Canada-based Olymel announced plans to expand its La Fernandière plant in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada. The $8.1 million project, will double the plant’s surface area from 24,000 square feet to more than 45,000 square feet, gaining additional space for its production operations and warehousing needs.
The expansion project is scheduled to be completed in December without any disruption in the company’s operations.
The La Fernandière plant produces and markets the La Fernandière brand sausages as well as fresh and breakfast sausages for Olymel, Lafleur and a number of private brands. The plant will also start making meatloaf again, a product that was discontinued.
This expansion will also enable the company to consolidate 200 jobs while bringing the plant’s yearly production capacity from 14 to nearly 20 million kg.
“By making this major investment, La Fernandière is giving itself the means to better meet the ever-increasing demand of the sausage market segment. This investment is necessary for us to increase our competitive position and better serve the needs of our clients all across Canada. Our additional space and equipment in a new configuration will make this establishment even more efficient. This new investment is also a sign of our confidence in the market’s growth potential. Moreover, this announcement allows us to note that the Mauricie region and the city of Trois-Rivières possess positive assets in terms of labor and services that are capable of sustaining the development of companies such as La Fernandière and Olymel,” says Réjean Nadeau, chief executive officer.
The plant expansion work includes the reconfiguration of Olymel’s four current production lines, the addition of a fifth one and the creation of new spaces, including a 500-pallet storage room for frozen products and additional storage areas for raw and packing materials. The receiving and shipping areas will also be enlarged, while the sections housing the cafeteria and employee services will be relocated.
Since Olymel purchased the La Fernandière plant in June 2016, which is home to over 200 employees.
