How to produce Canned Food in Anno 1800

Canned Food in Anno 1800 is an Artisan need in the Old World, and a crucial mid game production chain. It combines beef, red peppers, and iron into a high value good that boosts population happiness and workforce stability.

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What is produced

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Buildings in this chain

This production chain relies on five buildings: the Iron Mine, Cattle Farm, Red Pepper Farm, Artisanal Kitchen, and Cannery. The Iron Mine produces four tons of iron per minute, while each of the other buildings outputs one ton per minute. As a result, one Iron Mine can efficiently support four of the other buildings, keeping the entire chain running smoothly.

For this reason, the most efficient setup is to pair one Iron Mine with four of the other buildings plus three Canneries. However, because this full layout is extremely expensive early on, you may prefer to build fewer supporting buildings at first. In that case, you can simply redirect the surplus iron into other valuable production chains, such as Sewing Machines or Weapons, ensuring nothing goes to waste while still strengthening your economy.

Building	No. needed	Cost per building	Total cost
Iron Mine	1	$800 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 Workers.	$800 credits, 4 timber, 5 bricks, -50 maintenance, 50 Workers.
Cattle Farm	4	$2,000 credits 6 timber -50 maintenance 20 Farmers	$8,000 credits 24 timber -200 maintenance 80 Farmers
Red Pepper Farm	4	$2,000 credits 6 timber -100 maintenance 10 Farmers	$8,000 credits 24 timber -400 maintenance 40 Farmers
Artisanal Kitchen	4	$7,000 credits 6 Timber 10 bricks 8 steel beams 8 windows -100 maintenance 75 Artisans	$28,000 credits 24 timber 40 bricks 32 steel beams 32 windows -400 maintenance 300 Artisans
Cannery	3	$15,000 credits 6 timber 10 bricks 8 steel beams 8 windows -100 maintenance 75 Artisans	$45,000 credits 18 timber 30 bricks 24 steel beams 24 windows -300 maintenance 225 Artisans
		Total	$89,800 credits 94 timber 75 bricks 56 steel beams 56 windows -1,350 maintenance 120 Farmers 50 Workers 525 Artisans

You can only build an Iron mine on islands that actually contain Iron deposits. To check this, start by looking at the resource bar, which lists all materials available on that island. If you prefer a more hands on approach, you can also explore the island directly and hover over each mining site to see what resource it provides. Finally, keep in mind that Iron deposits are always found near mountains, so those areas are the best places to check first.

To build an Iron mine, you will need the following items:

• $800 credits
• 4 timber
• 5 bricks
• Iron deposit on the island

As well as the build costs, you will also need the following ongoing costs:

• 50 workers
• $50 credits per minute for maintenance

Once these conditions are met, the Iron Mine will begin producing four iron ore per minute. As a result, you’ll have a steady and reliable supply to keep your production chains running smoothly. In turn, this consistency helps prevent shortages, ensuring that your city can continue growing without interruption.

The Cattle Farm produces Beef, one of the core ingredients in the Canned Food production chain. It can be placed once you reach Artisan level in the Old World, and it stays relevant well into the mid game thanks to its role in Goulash production. The Cattle farm doesn’t require fertility so can be placed on any island.

To build the Cattle Farm, it will cost the following:

• $2,000 credits
• 6 timber
• 4×5 tile space (plus four 3×4 tile space for the modules).

In addition to the construction costs, you will also need the following ongoing resources:

• 20 Farmers
• $50 credits per minute for maintenance.

Once these conditions are met, the Cattle Farm will begin producing Beef at a steady rate of one ton every two minutes. As a result, you’ll have a reliable supply ready to support your Goulash and Canned Food production.

Here is a simple layout for one Cattle Farm in Anno 1800 in the Old World.

The Red Pepper Farm produces red peppers, a key ingredient in the Canned Food production chain. Because red peppers are required for Goulash, this farm remains important long after you first unlock it. As your city grows, its steady output helps keep your mid‑game production running smoothly.

You can only place Red Pepper Farms once you reach the Artisan tier. However, before building them, you must check whether your island has Red pepper fertility, as not every island supports this crop. If your main island lacks it, you’ll need to expand to another island that does.

It will cost the following to build the Red Pepper Farm:

• $2,000 credits
• 6 timber
• 3×3 tile space (plus 72 farm fields).

In addition to the above building costs, you will also have the following ongoing costs:

• 10 Farmers
• $100 credits per minute for maintenance.

Once the above conditions are met the Red Pepper Farm will produce peppers at a rate of one ton every two minutes. As a result, you will have a steady supply for your Canned Food production chain.

Here is a straightforward layout for a single Red Pepper Farm. It forms a clean square, which makes it easy to copy and expand as your population grows. As your city develops, you can simply repeat this pattern to scale your pepper production without redesigning your layout each time.

