Olymel closes Quebec poultry plant

St-Hyacinthe, Que. – Olymel is closing its Iberville, Que. chicken processing plant, putting 120 employees out of work.

The move comes after 183 employees were let go from the same plant last summer following company restructuring. At that time deboning and pre-packaging operations were moved to facilities in Berthierville, Que., Ste-Rosalie, Que. and Brampton, Ont.

The Iberville plant will cease operations on Aug. 19, 2011, although its adjacent distribution centre will remain open. At that point remaining poultry processing will move to an Olymel facility in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., which will undergo a $500,000 renovation. The move should create approximately 30 new jobs, which will be offered to laid-off employees first.

The changes should generate “significant economies of scale in our operations,” says Olymel CEO Rejean Nadeau, adding that the company “does not take the decision to cut these jobs lightly.”