OLYMEL INAUGURATES INTEGRATED PLANT IN TROIS-RIVIÈRES
BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Sept. 23, 2026 /CNW/ — Olymel officially inaugurates its new integrated plant in Trois-Rivières today, marking the completion of one of the largest modernization projects in the company’s history. The $142 million project involved significantly expanding the plant and upgrading it into a more efficient, state-of-the-art facility.
With an annual production capacity of 50 million kilograms, more than four times its original capacity, the plant now makes Olymel more efficient by handling pork and poultry processing, slicing, and packaging all under one roof.
In addition to La Fernandière sausages and hams (whole and sliced), the plant now produces the vast majority of Olymel deli meats that find their way to consumers’ plates across the country.
“Today, we’re celebrating the successful completion of a key project for Olymel and recognizing the exceptional work of our teams and many partners,” says Daniel Rivest, CEO of Olymel. “They worked tirelessly for over 15 months to bring this high-tech facility to life, and I’m very proud of that. Thanks to them, we’re now better equipped to serve our customers in Canada and around the world.”
High-tech and sustainable
The Trois-Rivières plant is brimming with innovative technologies, particularly in the areas of energy efficiency, automation, and artificial intelligence.
The plant’s inauguration also marks the full implementation of new equipment and processes designed to cut down on resource use and shrink the site’s environmental footprint, in line with Olymel’s commitment to reducing operations-related greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030.
The new equipment includes an industrial battery system that stores energy when demand is low and releases it when demand is high. It is an industry first in Canada and a highly practical solution for reducing the strain on the Hydro-Québec power grid. Other innovations include a focus on water-based over air-based cooking, heat recovery, closed-loop water management, and reduced transportation.
After the project was announced in June 2025, the plant began phasing in the first new production lines last May. Roughly 100 jobs have been created, bringing the plant’s total workforce to about 400 employees.
Highlights
- Investment in the project totalled $142 million.
- The plant was expanded from 51,700 to 137,200 square feet, nearly 2.5 times its original size.
- Annual production capacity went from 12 to 50 million kilograms, a fourfold increase.
- The vast majority of Olymel’s deli products will now be produced at the Trois-Rivières plant.
Energy efficiency
- The project is part of Olymel’s commitment to reducing operations-related greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030.
- Taken together, energy efficiency initiatives will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.
Economic benefits in Mauricie
- $110 million in orders placed with Canadian companies, including more than $94 million at local ones.
- Nearly 100 jobs have been created, bringing the plant’s total workforce to about 400 employees.
Financial assistance
- More than $20,3 million in financial assistance was provided by public-sector partners:
- $15 million loan from Investissement Québec, acting on behalf of the provincial government
- $2 million in financial assistance from MAPAQ
- $1.8 million grant from Hydro-Québec
- $1.3 million in financial assistance from the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs
- $250,000 in financial assistance from the Ville de Trois-Rivières
About Olymel
Olymel is Canada’s leading pork and poultry producer, processor, and distributor. Its mission is to feed the world, with passion and products of the highest quality. It employs over 12,000 people and has production and processing facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. Its annual sales reach $4.9 billion. The company markets its products mainly under the Olymel, Pinty’s, La Fernandière, Lafleur, Flamingo, and Nagano brands.
INFORMATION
SOURCE Olymel l.p.
