Western Financial Group has announced a partnership with the Baking Association of Canada to provide commercial insurance and employee benefits to more than 500 baking businesses across the country.
The agreement names the High River, Alta.-based insurance broker as the preferred provider for the association’s network of bakeries and affiliated members, offering tailored coverage for retail, wholesale, and manufacturing operations. The program will include flexible commercial coverage, group benefits, and customizable protection options tailored to baking operations.
“Canada’s baking sector is essential to our communities and our economy,” Drew Woytko, director of business development at Western Financial Group, said in a statement. “Through this partnership, we’re helping entrepreneurs, family-owned baking businesses, and manufacturers safeguard their businesses, while supporting the people who make them run.”
The collaboration addresses challenges facing an industry dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises. According to a 2025 report from Food Processing Skills Canada, 97% of bakery businesses fall into this category.
Labour shortages have compounded the operational strain on bakeries, prompting many to seek ways to attract and retain skilled workers and manage costs more effectively. The sector will need more than 19,000 new workers by 2030 due to retirements and ongoing recruitment pressures.
“Our members constantly face challenges balancing talent retention, ingredient costs, and business risk,” noted Martin Barnett, executive director of the Baking Association of Canada. “This partnership ensures that bakeries from coast to coast can access comprehensive insurance programs tailored for their world.”
Western Financial Group said the initiative forms part of its Compass growth strategy for 2026, which emphasizes service and sector-specific solutions in Canada’s food and hospitality industries.
