McCain expands N.B. facility

McCain Foods (Canada) has announced a major investment in its French fry plant in Florenceville-Bristol, N.B. This investment is expected to expand capability and create 40 to 50 new jobs.

According to a McCain press release, the company is adding a new production line to meet growing demands for hash brown patties and similar potato products. The $65-million investment will include a 32,000-sq-ft expansion to the existing fry plant, as well as state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and technology.

Jeffery DeLapp, regional president, North America for McCain, says the new line will allow McCain to better meet the needs of its retail and foodservice customers in Canada, the U.S., and other export markets.

“Hash browns and other specialty products are the fastest-growing segment of the potato market,” he says. “This investment will help us continue to grow our North American and export businesses and just as importantly, allow us to support our customers’ growth targets as well.”

According to Shai Altman, president of McCain Foods (Canada), the enhanced capability will allow the company to offer a broader range of products to its Canadian customers and consumers.

“Consumers are demanding more choice than ever before,” he says. “This investment will help us meet that demand by expanding our existing product portfolio and developing new innovative potato specialties that people can enjoy at home or at their favourite restaurant.”

Dale McCarthy, vice-president of Integrated Supply Chain, North America, adds that the expansion will stimulate economic growth in the area and will have a significant impact on New Brunswick potato growers.

“We are probably going to need an additional 4,000 acres of potatoes or more to feed the new production line,” he says. “We will obviously buy all that we can locally, but we may have to even reach across borders to meet our needs.”

Construction will begin immediately and the company expects the new line to begin production in late 2017 or early 2018.