ST. HYACINTHE, Quebec – Olymel LP’s latest improvement project is a C$11million expansion and modernization of the company’s pork further processing plant in St-Henri-de-Lévis.

The St. Henri plant project follows the announcement of a C$80 million investment in the company’s Yamachiche pork plant; an expansion of a hog slaughter facility in the Lanaudiere region of Quebec; and the addition of 15,000 sq. ft. to a poultry processing plant in St. Damase.

“Olymel continues to invest in modernizing and developing operations at its processing facilities in order to better meet the needs of customers and markets,” CEO Réjean Nadeau said in a statement. “This C$11 million investment in St. Henri de Lévis is part of our commitment to remain a leader in our industry in Quebec and Canada, and to improve our competitive edge.

“To achieve its growth goals, Olymel has invested more than C$250 million since 2015 in both its pork and poultry sectors.”

The upgrades at St. Henri will include new equipment that will increase processing efficiency and raise annual production volume to 60 million kg of further processed pork from 40 million kg. The company plans to add 3,000 sq. ft. to make room for a new smoker, chillers, production and packaging equipment. The plant will cover a total of 170,000 sq. ft. when the project is completed. Work is expected to begin next week.

Once completed, more than 30 jobs will be created at the plant. Olymel and the United Food and Commercial Workers union (local UFCW- 501) negotiated an extension of the current collective agreement for a period of six years, until October 2022. The Olymel plant in St-Henri-de-Lévis currently has 530 employees.

The St. Henri plant manufactures smoked sausages, bologna, pepperoni, salami, mock chicken, smoked ham and other products.