Skip to main content

The Grove is growing the local agri-food industry

Share
London, Ont. -

The Grove at Western Fair District opened with three companies in 2020, since that time they have welcomed three more as they follow a five-year plan.

“We’re really looking for agri-food and agri-based companies to actually come in and be a part of this community," says director of agri-food at the grove, James Smith. “This space will be filled with about 20 companies over the next five years.”

There's room for more business at The Grove at Western Fair District in London, Ont. (Marek Sutherland / CTV News)

One of the newest companies is ‘The Fritter Shop,’ which needed to expand to keep up with demand.

“We kept growing and growing and we’re in our fifth year of business now. And we’ve now outgrown the St. Thomas location to open this beautiful production space here, and we call it the ‘Fritter Factory,’” says owner Kelvin Van Rijn.

The Grove says it’s focus is to foster new and emerging agri-food companies to give them a launching pad to running a successful business.

“What their accelerator space does, is it allows you to purpose build your very first company,” explains Smith.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight

After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.

Stay Connected