ST-HYACINTHE, QUEBEC – Canadian producer, processor and distributor of pork and poultry, Olymel has announced an investment of $9 million in its Ange-Gardien (formerly F.Ménard) hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Montérégie-Est, Quebec. The company will use the money to accommodate a second shift at the plant, creating more than 250 new jobs with a goal of starting operations in September 2021. Currently the plant employs 680 people and that number will grow to over 900 making the plant one of the largest employers in the region.

“This announcement is in line with Olymel's development strategy and growth objectives,” said Réjean Nadeau, Olymel’s president and chief executive officer. “Olymel is capitalizing on synergies from the January 2020 acquisition of F.Ménard, one of the leaders of the Quebec pork industry. With this investment, our company will have the opportunity to devote a greater part of its activities to value-added products and will be able to consolidate its position in its domestic and international markets.”

Renovation work at the facility has already begun. Plans include adding freezing capacity, expanding the cafeteria and employee parking areas, as well as upgrading its wastewater treatment equipment. Once the company completes the project, the Ange-Gardien facility will gradually increase its weekly slaughter capacity from 25,000 to 35,000 through the first phase of the second shift. Plant officials plan to reach a slaughter capacity of 50,000 hogs per week depending on the availability of deliveries and market needs.

The Olymel Ange-Gardien plant will continue to be supplied by the privately owned farms from F.Ménard, those of its associated breeders and those in the central Quebec hog-producing region.