April 20, 2026, Burnaby, BC – Major job cuts have been announced at SunRype Products Ltd. in Kelowna, BC. It’s disappointing to see roles being relocated to other provinces, and this raises real concerns for local workers and the community. 
 
This is not just a Sun Rype issue – this is about BC’s competitiveness. Our processors compete every single day – with other provinces and businesses around the world. When other provinces actively court food businesses through favourable incentives, policies, funding and less regulatory burden, we cannot be surprised when production follows. 
 
The question is whether we want British Columbia to be a place where food is made, or a place where food is simply consumed? 
 
We need to act with urgency to create the conditions that allow our industry to grow and thrive here, or BC will continue to be unnecessarily dependent on imports to feed ourselves. We have world-class agriculture right here in our own back yard. We have talent and innovation as well as a market hungry for local products. What we need is a business environment that matches our ambition. 
 
BC Food & Beverage will continue to advocate for a stronger, more competitive food and beverage manufacturing sector – one that keeps good jobs here, feeds our communities, and builds long-term food security for our province.