The Artisanal Kitchen is the building where Goulash is produced, combining Beef and Red Peppers into the intermediate good required for Canned Food. Since every Cannery depends on a steady supply of Goulash, this building plays a central role in keeping your Canned Food production chain running smoothly.

You can construct the Artisanal Kitchen once you reach the Artisan tier. At that point, it becomes a major mid game investment, both in terms of construction materials and workforce. As your city grows, you’ll often need several kitchens to keep pace with rising demand.

To build the Artisanal Kitchen you will need the following:

• $7,000 credits
• 6 timber
• 10 bricks
• 8 steel beams
• 8 windows
• 5×5 tile space.

As well as the above building costs you will also need the following:

• 75 Artisans
• $100 credits per minute for maintenance.

Once the above conditions have been met the kitchen will steadily produce one ton of goulash every two minutes. As a result, you will have a steady supply to send to the Cannery.

The Cannery is the final building in the Canned Food production chain. It combines Goulash and Iron to produce Canned Food, a key need for your Artisans and a valuable ration item for expeditions. Once you reach the Artisan tier, the Cannery becomes an essential mid game building that directly supports your population happiness and workforce stability.

To build the Cannery you will need the following:

• $15,000 credits
• 6 timber
• 10 bricks
• 8 steel beams
• 8 windows
• 7×6 tile space.

As well as the building costs, you will also need the following ongoing costs:

• 75 Artisans
• $100 credits per minute for maintenance.

Once these conditions are met the Cannery will steadily produce two ton of cans every three minutes. As a result, you will have a steady supply for your Artisans and Engineers.

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Technology Tree

When setting up your Canned Food production chain, it’s important to keep your buildings balanced so each part of the chain runs efficiently. Ideally, you would use the following ratio: 1 Iron Mine, 4 Cattle Farms, 4 Red Pepper Farms, 4 Artisanal Kitchens and 3 Canneries

This setup ensures that your iron, beef, peppers, and goulash all flow smoothly into the final production of Canned Food.

However, in the early game, this full layout is extremely expensive in both credits and construction materials. Therefore, it’s usually better to start small. A practical early setup is: 1 Iron Mine, 2 Cattle Farms, 2 Red Pepper Farms, 2 Artisanal Kitchens and 1 Cannery.

This scaled down chain keeps your Artisans supplied without overwhelming your economy.

Finally, because the Iron Mine produces more iron than the Cannery needs, you can redirect the surplus iron into other valuable production chains, such as Weapons or Sewing Machines, to strengthen your city even further.

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Layout

To begin with, producing Canned Food in Anno 1800 requires a rather complex setup. It consists of five buildings, two of which are farms, so a large space is needed. In this layout we will be using the ratio’s set out in the above technology tree.

Once these buildings are placed, the chain will produce two tons of Canned Food every three minutes. As a result, your citizens will enjoy a steady supply of Canned Food to meet their needs. Finally, make sure the buildings are arranged as shown in the diagram, because proper placement is essential for maximum productivity.

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Improving the productivity

On achieving workers you will find that you can now build a Trade Union. Trade Unions can be used for numerous things in Anno 1800. They boost productivity, buildings within the unions radius do not need roads to receive the benefit. As buildings can only be affected by one Trade union at a time it is essential that you do not overlap in your design stage.

For the Canned food, the Trade Union will be able to apply to all of the buildings in the layout. Make sure to follow the illustration closely, as this will ensure everything works correctly.

Here we have placed a Trade union in the layout in order to improve production.

Trade Union items for the Iron Mine

Here are some of the items that can be used to improve the Iron Mine.

Item name	Effect	Rarity/Notes
Inflammable Concoction	+100% productivity, +50% chance of explosion	Common – destroyed after 2 hours use Expedition bonus – +5 crafting
Big box of Dynamite	+200% productivity, +100 chance of explosion	Uncommon – destroyed after 2 hours Expedition bonus – + 5 force, +4 naval power
Ventilator	-50% workforce needed	Uncommon Expedition bonus – +20 crafting
Safety Elevator	+35% productivity, -25% maintenance costs, +30% chance of explosion	Rare
Simmons Electrifying Elevator	+40% productivity, -35% maintenance costs	Epic

Trade Union items for the Cattle Farm

Here are some of the items that can be used for the Cattle Farm.

