Business Olymel picks up pace
The St. Esprit facility will grow by around 29,250 m2 bringing the total area of the facility to around 179,750 m2. Upgrades will include a refrigeration room, and production tables will be reorganized to increase production volume of value-added products. Olymel said slaughtering capacity at the plant will increase to 40,000 hogs a week from 30,000 hogs. The facility at St. Esprit produces various cuts of pork, seasoned pork products and vacuum-packed items. The plant expansion will add chilled fresh pork capabilities to the facility. Currently, 810 employees work at the plant; the plant expansion will create an additional 200 positions.
Olymel also announced that employees represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union Local 1991-P have agreed to extend by a collective agreement seven years beyond an expiration date of 31 May 2018.
In other company news, Olymel and Atrahan Transformation Inc., a hog slaughtering and butchering firm in Yamachiche, began integrating their operations. Additionally, Olymel concluded an agreement in principle that forms a partnership in Lucyporc, another Yamachiche-based hog slaughtering and butchering company owned by Groupe Robitaille.
And on 7 June, Olymel acquired La Fernandière, Trois-Rivières sausage producer, whose production volume is expected to triple due to an investment of more than $1.183 mill. and the creation of 30 new jobs.