Chicken & Turkey Meat Production in Canada: Market Size, Businesses & Forecast 2026

The Canadian chicken and turkey meat production sector encompasses agricultural farming and primary slaughtering and processing activities operating under the country's national supply management framework. According to Statistics Canada, total poultry production reached 1.6 billion kilograms in 2025, a 0.7% increase year-over-year that was driven by robust consumer demand for chicken. Total poultry sales grew by 0.5% over the same period to reach $4.5 billion in 2025, demonstrating the sector's economic stability despite varying production allocation adjustments. Moving forward, the industry is expected to maintain steady growth supported by resilient per capita consumption and predictable

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What does the Chicken & Turkey Meat Production in Canada industry cover?

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in raising broiler chickens and turkeys for meat production, as well as downstream processing operations that include slaughtering, dressing, and packing fresh or frozen poultry products. Under the Canadian North American Industry Classification System, these activities span across distinct agricultural and manufacturing categories. The sector explicitly excludes egg-laying operations, poultry hatcheries, and the preparation of complex multi-ingredient frozen dinners or pet foods.

• •Primary farming is classified under NAICS 112320 for broiler chicken production and NAICS 112330 for turkey production.
• •Downstream meat processing and packaging operations fall under NAICS 311615.
• •The scope covers whole birds, cut-up parts, and further processed poultry meats like fresh sausages or luncheon meats.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The Canadian poultry market is strictly structured under a supply management system that balances domestic production with consumer demand through quota allocations. Primary production is highly distributed across thousands of regulated farms, while the processing stage is concentrated among a smaller number of large, federally inspected facilities. Ontario and Quebec serve as the structural anchor of the industry, jointly commanding the vast majority of national output.

• •Canada counted 2,834 regulated chicken producers and over 70 primary processing establishments in 2025.
• •Ontario and Quebec combined accounted for almost two-thirds of all national chicken production in 2025.
• •The industry relies on 36 federally inspected primary poultry plants and numerous specialized further processors.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand for chicken and turkey meat is primarily driven by shifting consumer dietary preferences, relative protein affordability, and population growth. Chicken consistently tracks as the most consumed animal protein in Canada due to its lean nutritional profile and lower retail price point compared to beef and pork. Turkey demand remains highly cyclical and linked to traditional holiday retail purchasing patterns, though operators are continuously trying to expand year-round deli and component sales.

• •Chicken per capita disappearance reached 35.64 kilograms in 2025, maintaining its position as Canada's top animal protein.
• •Holiday purchasing concentrated 74% of whole turkey retail sales around Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2024.
• •Lower producer prices, which fell 2.3% to an average of $2.80 per kilogram in 2024 due to reduced feed costs, helped maintain retail affordability.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive environment is characterized by intense processing-level consolidation where a handful of diversified food companies manage significant domestic market share. These major players operate highly efficient, automated processing networks that process birds supplied by provincial marketing board quotas. Companies compete primarily on processing efficiency, brand recognition, value-added product lines, and supply chain logistics.

• •Maple Leaf Foods Inc. operates major poultry processing facilities, including a prominent state-of-the-art plant in London, Ontario.
• •Cargill Limited maintains significant Canadian poultry operations through its specialized meat and value-added processing divisions.
• •Sofina Foods Inc. acts as a major domestic processor, supplying fresh and further-processed poultry brands across retail channels.
• •Olymel L.P. and Exceldor Cooperative serve as dominant processing entities based in Eastern Canada with national distribution networks.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

Recent performance highlights a diverging trajectory between chicken and turkey production volumes within the national poultry basket. Chicken production has achieved consecutive annual increases, capitalizing on stable pricing and consistent demand. Conversely, turkey production has experienced double-digit contractions following downward adjustments in Canadian commercial production allocations, although falling feed costs have offered some margin relief.

• •Total chicken production grew by 2.1% year-over-year to reach 1.4 billion kilograms in 2025.
• •Total turkey production fell by 12.3% year-over-year to 139.5 million kilograms in 2025.
• •Declining costs for essential poultry feed components like soybeans, corn, and wheat eased farm-level production costs during 2024 and 2025.

How is the industry regulated?

The industry operates under a rigorous regulatory architecture governed by federal bodies and national producer marketing agencies. The supply management system controls domestic production volume, sets minimum farm-gate producer prices, and enforces strict import controls to prevent market flooding. Additionally, all processing plants must adhere to strict federal food safety, animal welfare, and inspection criteria to maintain their operating licenses.

• •The system is regulated nationally by organizations such as the Chicken Farmers of Canada and the Turkey Farmers of Canada.
• •Imports are strictly managed; chicken meat and meat product imports totaled 231.4 million kilograms in 2025.
• •Federally inspected facilities comply with food safety standards monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• Statistics Canada Poultry and Egg Statistics 2025 ·
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Chicken Sector Reports 2025 ·
• Turkey Farmers of Canada Industry Facts & Stats 2024