Grow.
Innovate.
Connect.
Join us at Connect… Canada’s Pet Trade Expo. Celebrating and promoting the growth of the Canadian pet industry with manufacturers, specialty pets live, distributors and more. A business to business show like no other.
Coming May 22-23, 2025
Niagara Falls Convention Centre
Let's Connect.
As a Canadian hosted event, Connect Canada's Pet Trade Expo is proud to showcase the thriving pet industry in Canada, which is known for its love of animals and commitment to their welfare. Canada boasts a vibrant community of pet retailers, manufacturers, distributors, specialty pet breeders and service providers, all of whom contribute to the growth and innovation of the industry. Join us! Let's Connect!
Connect:
A B2B pet trade event celebrating the Canadian pet industry hosted and created with a team that is 100% built with individuals and vendors from the Canadian Pet Industry.
Connect Lounge
Attendees and Exhibitors alike enjoyed all the amenities of the Connect Lounge. A spacious seating area with beverages, charging stations and plenty of seating area for impromptu meetings.
Education Stage
Connect brought 2 days of educational talks to attendees. Visitors heard from Candace D'Agnolo, Pet Industry Network, Pet Retail Helper, Weruva, Instinct, eTail Pet POS and many more...
Fresh Food Showcase
A highlight of the show was Connect's Fresh Food Showcase featuring a variety of frozen and gently cooked products from many of the Connect Exhibitors. Thanks to Habco for the great looking freezer setup.
Connect Live
Wednesday night featured Connect Live at the Marriott Hotel with the E.Z. Street Band. The evening kicked off with $10,000 in cash giveaways to retailers and exhibitors...oh along with a poutine bar!!
Big Country Raw in Smithville launching $8.9M expansion plan
Big Country Raw in Smithville launching $8.9M expansion plan with help from province
Published: November 27, 2024 at 1:57 PM
(From Left to Right): Albert Witteveen, Councillor, Regional Municipality of Niagara; Marika Swain, Senior Business Advisor, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade; Cheryl Ganann, Mayor, Township of West Lincoln; Sarah Ripley, Director of Marketing, Big Country Raw; Adam Warrack, Director of Operations, Big Country Raw; Geraldine Brouwer, Co-Founder and Vice-President, Big Country Raw; Rob Brouwer, Co-Founder and President, Big Country Raw; Sam Oosterhoff, MPP Niagara West; Brian Teichgraf, Director of Finance, Big Country Raw, and Melanie Denis, Director of Human Resources, Big Country Raw.Sam Oosterhoff
A Smithville company, that produces dog and cat food, is expanding with help from the provincial government.
Big Country Raw will be receiving a loan of $1.3 million from the province to help fund a $8.9 million dollar expansion plan to boost local manufacturing and create over 16 new jobs in West Lincoln.
"This expansion project marks a transformative milestone for our business," said Geraldine Brouwer, Co-Founder and Vice-President of Big Country Raw.
"With our new 29,000 square foot facility, we are doubling our footprint, enhancing cold chain distribution, implementing advanced automation and raising food safety standards," said Rob Brouwer, Co-Founder and President of Big Country Raw.
The funding was announced today by Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
"Our government is building a strong Ontario and creating the conditions for a strong economy by supporting key investments in our community," said MPP Oosterhoff.
"This investment by Big Country Raw will boost the local manufacturing sector and create new jobs for workers and families in Niagara."
Big Country Raw specializes in frozen raw pet food products.
The company plans to expand their current facility in Smithville, and buy new equipment to automate the processing and packaging to increase production.
our 2025 Exhibitors
