A spirit of entrepreneurship spanning generations

Cory Cacciavillani represents the next generation of this family business. He has worked in the family business for several years, in multiple roles. The experience he gained by working in a variety of different departments, from operations to finance, has been a driving force for him as the business continues to pivot to support their customers. Cory graduated from the University of Western with a degree in business management and a specialization in finance. He then spent time working in the industry at Aphria for three years, again tackling various roles. Cory then moved on to work at Aphria Diamond, where his expertise allowed him to lead the Aphria Diamond team to license the largest single-site cannabis facility in the world. Now, back in Canada and working with CF Industrial, he looks to bring his culminated experience and knowledge to support the business through their next evolution.

Cole Cacciavillani has been a key member in his family business since graduating as an Industrial Engineer in 1978. With 35 years of experience in the greenhouse and horticulture industry, he is an expert in how to best utilize nature’s light and proprietary growing techniques, along with technologies to create competitive, safe and cost-effective products. This expertise serves him well in the CF Groups businesses, and in the work he does in his community. Like his father, Cole is heavily involved in his community, sitting on several charitable and associative boards and was a founding chair of The Ontario Greenhouse Alliance. This dedication to his community and this industry has rewarded him with various awards of recognition including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, which honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians, and the Ontario Greenhouse Industry’s first service award.

Throughout his life, Floyd Cacciavillani remained active in the company and was involved in charitable causes. Until late 2020 he was able to work with his son, Cole, and grandson, Cory, on his original business, CF Greenhouses. His spirit continues to live on through his family and the CF Group.

One of the hallmarks of Floyd’s success was his understanding and investment in new technology – which remains a pillar of the company today. His philosophy on this point is straightforward: Invest or fall behind the competition.

This ethos of investment was also visible in Floyd’s life away from the business—investing his time and energy in his community. He was always assisting new immigrants in the area and was instrumental in helping launch a farmers’ co-op and marketing board in the 1970s, to promote the region’s greenhouse produce.