Dry pasta manufacturer to update facility

Brampton, Ont. – A dry pasta manufacturer in Ontairo has received more than $3 million to put toward upgrading its plant.

Italpasta Limited says it will use the $3.4 million investment from the federal government to purchase and install pasta packaging and production equipment. The equipment will be used to manufacturer macaroni and cheese and long goods (such as spaghetti, linguine and fettuccine).

The investment comes under the Growing Forward 2 framework and will help the company become a leader in the production of macaroni and cheese products. It will also help provide more retailers with made-in-Canada pasta products.

The investment is also expected to create eight full-time jobs and increase the demand for locally produced semolina and cheese.

Italpasta was established in 1989. The company has 200 employees and manufacturers a variety of long and short pasta (such as macaroni) products.

In Canada the domestic dry pasta industry generates more than $600 million in revenue per year. In 2013, exports were valued at $125 million.

Pictured, from left to right, are: Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz; Joe Vitale, founder and owner of Italpasta; Ralph Dietrich, chair of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario; and Frank DeMichino, COO of Italpasta – all sampling macaroni and cheese muffins.