National Dry Beverages has started an $18.1-million expansion of its plant at 24-30 Arrow Rd. in Toronto, the first project approved for a city incentive that rebates property-tax increases on eligible industrial development.

The project will add 62,000 square feet to the site on the west side of Arrow Road, north of Sheppard Avenue West. Plans call for a two-storey industrial and office addition designed by Tacoma Engineers. The project includes loading docks, mezzanines, freezer and cooler rooms, explosion-proof alcohol-concentrate rooms and a retail storefront.

Building permits are in place, servicing work is complete and foundation construction is nearly finished, the city said.

National Dry makes and packages Brio Chinotto and other Italian-style sodas, alongside other carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, water and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages. The plant also handles full-service co-packing and private-label production for Canadian and international brands.

The added space will allow National Dry to operate its canning and glass-bottling lines simultaneously around the clock. The expansion is expected to create 20 full-time jobs, increasing the workforce by nearly 40%.

The Economic Development and Growth in Employment program, known as EDGE, provides five-year grants based on the municipal tax increase created by eligible development. Grants have temporarily risen from 60% to 100% of that increase for applications submitted by Dec. 31, 2027.

Since launching in January 2025, EDGE has approved eight projects representing about $220 million in construction investment, 583 new jobs and 725 retained jobs across Toronto.