“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,” Olymel’s CEO Réjean Nadeau said in a statement.
The plant, which Olymel purchased in June 2016, produces La Fernandière brand sausages as well as fresh and breakfast sausages for the Olymel and Lafleur brands, as well as for private label. The plant will also return to making meatloaf – a product that was previously discontinued.
Following the completion of this project, the plant’s annual production capacity will increase from 14 million kg. (30.8 million lb.s) to 20 million kg. (44.1 million lbs.)
The expansion includes the reconfiguration of Olymel’s four current production lines, the addition of a fifth one and the additional space including a 500-pallet storage room for frozen products and additional storage areas for raw and packing materials. Receiving and shipping areas will also be expanded, while the cafeteria and employee services will be relocated.
“Our additional space and equipment in a new configuration will make this establishment even more efficient,” Nadeau said. “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.”
