What Does Gay Lea Foods Do?

Total employees773
HeadquartersMississauga
Founded1958

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited is a prominent Canadian dairy co-operative, entirely owned by Canadian dairy farmers. Established in 1958, Gay Lea Foods has grown to become a leader in the Canadian dairy industry, producing a wide range of high-quality dairy products including butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, whipped cream, and innovative dairy ingredients. The co-operative is committed to sustainable farming practices, supporting local communities, and delivering nutritious and delicious products to consumers across Canada and internationally. Gay Lea Foods is known for its brands like Gay Lea, Nordica, Ivanhoe, and Salerno.

Where Is Gay Lea Foods's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The Mississauga headquarters serves as the central hub for Gay Lea Foods' corporate operations, including strategic planning, administration, marketing, sales, finance, and human resources. It oversees the co-operative's network of production facilities and distribution channels.

Notable Features:

A modern office facility strategically located near major transportation routes, designed to support collaboration and innovation for its corporate functions.

Work Culture:

The work culture at Gay Lea Foods' headquarters reflects its co-operative values, emphasizing teamwork, community engagement, integrity, and a commitment to quality and sustainability in the Canadian dairy industry.

HQ Significance:

As the command center for one of Canada's largest dairy co-operatives, the Mississauga headquarters is pivotal in guiding national operations, product innovation, and strategic growth.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations and environment aim to reflect Gay Lea Foods' core values of quality, community, co-operation, and innovation in serving its farmer-members and consumers.

Location:

While Gay Lea Foods primarily serves the Canadian market, it also engages in international trade by exporting select dairy products and specialized ingredients. Its global functions include managing export sales, exploring international business development opportunities, and participating in global dairy industry initiatives to promote Canadian dairy expertise.

Street Address:

5200 Orbitor Drive

City:

Mississauga

State/Province:

Ontario

Country:

Canada

Where Else Does Gay Lea Foods Operate Around the World?

Guelph, Ontario/Canada

Address: 100 Stone Rd W, Suite 107, Guelph, ON N1G 5L3

Serves as a hub for dairy innovation within Ontario's agri-food sector, collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners to advance dairy science.

Ivanhoe, Ontario/Canada

Address: 113011 Highway 62, Ivanhoe, ON K0K 2K0

Contributes to the regional economy through cheese production and dairy processing, supporting local dairy farmers in Eastern Ontario and promoting agri-tourism.

Thornloe, Ontario/Canada

Address: 999697 Highway 11 N, Thornloe, ON P0J 1S0

Supports the Northern Ontario dairy farming community by providing a processing facility for their milk and producing unique regional dairy products.

Buying Intent Signals for Gay Lea Foods

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Gay Lea Foods? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Gay Lea Foods' leadership includes:

Michael Barrett - President & CEO
Rob Goodwill - Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Gubbels - Chief Human Resources Officer
Dave Sarfnazar - Chief Supply Chain Officer
Suzanna Chang - Chief Commercial Officer
Yves Milette - Chief Sales Officer

Who's Investing in Gay Lea Foods?

Gay Lea Foods has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Owned by Canadian Dairy Farmer Members (Co-operative Structure)

What Leadership Changes Has Gay Lea Foods Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits0

Gay Lea Foods has strengthened its executive leadership over the past year with strategic appointments to key commercial and sales roles, underscoring its commitment to market growth and operational excellence. No major executive departures have been publicly announced during this period.

New Appointments:

Suzanna Chang, Suzanna Chang appointed as new Chief Commercial Officer to drive commercial strategy and growth.
Yves Milette, Yves Milette joined as Chief Sales Officer to lead sales operations and market expansion initiatives.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byGay Lea Foods?

Discover the tools Gay Lea Foods uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Gay Lea Foods Email Formats and Examples

Gay Lea Foods typically utilizes an email format consisting of the first initial followed by the last name, all before the '@gaylea.com' domain. While this is a common pattern, variations might exist for specific roles or departments.

flast@gaylea.com

Format

mbarrett@gaylea.com

Example

75%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Gay Lea Foods?

Food in CanadaMarch 11, 2024

Gay Lea Foods Announces $60 Million Investment in Guelph Facility Expansion

Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. revealed plans for a substantial $60 million investment to expand its dairy processing facility in Guelph, Ontario. This strategic project is set to significantly boost production capabilities for dairy ingredients, foster innovation, create new employment opportunities, and reinforce the local dairy sector....more

Canadian GrocerNovember 14, 2023

Gay Lea Foods Appoints Yves Milette as New Chief Sales Officer

Gay Lea Foods announced the appointment of Yves Milette to the role of Chief Sales Officer. Milette brings extensive experience in the food and beverage industry to lead the co-operative's sales strategy and execution, aiming to drive growth across various market channels....more

Food in CanadaOctober 12, 2023

Gay Lea Foods Appoints Suzanna Chang as Chief Commercial Officer

Gay Lea Foods has named Suzanna Chang as its new Chief Commercial Officer. In her role, Chang will be responsible for overseeing the company's commercial functions, including marketing, sales, innovation, and business development, to enhance its market position and drive profitability....more

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