Item name	Effect	Rarity/Notes
Kitchen Help	+10% productivity	Common, Expedition bonus: +5 medicine
Herdsman	-40% workforce needed	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +20 hunting
Vitamin Supplements	+20% productivity	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +15 medicine
Water Distiller	+25% productivity, +20% workforce needed	Uncommon
Fine Feed Yard	+70% productivity, +35% maintenance costs	Rare
Livestock Farmer	+30% productivity, -60% workforce needed	Rare, Expedition bonus: +30 hunting +10 medicine
Veterinary Antibiotics	+30% productivity,	Rare, Expedition bonus: +25 medicine
Angelic Anthrax Vaccine	+40% productivity	Epic, Expedition bonus: +35 medicine
Rodrigo the Ranchero	-80% maintenance cost, Occasionally produces Beef	Epic, Expedition bonus: +40 crafting +20 navigation
Mark van der Mark, Breeder of Shepherd Dogs	+100% productivity, +100% additional modules, Occasionally produces Alpaca wool	Legendary, Expedition bonus: +30 diplomacy, +50 hunting

Trade Union items for the Red Pepper Farm

Here are some of the items to improve the Red Pepper Farm.

Item name	Effect	Rarity/Notes
Cropper	+10% productivity	Common, Expedition bonus: +10 crafting
Red Pepper Seeds	-15% productivity, Red Pepper fertility provided	Uncommon
Vegetable Grower	-50% maintenance costs	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +20 crafting
Expert Planter	+50% productivity, +25% extra modules	Rare, Expedition bonus: +30 crafting
Alexander Hancock	+80% productivity, +35% extra modules, Occasionally produces potatoes	Epic, Expedition bonus: +25 faith, +20 medicine
Hybrid Red Pepper Seeds	+25% productivity, Red Pepper Fertility provided	Epic
Medal-winning Producer	+40% productivity, Occasionally produces Champagne	Epic, Expedition bonus: +40 crafting, +20 medicine
Cosmo Castelli, Agronomic Trailblazer	+70% productivity, -80% workforce needed, +55% extra modules	Legendary, Expedition bonus: +50 crafting, +30 diplomacy

Trade Union items for the Artisanal Kitchen

Here are some of the items that can be used for the Artisanal Kitchen.

Item name	Effect	Rarity/Notes
Mixer	-20% maintenance costs	Common, Expedition bonus: +5 medicine
Pantry Maid	+20% productivity	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +10 crafting
Potager	-40% workforce needed	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +10 medicine
Cast Iron Stove	+30% productivity, -20% chance of fire	Rare
Recipe Archivist	+30% productivity, Uses pigs instead of beef	Rare, Expedition bonus: +15 crafting, +15 medicine
Elmer’s Electric Oven	+40% productivity, -25% workforce needed, -30% chance of fire	Epic
Tatiana the Taste Tester	+40% productivity, Uses Workers instead of Artisans	Epic, Expedition bonus: +20 crafting, +20 medicine

Trade Union items for the Cannery

Here are some of the items that can improve the Cannery.

Item name	Effect	Rarity/Notes
Canner	-20% workforce needed	Common, Expedition bonus: +5 crafting
Iron Oven	+20% productivity, +10% maintenance costs, -10% chance of fire	Uncommon
Planer	+30% productivity, +10% maintenance costs	Uncommon, Expedition bonus: +10 crafting
Helical Planer	+35% productivity	Rare, +15 crafting
Pastry Chef	+30% productivity, Uses Workers instead of Artisans	Rare, Expedition bonus: +15 crafting, +15 Force
“The Cutting Edge”	+40% productivity, -50% workforce needed	Epic, Expedition bonus: +20 crafting
Chef Michel	Uses pigs instead of Goulash, Occasionally produces Sausages	Epic, Expedition bonus: +20 crafting, +20 force
Mrs Mayson, The Very Good Housekeeper	+50% productivity, Uses flour instead of Iron, Occasionally produces Tortillas	Legendary, Expedition bonus: +25 crafting, +25 diplomacy, +25 faith

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Using electricity

The Iron Mine’s production will double once it receives electricity. As soon as you connect the mine to a Power Plant’s radius, its output increases immediately, allowing you to gather iron ore much faster.

Unlike crop farms electricity does double the Cattle farms productivity. By introducing electricity to all aspects of the Canned food production chain you can increase productivity and decrease the workforce needed.

As this is a crop farm it does not use electricity. So, this means that if you electrify the rest of the chain you will need to increase the number of Red Pepper Farms you have.

By introducing electricity to the Artisanal Kitchen you can double the production rate.

When the Cannery receives electricity, its productivity experiences a major boost. As soon as the building falls within a power plant’s radius, its output doubles, allowing it to convert Goulash and Iron into Canned food at twice the normal speed.

As a result, your entire production of Canned Food in Anno 1800 becomes far more efficient, since the Canned Food can keep up with the increased output from powered Cattle Farm and Artisanal Kitchen. This improvement also means you may need fewer Canneries overall, which in turn frees up valuable space on your island.

Because of this significant increase in efficiency, powering your Cannery is one of the best upgrades you can make once electricity becomes available.

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