Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada-headquartered McCain Foods (Canada) has announced that it will invest $80 million to install a high-speed formed potato specialty production line at its factory in Grand Falls. The expansion will enable it to meet rising demand in the fast-growing market segment while strengthening the company’s potato processing presence both in North America.
Approximately 80 new full-time jobs will be added to the production line once the facility upgrade is completed.
“This investment reflects our commitment to the potato business in New Brunswick and to the people that live and work in the Grand Falls community,” said Dale McCarthy, vice president of integrated supply chain at McCain Foods North America. “There will be demand for an additional 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of harvested potatoes by New Brunswick potato growers in order to supply the line.”
Scheduled for completion by early 2021, the line will feature advanced technology for process efficiency as well as state-of-the-art food safety, processing and packaging equipment.
“Investing in the Grand Falls facility is a testament to the many successful partnerships McCain values with our local potato growers, employees and communities,” said Danielle Barran, president of McCain Foods Canada. “We are a proud, Canadian family-owned company, where we continue to strengthen and grow our businesses in New Brunswick to meet the growing consumer demand for frozen potato products.”
New Brunswick is a key potato-growing region in Canada, representing an estimated 15 per cent of the nation’s total production and acreage. Spud farmers in the province are highly experienced, and many have established business relationships with McCain Foods.
“With this announcement, both the Grand Falls facility and the recent Florenceville expansion will provide McCain Foods with two of the largest formed specialty lines in the industry,” concluded McCarthy.
About the Company
McCain Foods (Canada) is the Canadian division of McCain Foods Limited. The company ranks as one of the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen french fries and potato specialties, and also produces other products including vegetables, snack, appetizers and desserts that are distributed to restaurants and retail stores in more than 160 countries. In Canada McCain operates eight production facilities and provides employing for approximately 2,400 people.
