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BoQ Business Spotlight: Ya YA Foods

Founded in the 1980s in the GTA, Ya YA Foods is one of the largest manufacturers of beverages and liquid foods in North America, including Tetra Pak, hot fill, and liquid co-packing, and has been managed by three generations of the Al-Ali family. 

On May 26, 2026, Ya YA Foods officially opened its 186,000-square-foot expansion production facility in the former Sears Warehouse in Belleville’s Industrial Park. They opened with 100 local jobs and a plan to grow their workforce to 300 by 2030, with roles primarily in operations, quality control, and warehousing.

A group of people, including Bay of Quinte entrepreneurs, pose in front of a building entrance decorated with black, yellow, and white balloons under a “YaYa Foods B.V.” sign. The group is smiling, and it’s a sunny day.
The grand opening of Ya YA Foods' Belleville facility

Expanding to Belleville

Ya YA Foods expansion into Belleville stemmed from geography, but the region’s existing manufacturing industry and workforce helped seal the deal. 

“Firstly, Belleville is strategically located to optimize distribution across Canada and the US,” Rachel Murgel, Human Resources for Ya YA Foods Belleville, explained. “Beyond that, the Bay of Quinte area’s focus on manufacturing makes it a great community to be part of and invest in, especially with local talent. We are proud to be building a workplace where talent can grow and thrive, while also reinforcing regional economic growth,” she continued. 

“With any start-up environment, there will be obstacles to overcome,” noted Rachel. “We are investing in state-of-the-art technology, and that learning curve has been one that is ultimately will set our team up for future success and really serve our customers with greater speed, flexibility and quality.”

While Ya YA Foods’ Belleville location is still in its infancy, they’ve already started to contribute to local initiatives and support the Bay of Quinte community. 

“We are proud to be involved in the local community, with corporate fundraisers to support Gleaners Foodbank and the HPE Learning Foundation,” Rachel told us. “We are also a proud employer of Loyalist College graduates, and have found their Manufacturing Engineering Technology program specifically is one that really builds a strong foundation for our team members.”

Two women stand at a Ya Ya Foods Belleville booth, smiling and talking to a visitor at a job fair. The booth features branded signs and informational materials about the company.
Rachel Murgel, Human Resources for Ya YA Foods Belleville, chats with a candidate at the Work in Quinte Career Fair

Work in Quinte Career Fairs

Job Seekers who have attended previous Work in Quinte Career Fairs might remember seeing Ya YA Foods’ booth, where they’ve hired several candidates.

“Our goal has always been to invest in local talent. The Work in Quinte Career Fair is a great way to connect with people and share more about who we are!” Rachel told us in an interview at the most recent career fair. “We already have plans for expanded capabilities in our facility and have plans to hire 200 more staff in the coming years to support that growth. You can expect to see more opportunities and more community involvement as we want to become a local partner.”

The Work in Quinte Career Fairs have proved to be a successful hiring tool for Ya YA Foods. 

“Our experience at the Work in Quinte Career Fairs has been very positive; we have hired a handful of people from the job fair, and have found each time to be well organized,” Rachel explained. 

When we asked Rachel if she would recommend the Work in Quinte Career Fairs to other employers, her answer was an emphatic yes.

“Yes, of course we would recommend the Career Fair to other employers! I find that meeting people in person is a great way to add context to a resume you would otherwise be reading online. To do that at a local level is a great asset for employers.”

To learn more about Ya YA Foods, visit their website: www.yayafoods.com

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Work in Quinte as a division of The Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing Board is committed to acknowledging, appreciating and understanding the Indigenous peoples’ historic connection to this land and to raising awareness by building relationships in collaboration with Indigenous partners and communities. 

We recognize and acknowledge that we are living and working on the traditional territory of the Wendat, Mississauga, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee which includes the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte) with whom we work in direct partnership with. 

This partnership focuses on the common goal of celebrating the region with the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka who are equal partners within the organization and at the Board of Directors table contributing to the mandate and operations.

This mandate includes listening to, learning from, and collaborating with the Kenhtè:ke Kanyen’kehá:ka and actively incorporating their culture and heritage into the practice of responsible destination marketing and management of the region.

We understand that this land acknowledgement is only a small step towards the larger process of reparations and reconciliation.