CLAIR, New Brunswick – Production has begun at the new Sunnymel poultry plant in Clair in the Upper Madawaska, New Brunswick. The plant is jointly owned by Groupe Westco, the largest poultry producer in New Brunswick, and Olymel, a leader in the Canadian food processing industry.

The plant, which has a weekly slaughtering capacity of 450,000 chickens, is operating under federal jurisdiction and under the supervision of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). When the plant reaches full capacity in early 2013 it will employ more than 200 workers.

Construction of the plant began in the summer of 2011, and required an investment of more than $50 million. The plant will distribute its products in the Maritimes market and elsewhere in Canada.