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Flour Milling in Canada - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: October 2023 NAICS 31121CA

Revenue

$4.7bn

2023

$4.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

2,721

Businesses

100

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Flour Milling in Canada industry analysis

The Flour Milling industry in Canada has experienced strong growth over the five years to 2023 amid a surge in demand for Canadian flour milling products in 2022 and 2023. The industry includes operators that produce flour products from milling grains, rice millers, and malt manufacturers. Flour is the largest product segment, and heightened demand for Canadian flour has buoyed industry growth. Malt manufacturing has also driven the industry's growth, given that Canada is the second-largest exporter of malt in the world. Overall, industry revenue is expected to expand an annualized 11.4% to $4.7 billion over the five years to 2023. Revenue is forecast to grow 24.2% in 2023 alone as increased demand for gluten-free and specialty flours and the war in Ukraine have all boosted demand for Canadian products.The industry has been primarily affected by foreign flour millers' performance or lack thereof in recent years. As a result of the war in Ukraine, there is a growing demand for Canadian wheat from overseas markets. This is because Canadian wheat is seen as a reliable source of wheat. Canadian wheat is also a high-quality product, and it is in demand by food manufacturers who produce baked goods, pasta, and other wheat-based products. Exports have surged in 2022 and 2023, causing revenue to spike. Growing demand for wheat in China has benefited Canadian flour millers, as the increasing affluence of the Chinese population has resulted in a rise in exports to China. Industry revenue is forecast to grow an annualized 0.7% to $4.9 billion over the five years to 2028. Rising per capita disposable income will likely enable consumers to purchase more expensive gluten-free and specialty flours. Consumer preferences are anticipated to continue changing, and demand for healthier and more convenient foods will likely rise. This is a challenge for flour millers who need to adapt their products to meet the changing needs of consumers. However, the prices of several agricultural commodities, including wheat and corn, are expected to fall. A decline in input prices prevents millers from hiking prices for consumers, decelerating revenue growth and putting pressure on profit.

Trends and Insights

  • Shifting consumer preferences have raised demand for gluten-free products. This has hindered the wheat product segment but has benefited other product segments.
  • The trend of more health-conscious consumers has led to the growing popularity of gluten-free products. This has resulted in the wheat product segment being negatively affected.
  • Locating near suppliers can reduce transportation costs for flour millers. Also, it allows operators to negotiate supply contracts.
  • Millers compete primarily on price. Price is directly related to a good’s perceived quality resulting in price being a critical competitive factor.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 11.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.7bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Consumer preferences have shifted, causing flour millers to follow suit

  • Consumers are increasingly looking for healthier foods, which has increased demand for whole wheat flour and other flours that are considered more nutritious than white flour.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Flour Milling in Canada
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Input prices and a continued shift in consumer preferences may change flour miller's tactics

  • Less volatile raw material prices will likely enable flour millers to anticipate commodity costs and adjust their selling prices accordingly.

Biggest companies in the Flour Milling in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Parrish & Heimhecker
159.6
16.8
10.5
Rogers Foods
66.4
7.0
10.5
Ardent Mills
55.7
4.8
8.6

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Flour Milling in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Flour products for human consumption, Millfeed and Rice. Flour products for human consumption is the largest segment of the Flour Milling in Canada.

Trends and Insights

A rising preference for gluten-free products has impacted demand for wheat

  • The flour products segment comprises wheat flour, corn flour, flour mixes, and flour byproducts like mill feed.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry participates in the following activities: milling grains and vegetables into flour; cleaning, polishing and milling rice; and producing malt from a variety of cereal grains. Industry operators purchase grain inputs such as wheat, corn, barley and rice from wholesalers or directly from growers. They then process them into flour, gluten, starch and malt and sell these products to grocery wholesalers or other food-related industries.

What's included in this industry?

Flour products for human consumptionMillfeedRiceMalt

Companies

Parrish & HeimheckerRogers FoodsArdent Mills

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

RICE MILLINGDURUM WHEATMALTWHOLESALE BYPASSVERTICAL INTEGRATION

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 311211 - Flour Milling 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

Shifting consumer preferences have raised demand for gluten-free products. This has hindered the wheat product segment but has benefited other product segments.

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 (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • 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

The trend of more health-conscious consumers has led to the growing popularity of gluten-free products. This has resulted in the wheat product segment being negatively affect...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023
  • 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

Locating near suppliers can reduce transportation costs for flour millers. Also, it allows operators to negotiate supply contracts.

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 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2023

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

Millers compete primarily on price. Price is directly related to a good’s perceived quality resulting in price being a critical competitive factor.

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 2018-2023
  • 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

Large flour milling companies continue their efforts to acquire smaller competitors or complete mergers. Expanding operations can create economies of scale, lowering costs an...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Parrish & Heimhecker's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Rogers Foods's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Ardent Mills's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Parrish & Heimhecker, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Rogers Foods, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Ardent Mills, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Tariffs are one form of assistance received by flour millers. The industry is protected to an extent from foreign competitors because of tariffs placed on products.

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 (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

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

Developing strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating favorable terms, and ensuring efficient procurement of raw materials (like wheat) can help control costs. Streamli...

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 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Coverage Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2016-2021)
  • Operating Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Assets (2016-2021)
  • Liabilities (2016-2021)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

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 (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Flour Milling industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Flour Milling industry in Canada is $4.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Flour Milling in Canada industry in 2023?

There are 100 businesses in the Flour Milling industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Flour Milling industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Flour Milling industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 11.4 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Flour Milling industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Flour Milling industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Flour Milling market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Flour Milling market in Canada are Parrish & Heimhecker, Rogers Foods and Ardent Mills

What does the Flour Milling in Canada include?

Flour products for human consumption and Millfeed are part of the Flour Milling industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Flour Milling in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Parrish & Heimhecker.

How competitive is the Flour Milling industry in Canada?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Flour Milling 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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