Manufacturing jobs coming as London-based vegan burger chain expands
A London-born company has expansion plans expected to create 100 food manufacturing jobs.
But the objectives of Odd Burger Corporation go far beyond its rapidly expanding vegan fast-food chain.
Partners James and Lia McInnes have aspirations to make Odd Burger a worldwide sustainable food powerhouse.
“There is really no doubt about it”, James told CTV News London. "Our expansion initiatives are global, so we really do feel there is a tremendous amount of opportunity for us to continue to grow.”
Odd Burger co-founders Vasiliki and James McInnes, as seen on July 6, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)To grow, the couple will expand Odd Burger from seven locations in Ontario to more than 90 Canada-wide over the next eight years — there are also U.S. expansion plans.
To support the expanding chain, and to tap into the sustainable grocery market, a site in London’s Innovation Park has been selected for a food manufacturing facility.
James hopes shovels are in the ground in as little as six months. Initially, the facility will be 50,000 sq. ft., but it is designed to triple in size.
“We are hoping by the end of 2023, maybe 2024 to really start doing a big hiring for sure,” James said.
Kapil Lakhotia, the president and CEO of the London Economic Development Corporation, as seen on July 6, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)The new plant is welcomed by Kapil Lakhotia, of the London Economic Development Corporation. He said it adds to an ever-growing list of agri-food manufacturers in London.
“The reasons behind that are logistic, proximity to raw materials, infrastructure to handle food capacities. As well as the workforce capacity we have been building in the region,” he said.
For Lakhotia, a workforce able to better ride out economic waves is paramount.
“Industries, like automotive or advanced manufacturing, do suffer from different economic conditions. But the agri-food sector continues to be stable. It is why diversity in our manufacturing, using food and beverage processing, has been so vital,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.