Canada-based poultry and pork products manufacturer Olymel is planning to invest over $25m to expand its hog slaughterhouse and butchering facility at St-Esprit in the Lanaudière region.
Upon completion, the expanded facility is expected to create nearly 200 jobs. Currently, it employs 810 people.
Following the investment, the area in the facility will be expanded by 35,000ft2 to over 215,000ft2.
The expansion includes construction of a refrigeration room and reorganization of production tables in order to increase the production volume of value added products.
The move will also increase the facility's slaughtering capacity from 30,000 to 40 000 hogs weekly.
Olymel president and CEO Réjean Nadeau said: ""This development project at our St-Esprit facility represents a major investment in the hog slaughtering and butchering sectors, and will benefit the entire pork industry in Quebec.
"Once completed, it will increase our production capabilities significantly and enhance our product offering, in addition to creating new jobs. It will also enable us to better meet the demands of our customers across Canada, as well as worldwide,"
The expansion will enable the company to start producing chilled pork at the plant, where it currently makes various cuts of pork, seasoned pork products and vacuum-packed products.
The St-Esprit plant's expansion is one of a series investments made recently by Olymel to strengthen its supplies and production capacity.
Earlier this month, Olymel announced acquisition of La Fernandière, a food company in Trois-Rivières specializing in the manufacture of a wide range of sausages.
In May, the company announced to invest $7.7m to expand its poultry processing facility at St. Damase in Quebec, Canada.
