in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
October 02, 2025
Invest Ontario is supporting a milestone investment by Chapman’s Ice Cream, the largest independent ice cream manufacturer in Canada, as this homegrown company undertakes a major expansion of its operations in Markdale, Ontario.
This investment of over $200 million will allow Chapman’s to introduce products never before sold in Canada to consumers, while also positioning the company to develop its export business to meet growing demand in international markets.
Creating 200 new jobs, the project adds a 175,000 square-foot facility with three new production lines coming online initially and three more planned in the years ahead.
"This expansion comes at a critical time for Chapman’s. The competition from multinationals has only increased in recent years, and this project will help us to establish a stronger competitive ground. We are grateful to the province and Invest Ontario for the support on this project. Additional funding from Invest Ontario has allowed us to build a bigger facility and support higher paying jobs for Canadians," said Ashley Chapman, COO of Chapman's Ice Cream.
Leading food manufacturers like Chapman’s leverage both Ontario’s strong agricultural sector and the province’s skilled workforce and expertise in advanced manufacturing. The expansion will feature state-of-the-art equipment and automation technology to boost capacity, improve efficiency and support staff upskilling.
"I’m thrilled to welcome Chapman’s latest investment in Ontario, which is a major vote of confidence in our province’s economy and workers. We’re going to continue doing whatever it takes to protect workers by cutting red tape and making Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest and create jobs," said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
All of Chapman’s products are made in Markdale using milk and cream exclusively sourced in Canada. The expansion will create new opportunities for Canadian suppliers, contributing to the growth of the agri-food economy as more Ontario-made food products are being manufactured and supplied across the country and internationally.
"At a time of global uncertainty, Ontario is proud to stand as a trusted partner for companies seeking a competitive business environment, highly skilled workforce and resilient economy in which to invest. We are thrilled to see Chapman’s expand their Canadian roots and deliver innovative, high-quality Ontario-made products to families here and around the world," said Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli.
Founded in 1973, Chapman’s remains a family-run business and currently employs over 800 full-time workers in Markdale, making it the community’s largest employer. Another 200 will be added with this expansion, deepening the company’s long-term commitment to the regional economy.
The investment will be supported with a loan of up to $27 million through the Invest Ontario Fund.
"Chapman’s is a household name in Canada and an Ontario success story. Through this expansion, they are reinforcing their roots at home while opening doors to the world market. We’re proud to support this Ontario business that will create opportunities for Ontarians and strengthen the province’s supply chain resilience," said Khawar Nasim, CEO of Invest Ontario.
Invest Ontario is a dedicated partner to businesses seeking strategic growth in Ontario. The Agency remains focused on supporting investments that create meaningful jobs and build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Ontarians.
For more information about Invest Ontario, please visit www.investontario.ca.
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