The No-BS Guide to Getting Into Grocery in Canada in 2025

(And why most people underestimate how hard it is)

If you’ve ever thought, “Our food product belongs on grocery shelves,” you’re probably right. But getting there? That’s a whole different game.

The Canadian grocery landscape is a beast—layers of regulation, compliance hurdles, and gatekeepers between you and shelf space. We’ve built this step-by-step guide to help you avoid the common traps (and save thousands of dollars in mistakes).

Here’s how to do it—step-by-step.

Step 1: Label Compliance – CFIA or Bust

Before a buyer even looks at your product, your label needs to pass CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) requirements. It’s a non-negotiable for all major grocers and retailers:

What You’ll Need:

• A CFIA-compliant bilingual label (English and French)

• Nutrition Facts Table (NFT) that follows Canadian formatting rules

• Ingredient list + allergen declarations

• Expiry/best-before date formats

• Font sizes, placement, layout requirements

• New FOPL (Front-of-Package Labeling) rules for high sodium, sugar, and fat

  
  

Action Steps:

1. Hire a label compliance consultant (if you’re new—this isn’t DIY).

   • Ballpark cost: $1,500–$5,000 per product label

2. Run a full nutritional analysis through a certified lab if you don’t have one already.

   • Cost: $600–$1,200 per SKU

3. Ensure bilingual compliance: labels must be fully in English and French.

4. Review CFIA’s Industry Labelling Tool: CFIA Labelling Tool

   
   

Pro Tip:

FOPL (those warning symbols) is the new gatekeeper. One wrong macro ratio and your label needs a redesign.

Step 2: Get GS1 Certified & Barcode Your SKUs

You need a globally unique barcode for every product you plan to sell. Retailers require it. The only legit source in Canada is GS1 Canada.

Action Steps:

1. Register for a GS1 Company Prefix:

   • Start here: https://gs1ca.org

2. Choose your plan based on how many products/SKUs you need to barcode.

   • Starter plan (up to 10 barcodes): ~$250 CAD/year

   • Larger plans (up to 100 barcodes): ~$750–$2,500 CAD/year

3. Generate and assign barcodes using the GS1 portal.

4. Print or apply barcodes to packaging using a GS1-verified format.

Pro Tip:

You must own your barcodes. Do not buy cheap third-party codes—they’ll get flagged by retailers and you’ll be blacklisted before you start.

Step 3: Line Up Your Distribution & Brokers

Retailers won’t work directly with most small producers. You’ll need distributors (to get product into warehouses) and brokers (to get you listed).

Action Steps:

1. Build a distributor shortlist in your target region (ex: UNFI, Horizon, Neal Brothers).

2. Pitch your product to brokers who specialize in your category.

   • Expect commission: ~5–7% of sales (some charge monthly retainers too)

3. Create a sell sheet: includes CFIA-compliant label, pricing, margin, case pack, and shelf life.

4. Prepare for slotting fees if you’re targeting national chains.

   • Slotting fees can range from $5,000–$25,000 per SKU per region.

Pro Tip:

Distributors and brokers care about your margin. If your product can’t offer a 30–40% margin to retail after distribution, you need to revisit pricing.

Step 4: Marketing to Grocery Retailers (and Their Shoppers)

Now that you’ve secured shelf space, you need to earn it. If your product doesn’t move, it won’t stay.

Action Steps:

1. Create a marketing plan with launch promos, discounts, and in-store signage.

2. Support in-store demos (where allowed) or digital coupons via platforms like Flipp.

3. Run co-branded campaigns with your retailers—this builds goodwill and sales.

4. Track your velocity (units per SKU per store per week) and keep buyers updated.

Pro Tip:

Even regional retailers want to know how you’ll support their sales. No plan = no listing, or a very short-lived one.

Why Most Brands Get Stuck Here

Every one of these steps costs time, money, and precision. One misstep in CFIA compliance, and your label gets rejected, potentially requiring a costly re-print. One incorrect barcode, and your product doesn’t scan. One slow sales cycle, and your SKU gets dropped.

That’s why we built UpMeals OS.

Our platform:

• Automates CFIA-compliant label creation (yes, even FOPL and bilingual formatting)

• Manages GS1 barcode integration

• Centralizes SKU data, logistics, and sell sheets

• Helps you launch, track, and scale your retail presence

No spreadsheets. No guesswork. Just a smarter way to grow.

Getting into grocery isn’t easy.
But with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be a scary process either.

👉 Book a demo of UpMeals OS and see how we make retail-ready look easy.