Cavendish Farms has entered the next phase in building a $360 million frozen potato processing plant following a ground breaking event attended by company and government officials at the construction site in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
“This significant investment reinforces our commitment to the region and our employees, growers and customers,” said Robert K. Irving, president of the Dieppe, New Brunswick-headquartered company. “The Alberta and federal governments and the city of Lethbridge have established the general infrastructure necessary to allow us to build our new plant here.”
Among those participating the ground breaking ceremony are (front row, left to right): David Ell, a Cavendish Farms employee for 36 years; Lee Gleim, director of operations at the Lethbridge plant, Oneil Carlier, minister of agriculture and forestry; Rachel Notley, premier of Alberta; Robert K. Irving, president of Cavendish Farms; and Chris Spearman, mayor of Lethbridge.
Since unveiling construction blueprints late last year, engineering and planning has been well under way, leading up to the ground breaking ceremony at Sherring Industrial Park on September 18.
An artist’s rendering the new Canvendish Farms frozen potato processing factory that will be built in Alberta.“The record investment Cavendish Farms is making in Lethbridge is good for our farmers and producers, good for the entire community, and good for our growing economy. Together with the city of Lethbridge, the federal government and the good folks at Cavendish, we are creating more opportunities for our agricultural workers, more jobs for people in the area, and even more reasons to be proud of an industry central to who we are as Albertans,” said Rachel Notley, premier of the province of Alberta.
Construction of the factory will begin with foundation work in December, and completion is expected by the autumn of 2019. The new plant will almost triple the company’s annual production capacity in Lethbridge to meet growing international demand. At the height of the building project, it is anticipated there will be 400 workers at the job site.
About Cavendish Farms
Part of the J.D. Irving Group, Cavendish Farms is a family-owned company that produces frozen potato and appetizer products for the international food industry, supplying customers in retail, restaurant and other foodservice sectors. It operates four potato processing plants in Canada and one in Jamestown, North Dakota, USA. A fifth factory produces appetizers in Wheatley, Ontario.
