Brampton, ON – April 2, 2025 – The Cator family, founders of Cardinal Meats, a proudly Canadian company, is celebrating 100 years of serving Canadians with high-quality meat products. Since the founding of the family business in 1925, the Cator’s have been at the forefront of innovation in the food industry, delivering exceptional products to retail, foodservice, and hospitality partners across the country.
“For a century, the legacy my grandfather started, known as Cardinal Meats today, has been committed to providing Canadians with premium, high-quality proteins while prioritizing food safety, sustainability, and innovation,” said Brent Cator, President and Owner, Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. “This milestone is a testament to our dedicated team, valued customers, and strong community partnerships.”
1925 – Jack Cator’s Humble Beginnings With A Butcher Shop In Bowmanville, On
1930’s – Mastering The Art Of Traditional Butchery By Hand-Cutting Every Order.
1940 – The First Delivery Truck Delivers Quality Meats To Locals, And Sits In The Lobby Today, At The Company Headquarters In Brampton, On.
1955 – 1966 – Ralph Cator And The Path To Cardinal Meats – From Butcher Shops Across Toronto, On, To A Meat Processing Plant On Stanfield Rd. (Mississauga)
1970’s – The Birth Of The Burger Business!
1980’s – Introduced Tenderform Burgers, Revolutionizing The Industry.
1985 – Brent’s Impact On The Business As A Recent University Grad Has Him Introduce Jit Practices And A Company Retail Outlet (A Step Up From Labeling Boxes In The Plant).
1990 – The Launch Of The First Branded Product – Cardinal Roadhouse Burgers.
1995 – Cardinal Buys Former Mcdonalds’ Processing Plant Near The Toronto Airport.
1998 – Became The First Haccp-Certified Protein Processor In Canada, Elevating Safety Standards For The Industry As A Whole.
2000 – Cardinal’s Fully Cooked Ribs Won ‘Best Ribs’ Four Times At Toronto-Area Ribfests.
2003 – Became The First To Utilize Dna Lab Technology As A Food Safety Standard.
2004 – Brent Cator Takes Over The Family Business, Succeeding A Legacy Steeped In Excellence, While Introducing New Technologies And Business Best Practices. Sales Double From $30M To $60M Within 3 Years Under His Leadership.
2006 – Launched The Natural Texture Forming Process To Enhance The Texture And Juiciness Of Meat And Plant-Based Burgers.
2011 – Moved From A 26,000 Sq Ft, To An 85,000 Sq Ft Facility.
2018 – Purchased And Absorbed The Elite Meat Company, Known For Its Peameal Bacon.
2023 – More Expansion – Plant Facility In Brampton, On Adds 33,000 Sq Ft, Now Totaling 122,000 Sq Ft.
2025 – Celebrating A Century Of Cator Family Leadership, Excellence And Continued Commitment To Quality And Innovation.
As Part Of The Cator Family Leadership Centennial Celebration, Cardinal Meats Is Launching The ‘100 Years, 100 Stories’ Campaign To Highlight The Moments, People, And Partnerships That Have Shaped Its Journey. Some Of The Featured Stories Include:
How Generations Of Canadian Families Have Relied On The Cator Family Business For Quality Meals, For Their Backyard Barbecues To Holiday Feasts.
The Story Behind Cardinal Meats’ Industry-Changing Introduction Of Iqf Burgers And Hpp Technology.
Decades Of Partnerships With Canadian Farmers To Source The Best Quality Ingredients While Promoting Sustainable Agriculture.
The Cator Family’s Long-Standing Dedication To Giving Back Includes Supporting Food Banks To Help Families In Need, Sponsoring We Care To Provide Camp Experiences For Children With Disabilities, And Investing In The Trillium Health Partners Foundation.
Celebrating Team Members Who Have Dedicated Decades To Cardinal Meats And Played An Essential Role In Its Growth.
“As We Look Ahead, Our Focus Remains On Innovation, Sustainability, And Strengthening Our Partnerships With Canadian Families, Businesses, And Communities,” Added Brent Cator. “We Are Grateful For The Trust And Loyalty Of Our Customers And Look Forward To Continuing Our Tradition Of Excellence For Generations To Come.”
Cardinal Meats Invites Customers, Employees, And Community Members To Share Their Own Cardinal Meats Stories As Part Of The ‘100 Years, 100 Stories’ Campaign. Stories Can Be Submitted To The Media Contact Below And Select Submissions Will Be Featured Throughout The Year.
