Sofina Foods shares measures taken to prevent spread of COVID-19

April 24, 2020, Markham, Ont. – Sofina Foods Inc. has shared the actions the company took to proactively prepare for the risks associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and how it helped effectively manage its response after an employee tested positive at its Calgary plant.

“The employee has been self-isolating at home and is doing well,” said Gerry Beadle, operations director, Calgary, at Sofina Foods Inc. “We had anticipated this possibility as part of our COVID-19 business continuity planning and had identified proactive measures to mitigate risks to our employees.

“A lot of initiatives were already in place following guidance and best practices from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the industry.”

Sofina Foods reviewed the company’s current COVID-19 practices with Alberta Health Services which confirmed that the company had taken all necessary measures to protect the health of its employees and prevent further spread of the virus in its plant. The plant is fully operational.

Co-workers who may have come in close contact with the diagnosed employee were asked to self-isolate at home and monitor their health.

“When COVID-19 started spreading in Canada, we took quick actions to protect our employees, such as more frequent disinfection of offices, equipment and common areas, physical distancing where feasible, staggered breaks, Plexiglas separations for employees working in production, enhanced communication on good hygiene practices, providing face shields to employees and temperature checks for anyone entering one of our facilities,” said Beadle. “This gave us a significant headstart to promptly and effectively address this type of incident.”

Actions taken by the company were in addition to a ban on travel and limiting visits to facilities to essential needs only.
Sofina Foods’ plant in Calgary manufactures fresh chicken products and employs 450 people.

Sofina Foods is a privately owned Canadian company and is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of primary and further processed protein products for both retail and foodservice customers.