a not for profit organization committeed to advancing and promoting the grocery and foodservice distribution industry in Canada, was established in 1919 under the name Canadian Wholesale Grocers Association, and was operated on a part-time basis until the mid-forties. By 1962, with changes in the distribution systems, the emergence of corporate chains and growing membership, the association name was changed to the Canadian Institute of Food Distribution. It started planning yearly conferences and seminars as well as establishing committees to review particular issues. In 2011, since food products are increasingly sold in big box stores and pharmacies, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors was dissolved, and Canadian grocery distributors are now represented by the Grocery Division of the Retail Council of Canada.