MARKDALE, ON — Ontario Premier Doug Ford today announced $27 million in provincial funding to support Chapman’s Ice Cream as it undertakes a $200-million expansion to build a new 175,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Markdale, creating 200 additional jobs and boosting its total workforce to 1,000 employees.
Speaking outside Chapman’s headquarters, Premier Ford used the occasion to encourage Ontarians to support homegrown businesses, particularly amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. In a lighthearted moment, Ford endorsed one of Chapman’s most popular products by unwrapping and eating a Yukon ice cream bar during the press conference.
“I have to tell you — and I’m not BSing anyone — I eat these things every night, honestly every night,” Ford said, holding up the bar. “Folks, if you have not tried a Yukon, these are absolutely delicious. Caramel in the middle, ice cream, chocolate and peanuts — the best ice cream sandwiches anywhere.”
Ford praised Chapman’s commitment to using exclusively Canadian milk and cream in all 200 of its products, calling the company a “real homegrown Canadian success story supporting Ontario workers on farms and in factories.”
The premier emphasized that investing in Ontario companies strengthens local economies, supports supply chains, and helps protect jobs during volatile global trade conditions.
Chapman’s CEO, who joined Ford at the announcement, thanked the province for its support, noting that the expansion will allow the company to meet rising demand for Canadian-made ice cream products while maintaining its commitment to quality and sustainability.