Olymel, a Canadian leader in pork and poultry processing, has revealed plans to expand and modernize its La Fernandière facility in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. The project, backed by a C$142 million ($104 million USD) investment, will broaden the plant’s capabilities beyond sausage production to include a wider assortment of pork and poultry products.
This transformation will turn the facility into an integrated, high-tech operation with full in-house processing and packaging capabilities. The enhancements aim to streamline production, reduce transportation needs, and improve overall efficiency. Advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, autonomous equipment, and a continuous cooking system, will be installed to support automation and optimize workflow.
Construction is set to begin this June, with the revamped plant scheduled for completion by Spring 2026. Once operational, the upgraded site will create 50 new jobs, increasing the workforce to 400 employees. This marks another milestone for the plant, which Olymel acquired in 2016 and expanded the following year.
The investment also includes several initiatives focused on sustainability and employee wellbeing. Ergonomic upgrades are expected to reduce physical strain on workers, while innovations like closed-circuit water systems, heat recovery mechanisms, and eco-friendly packaging lines will cut down on water and energy consumption. A new on-site water treatment system and stormwater retention pond will further support environmental goals.
As part of this expansion strategy, Olymel will close two other facilities in Quebec — Anjou and Cap-de-la-Madeleine — by 2026. The 290 employees affected will be offered positions at other company sites, including the modernized Trois-Rivières location, which is located just seven miles from Cap-de-la-Madeleine.
This move follows a series of downsizing efforts by the company in recent years. In early 2024, Olymel cut 100 jobs at its Red Deer, Alberta plant. Prior announcements included the closure of sow operations in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2023, which affected 80 workers, and the shutdown of several pork processing plants that same year, resulting in nearly 1,000 job losses.
Despite these cutbacks, Olymel continues to operate numerous facilities across Canada, including in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and its home province of Quebec. The latest expansion highlights the company’s shift toward more efficient, sustainable, and value-added operations.
