Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.9bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Climate change alters cereal growing conditions
- In recent years, Canadian cereal production has been disrupted by extreme weather events such as droughts and unseasonal frosts, resulting in considerable variations in crop yields. For example, the drought in 2021 led to a 34% decrease in wheat production, underscoring the susceptibility of cereal crops to climate extremes.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Climate resilience will be crucial
- In the coming five years, Canadian cereal production will encounter more frequent droughts and extreme weather events. This situation will require the development of climate-resilient crop varieties to ensure stable yields and support agricultural sustainability.
Biggest companies in the Cereal Production in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Post | 456.2 | 46.5 | 10.2 | |
General Mills | 161.6 | 29.0 | 17.9 | |
Nature's Path Foods | 158.6 | 27.6 | 17.4 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Ready-to-eat corn breakfast foods, Ready-to-eat wheat breakfast foods and Ready-to-eat oat breakfast foods. Ready-to-eat corn breakfast foods is the largest segment of the Cereal Production in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Corn cereals continue to dominate sales
- Ready-to-eat corn breakfast cereals like cornflakes are popular for quick and convenient meal options. These cold cereals have become staples in many households because of their ease of preparation.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The industry acquires raw materials, such as corn, wheat, flour, sugar, malt extract, rice and salt from various sources, and processes these ingredients into ready-to-eat cereal, granola cereal (except bars and clusters) and hot cereal. It also purchases raw materials such as plastic and paperboard containers from other manufacturers for packaging purposes. The finished breakfast cereals are subsequently sold to grocery wholesalers, retailers and food service providers.
What's included in this industry?
Corn breakfast foods manufacturingWheat breakfast cereal manufacturingOatmeal (i.e. cereal breakfast food) manufacturingGrain breakfast cereal manufacturingMix grain breakfast manufacturingManufacturing granola breakfast cereal (except bars and clusters)Manufacturing ready-to-serve breakfast and instant hot cereal foodsCompanies
PostGeneral MillsNature's Path FoodsPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
PRIVATE LABELGENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM)HYPERMARKETIndustry Code
NAICS 311230 - Cereal Production in Canada
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The pandemic bolstered cereal production as many consumers were forced to stay home and abide by regulations. Cereal offered a convenient easy-to-eat breakfast option.
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Ever-changing dietary habits continue to push healthy alternatives into the market. Producers have introduced new cereals to meet changing consumer preferences.
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Ontario has multiple urban cities, offering access to a large consumer base. Producers save on transport costs by being near buyers.
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each province in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Companies face pressure from imported cereal. Imports make up almost half of the domestic demand. Even so, domestic producers are increasing their output capacity.
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
In May 2023, Kellogg announced its partnership with Six Star Pro Nutrition to create a cereal-flavored protein powder. As more people choose to live a healthier lifestyle, th...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Post's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of General Mills's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Nature's Path Foods's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Post, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for General Mills, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Nature's Path Foods, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Producers are required to follow the standards of the Food and Drug Act. They must ensure that packaging, ingredients and advertising are all up to par and truthful.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Larger companies benefit from economies of scale. Having a massive production line allows producers to cut down on manufacturing costs.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Assets (2017-2022)
- Liabilities (2017-2022)
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Cereal Production industry in Canada in 2024?
The market size of the Cereal Production industry in Canada is $1.9bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Cereal Production in Canada industry in 2024?
There are 39 businesses in the Cereal Production industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Cereal Production industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Cereal Production industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 6.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Cereal Production industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Cereal Production industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Cereal Production market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Cereal Production market in Canada are Post, General Mills and Nature's Path Foods
What does the Cereal Production in Canada include?
Corn breakfast foods manufacturing and Wheat breakfast cereal manufacturing are part of the Cereal Production industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Cereal Production in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is Post.
How competitive is the Cereal Production industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Cereal Production industry in Canada.
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Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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