As it nears its sixth anniversary, The Grove at the Western Fair District in London, Ontario, is less a startup incubator and more a launchpad for the future of agrifood. Born from a vision to repurpose legacy buildings into something agriculturally meaningful, The Grove has weathered pandemic slowdowns, supply chain setbacks and construction delays – and emerged as a fully realized ecosystem helping to reshape the regional agri-food landscape.
Now, the focus is firmly on what’s next.
“As we enter the mid-point of 2025, we are six months away from our sixth anniversary of launching The Grove in October 2019, the priorities today are to support the many entrepreneurs and new businesses that have chosen The Grove to incubate and accelerate into the larger economy,” says Kris Dinel, director of agri-business at the Western Fair District. “The Grove would not have been built without tremendous support from FedDev’s investment in our agri-food vision and with the support of all our community partners who have rolled up their sleeves to provide wrap-around services to help us grow food and agri-tech entrepreneurs in Canada. We are all looking forward to the impact these first crop of successes will have on food and tech in our region.”
For The Grove, expansion is more than square footage, it’s about deepening impact. Underutilized spaces are being eyed for conversion, commercial kitchens are humming with early-stage production, and a new packaging centre is coming online to give foodpreneurs the tools to go from prototype to shelf-ready product, all in one place.
“Innovation hubs like The Grove play a critical part in the future of Canadian agri-food businesses,” says Dinel. “You’re surrounded by like-minded people, with access to everything from rentable production space to expert services all under one roof.”
That “one roof” effect has real economic traction. Startups nurtured at The Grove are scaling, with local brands landing on national retail shelves, creating jobs and attracting new investors to London. And it’s not just local dollars: The Grove is quickly becoming a magnet for outside interest, drawn by the combination of infrastructure, mentorship and proximity to key food markets.
Karen Cardona from True Leaves Consulting, one of The Grove’s onsite service providers, shares: “The Grove is a huge advantage to anyone trying to get into the food and beverage space because you have the community aspect of it. There is a lot of expertise in all facets of the business, everyone is at different stages, they can all help one another and that is just a huge advantage over being in your own facility, by yourself, trying to figure it out.”
“As we enter a new phase in the Canadian economy tied to food access and sustainability, it will be increasingly important to seek investment in small businesses like those at The Grove, which will be key to future economic growth and job creation in Canada,” says Dinel.
Crucially, this growth thrives on collaboration. Partners like LEDC, Fanshawe College, the London Small Business Centre and RHA Ventures are instrumental in its success, offering wraparound support that makes scaling more achievable for small and medium-sized businesses.
“The support of our collaborative partners...is the secret sauce so to speak,” says Dinel. “From working with LEDC to attract business opportunities to London, the London Small Business Centre, who recently moved into The Grove, coaching many start-ups at the ground level, the support provided by RHA Ventures investing in and growing the next generation of early stage companies and our partnership with Fanshawe College which will bring packaging units on-site for Grove tenants and others to grow their businesses further, the value they have all had has been immense and the success of The Grove would not be where it is today without them.”
The collaborative spirit is also front and centre in one of The Grove’s most exciting initiatives: the inaugural Southwest Food Innovation Summit.
“The Summit is a perfect example of collaboration that happens daily at The Grove,” says Dinel. “Attendees can expect insightful speakers and panels, supplier booths, and a powerful network of industry leaders. It’s programming that supports our mission to grow the agri-food ecosystem in Canada.”
Looking further ahead, The Grove’s ambitions go beyond local impact. With projects like AgRobotics Working Group, and Innovation Farms Ontario, it’s establishing itself as a national leader in sustainable food tech and automation – areas critical to solving future agricultural challenges.
“Our dream is to be part of a network that helps solve some of the challenges facing Canadian agriculture, by helping fortify food sustainability, grow our economy and educate people about where their food comes from,” says Dinel.
It’s a vision that blends heritage with innovation, community and commerce – and one that aims to seed the future of Canadian food from right here in London.
“It’s not just a place for people to come to work each day,” says Dinel. “It’s a place they can come to grow.”
