Bonduelle Canada Inc. will receive up to $8.5 from taxpayers in Ontario to help finance upgrades to three vegetable processing plants in a $79.8 million expansion project in the southwestern part of the province, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on May 8. The expansion is expected to create 87 jobs and retain more than 700 positions in Tecumseh, Ingersoll and Strathroy.
Through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund, the provincial government will assist Bonduelle in adopting innovative technology to bring new frozen vegetable products and packaging formats to domestic and export markets, increase productivity, enhance food safety and increase exports. It is anticipated that exports to the United States will increase by $34 million per year, a 55 per cent increase over current levels.
Ontario is home to Canada’s largest food processing sector, employing 94,500 people across the province. The government says that backing a strong and innovative vegetable processing sector is part of its plan to support care, create opportunity and make life more affordable during a period of rapid economic change.
Bonduelle Canada Inc. processes Ontario-grown vegetables in canned as well as frozen formats. Its facilities in the province produce approximately 250 million pounds of finished vegetable products annually.
“Boosting competitiveness and strengthening Ontario’s key industry sectors is exactly why we created the Jobs and Prosperity Fund. Our government is delighted to partner with Bonduelle Canada to help the company create new jobs and enhance technology across its Ontario operations,” said Steven Del Duca, Minister of Economic Development and Growth.
“Bonduelle, a family business established in 1853 in France, is promoting innovation and a long-term vision with eight facilities in Canada, including three in Ontario. We want to thank the government for its partnership in order to continue to help us to grow here in both frozen and canned vegetable technologies,” said Daniel Caumartin, a Bonduelle Americas Long Life vice president.
