Scotlynn expands to create 500 jobs in Southwestern Ontario

The Scotlynn empire will continue to grow in 2025.

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The Vittoria-based transportation, logistics, and produce company recently announced it will add a pair of locations including a 60,000-square-foot facility to house 500 new employees in southwestern Ontario.

The exact location is expected to be announced in January, but like the Vittoria building in Norfolk County, the workplace will feature a cutting-edge gym with professional trainers, and restaurant-style kitchens staffed by gourmet chefs providing meals. The other new property will be in South Carolina, representing the company’s eighth building across North America. The company’s other locations include Brant County, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Indianapolis.

“For me, it’s really just about seeing people be the best version of themselves and reaching their potential,” said Scotlynn CEO Scott Biddle. “People don’t give themselves enough credit with what they’re actually able to accomplish.”

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The new Ontario building will also include collaborative workspaces and recreational amenities such as pickleball and basketball courts to help foster a sense of community and active engagement.

The in-house nutrition and wellness program has inspired dozens of employees, including one woman who was able to shed 50 pounds, complete multiple 10 km races, and even joined the Scotlynn baseball team, Biddle said.

“This isn’t just a program; it’s a way of life,” Biddle said. “By prioritizing wellness, we’re investing in the future of our employees and the company. I want Scotlynn to be a place where people don’t just work; they thrive.”

The inspiration for Biddle adding fitness and nutrition elements to his office spaces came from, of all places, rural Labrador. Biddle entered Cain’s Quest in 2014. The bi-annual event is an extreme snowmobile endurance race that spans 3,100 kilometers of Canada’s harshest terrain. The route features not only sub-zero temperatures, but relentless blizzards, and dangerous sea ice crossings. It’s so demanding that only 30 percent of entrants reach the finish.

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“It’s an Iron Man in a winter sport,” Biddle noted. “I’ve always had a passion for snowmobiling, but it was one of the things that came out of at the next level. Not many people can say that they’ve finished the race, so I thought it’ll just push me to be the best version of myself and give me a reason to really get back into optimum shape.”

In his inaugural attempt in 2014, Biddle was one of the many who were forced to throw in the towel due to the immense physical and mental challenges the race exacts. In 2016, he earned the ‘Taillight Award’ for crossing the finish line 14th – last place, but a win given Biddle was part of a small group that completed the race. A rigorous training program paid off in 2018 as Biddle earned a spot on the podium – third place.

“It’s good sometimes to feel defeated – and I felt defeated – and say, ‘what am I going to do about this?’ and go back and do what it takes to do the challenge again and finish it,” Biddle said.

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