How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $100000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Individual Market Access Support (SIAM)?

Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) is funded by Aliments du Québec

What are Individual Market Access Support (SIAM)'s eligibility criterias?

Applicants must have an operational establishment located in Quebec. Applicants must be registered in the Quebec business registry as a food processor, a business subcontracting its food processing, or an agro-processor, meeting specific conditions. The business must have been marketing its food products for at least one year and have annual sales exceeding $250,000.

Individual Market Access Support (SIAM)

Last Update: June 10, 2025

QC, Canada

Market Access Support for Quebec Food Processors

Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) at a glance

Eligible Funding

From 20,000 to 100,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Manufacturing

Grant Providers

Aliments du Québec

Status

Open

Closing Soon

Overview of the Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) program

The SIAM program offers non-repayable financial assistance to eligible Quebec-based food processing businesses, with a maximum funding amount of $100,000 per applicant per twelve-month period. It aims to facilitate access to long distribution marketing networks by supporting activities like market development and commercialization to increase the presence and sales of Quebec's bio-food products.

Financing terms and conditions

The maximum rate of financial assistance is 50 % of eligible expenses, which can be cumulatively increased up to 70 % in certain cases (organic: +10 % if the project focuses exclusively on certified organic products; public institutional market: +10 % if the project targets this market exclusively).
The maximum amount allocated per applicant is $100,000 per twelve-month period.

Eligible projects & activities

Implementation of marketing and market development activities in Quebec's long distribution circuit.
Accessing a new market (e.g., a company active in retail aiming to enter the restaurant or institutional market).
Accessing a new market segment (e.g., a company present in one retail chain seeking entry into another retail chain).
Expanding market share in Quebec to a larger scale of commercialization (e.g., expanding from several regional retail points to the entire network of a retail chain in Quebec).
Product registry subscriptions and related services (e.g., GS1 Canada for the Répertoire des aliments québécois).
Hiring or promoting a specialist in market development or marketing for up to one year.
Acquisition of external market studies, survey design and implementation, data bank access, market tests, and in-store tastings.
Content creation and adaptation related to marketing, including for media placement, promotions, and product or packaging adaptation for new markets or segments.
Purchase of printing plates/matrices for packaging or label adaptation for new markets or segments.
Media placement and advertising in collaboration with retailers, on social media, or online sales platforms.
Professional fees for influencers, brand ambassadors, or social media management/animation.
Listing fees for launching a new product in a retail chain.
External services for business development, including updating commercialization strategies, trademark registration, association memberships, website development, online sales platforms, and hiring external merchandisers or business development specialists.
Participation in professional and major industry trade shows (in-person or virtual), including registration, booth setup, and direct promotional activities.
Subscription and access to the Quebec government's electronic tendering system (SEAO) and related services, including professional fees for business development related to tenders.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 100,000

Expanding distribution of Quebec organic juices in major retail

Eligibility criteria of the Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) program

This grant requires specific criteria for applicants to be eligible.

The applicant must have an operational establishment located in Quebec.
The applicant must be legally registered in the Quebec enterprise register as a food processing company, an entity outsourcing food processing (under certain conditions), or an agro-processor (under certain conditions).
The applicant must have been commercializing its food products for at least one year.
The applicant must have achieved a minimum annual revenue of $250,000 related to food processing activities.
The applicant's food product offerings must primarily consist of Quebec products.
The applicant must demonstrate sufficient financial capacity to undertake the project, meeting specific financial ratios.

Who is eligible?

Food processing companies operating in Quebec
Agri-food processors with an operational establishment in Quebec
Companies outsourcing their food processing in Quebec (under certain conditions)

Who is not eligible

Companies not legally registered in Quebec.
Entities with no operational establishment in Quebec.
Companies that have not been in operation for at least one year.
Businesses with an annual revenue below $250,000.
Enterprises without a majority of Quebec-produced food products in their portfolio.
Non-food processing businesses.

Eligible expenses

Registration of products with GS1 Canada, including subscription and service fees.
Salaries for a market development or marketing specialist for up to 52 weeks, limited to $45,000.
Professional fees for market studies, database access, surveys, and market tests.
Costs for product tastings at points of sale, excluding product and disposable costs.
Fees related to advertising content creation, media placement, and media promotion.
Professional services from influencers or brand ambassadors, up to $15,000.
Fees for registering a new product with a retail chain, limited to $40,000.
External professional fees for updating a marketing strategy.
Trademark registration costs, including fees with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, limited to $20,000.
First-year membership fees for a business development association.
Development work related to the applicant's website for commercialization purposes, up to $20,000.
Fixed fees for access to an online sales platform or business matchmaking service.
Professional fees for external merchandising specialists, limited to $25,000.
Costs for accessing the Quebec government electronic tendering system (SEAO) and related external professional fees.
Costs associated with professional trade shows and major industry events, including registration, space rental, equipment, booth setup, and direct participation costs.

Eligible geographic areas

Quebec

Eligibility criteria of the Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) program

Applicant's capacity to carry out the project.
Relevance and quality of the project, including:Structured nature of the application and applicant's level of preparation.
Alignment between proposed activities and the applicant’s objectives.
Demonstration of tangible and realistic outcomes for Quebec.
Demonstration that the project supports the specific objectives of SIAM.
Coherence of the project with the business plan (e.g., alignment with company mission, fit with business lifecycle stage).
Realism of the project budget in relation to company revenue (total cost of the project should not exceed 16% of revenue; otherwise, the project's feasibility and seriousness may be questioned).
Submission of supporting documents (such as business plans, strategic plans, market studies) to demonstrate the project’s preparation and structure.
Recency and relevance of the business plan, including an updated SWOT analysis and growth strategy.
Realistic timeline and budget planning for project implementation.

How to apply to the Individual Market Access Support (SIAM) program

Prequalification

Visit the Aliments du Québec website.
Click the button to access the prequalification form.
Download, fill out, and save the prequalification form.
Send the completed form to the email address indicated at the bottom of the form.

Submission of a complete financial assistance application

After a satisfactory prequalification, receive the financial assistance application form.
Fill out the financial assistance application form properly.
Include all mandatory and required documents such as the business plan and the project cost form.
Send all these documents in one submission by email to Aliments du Québec.

Analysis of the request

Upon receipt of the request, an acknowledgment of receipt is sent by Aliments du Québec.
Aliments du Québec verifies the admissibility and eligibility of the request.
In case of non-compliance, respond to requests for clarification or additional documents within ten working days.

Additional information

While the SIAM program is currently not accepting new applications due to the high volume received, here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The maximum funding rate may be increased up to 70% if projects exclusively target certified organic food products or the public institutional market.
The financial assistance is provided as a non-repayable contribution.
Applicants may request a review of a decision if they believe errors were made during the evaluation.
The assistance is disbursed in a maximum of two installments, contingent on the acceptance of deliverables by Aliments du Québec.