TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC – Olymel's La Fernandière plant in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, is being expanded thanks to an $8.1 million investment. The plant's surface area will be doubled from 24,000 sq. ft. (2,200 m2) to more than 45,000 sq. ft. (4,200 m2), gaining additional space both for its production operations and its warehousing needs. The expansion project has just begun and is scheduled for completion 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, but for which there is still demand. The completion of this enlargement project will 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 labour and services that are capable of sustaining the development of companies such as La Fernandière and Olymel," said Olymel's CEO Réjean Nadeau.
La Fernandière recently acquired a neighbouring piece of land through this investment. 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, the number of employees in that plant has increased from 80 to over 200, and the company's investments have reached more than $10 million in just one year.
Source: Olymel l.p.