“A Good Place to Do This Business”: Plastics Manufacturing in the Bay of Quinte

October 3, 2025

Since 1971, a version of Berry Global has operated in Belleville, in the Bay of Quinte. In 2007, they became Berry Plastics Canada, then Berry Global Ltd. in 2017. Most recently in 2025, Berry Global was purchased by Amcor Global Packaging Solutions, a plastics packaging supplier based in Zürich, Switzerland. Despite these changes, Berry Global has always been and will continue to be a Bay of Quinte manufacturing mainstay. 

“There’s something to be said for the stretch plastics industry in the area,” says Berry Global Plant Manager, Bill Cliff. That point is punctuated by the fact that Berry Global’s biggest competitor, Sigma Stretch, is located just down the road from them. 

In their 86,000 square foot facility, Berry Global’s 78 employees produce 150,000 pounds of industrial stretch plastic film every day. They also produce bale wrap for agricultural use. Recently, they modified a section of their plant and received food-grade certification with the goal to provide stretch wrap film to wrap meat and food products. So, what is it about the Bay of Quinte that makes plastic production on such a scale possible? 

Why It’s Easy to Make Plastic in the Bay of Quinte

First, Berry Global forms great bonds with many local trades. Belleville’s business community helps Berry Global to “maintain our plant,” says Cliff. “And it allows us to support smaller businesses within our economic eco-system.” Berry Global works with local Bay of Quinte businesses like: 

• Hamilton Smith Mechanical Engineering
• Moira Plumbing and Heating
• Hunter Electric
• Alliance Custom Fabrication

Their location in Belleville between Toronto and Montreal puts them in close proximity to the 401 highway and rail systems for shipping and distribution, as well as to the northeastern US. They’re able to service clients worldwide — clients with big names like Coca-Cola and Labatt — while their largest customer is located close by in Mississauga. 

Berry Global makes good use of their proximity to rail systems, receiving shipments of resin pellets twice a week from Texas.

Finally, plastic is only as good as the people who make it, and the skilled labour available in the Bay of Quinte is the best. On their roster of 78 team members, Berry Global employs people with over 20 years of experience, and they invest in their employees. “To train employees and keep them highly skilled,” says Cliff, “we use an annual training subsidy from the Quinte Economic Development Commission: The Skills Development Fund Program, Elevate Plus.” 

They also boast an “outstanding record” for reducing plastic waste; it’s easy to imagine the excitement employees and community members feel knowing their local plastics manufacturer also reuses and recycles 100% of their plastic waste in-house, producing zero landfill waste, and are working on the development of compostable plastic products. 

Learn more about how Berry Global thrives in the Bay of Quinte and how QEDC supports businesses like them.