From a news release
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced a repayable contribution of up to $10 million to Conestoga Meats under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, AgriInnovate program while visiting the facility on Thursday.
The investment will help the company upgrade its facilities and install a state-of-the-art cooling system. This unique, custom built system will allow for more controlled temperature reduction. The technology will also reduce processing time and improve product shelf life for fresh pork. These improvements will help increase production and significantly expand export opportunities in Japan and across Asia. Exporting to these areas requires advanced capabilities to improve shelf life for chilled pork.
“Our government is proud to be working with the Canadian pork industry to build a stronger, more innovative sector,” said Bibeau. “This investment will help the pork sector increase its productivity and capacity to meet growing consumer demand.”
“Conestoga Meats and its farmer-owners are very appreciative of the interest-free loan that the Government of Canada is making to our business,” said Arnold Drung, President of Conestoga Meats. “This is helping us enhance our production capabilities which will allow Conestoga to export more product and create additional jobs in our community.”
Conestoga Meats is a southwestern Ontario pork processing facility in Breslau that produces, processes and packages fresh, chilled and frozen pork products. The company is well established in both domestic and international markets, with $450 million in sales for 2017. Conestoga Meats is the second largest pork processor in Ontario and Canada’s fifth largest pork packer.
In 2018, Canada’s pork sector exports were valued at $4 billion, making Canada a top-three exporter of pork in the world.
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