Olymel has announced that it is investing CAD 9 million ($7 million approx.) to set up a second shift at its Ange-Gardien hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Montérégie-Est, Quebec.
The investment and additional shift at the facility – which was part of the January 2020 acquisition of pork producer F. Ménard – are expected to create more than 250 new jobs.
The plant’s workforce will grow to more than 900 employees, which Olymel says will make the facility one of the largest employers in the region.
Renovations to accommodate the new evening shift are already underway, including the addition of freezing capacity and the expansion of the cafeteria and employee parking areas. The plant has also undertaken work to upgrade its wastewater treatment equipment.
Olymel says that the second shift – which it expects to be in operation by next September – will allow the facility to gradually increase its weekly slaughter capacity from 25,000 to 35,000 in the first phase.
Depending on market needs and the availability in deliveries, the plant should be able to reach a slaughter capacity of 50,000 hogs per week, according to Olymel.
“With this investment, our company will have the opportunity to devote a greater part of its activities to value-added products and will be able to consolidate its position in its domestic and international markets,” said Olymel president and CEO, Réjean Nadeau.
“With the completion of this project, Olymel remains a major player in the agri-food processing industry in Quebec and Canada and is helping create stable jobs that are revitalising our regions, in this case, Montérégie.”
Last year, Olymel announced an investment of more than CAD 31.5 million ($23.6 million approx.) to expand its poultry slaughtering and cutting plant in Montérégie.
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