CALGARY, ALBERTA — JBS Foods Canada, a subsidiary of JBS SA, recently held a groundbreaking for its new C$80 million ($58.2 million) beef distribution center at its Brooks, Alberta, facility. 

Local and national officials, along with JBS executives, attended the event on June 7.

“Our team members are the reason that JBS Canada is able to make such a substantial investment in Brooks,” said Celio Fritche, president of JBS Canada. “Thank you, for your hard work, dedication and for working to feed Canada each and every day.”

According to the company, more than 1,000 JBS workers attended the groundbreaking at the distribution center. JBS Canada acquired the Brooks beef facility in 2013.

Wesley Batista Filho, chief executive officer of JBS USA, was also at the groundbreaking. He said JBS Canada is a benchmark for the company’s beef business units in North America.

“This distribution center will ensure that JBS Canada remains on the cutting edge of supply chain technology, and we look forward to its completion,” Batista Filho said.

The company stated that the distribution center construction is expected to finish by the fourth quarter of 2025. JBS Canada added that the center will increase the shipping capacity of JBS Canada’s Brooks facility by up to 40%, reduce storage costs, minimize errors and improve worker safety.

In 2022, JBS announced a partnership with Scott Technology for a $71 million automation project which features a fully automated warehousing system.