After an investment of more than $120 million and two years of intensive work to modernize, completely renovate and double the area of the pork processing plant of Atrahan, an Olymel division in Yamachiche, Que., is completed. Olymel's new pork slaughterhouse and cutting plant will employ a total of more than 1,000 people and is the culmination of the project announced in August 2016 as part of a business partnership between Olymel and Groupe Robitaille.

The Lucyporc plant, which produces Nagano pork and has been established in Yamachiche since 2000, will cease all operations on April 26, the company said.

In addition to existing Olymel and Lucyporc employees, the completion of this project has created more than 300 new jobs, making Olymel one of the largest employers in the region. The new plant, which will focus on the production of value-added products, will be officially inaugurated later this year.

The company noted that, effective immediately, it is expanding its activities to two shifts, which will allow all newly grouped employees to familiarize themselves with the completely redesigned and refurbished facility to better meet market needs.

The plant will gradually increase slaughter capacity from 18,000 to 40,000 hogs per week, doubling production volume. Olymel said 60% of the production volume is destined for export to 50 countries. The plant will also produce and market value-added and niche products, such as Nagano pork or chilled pork products with a 60-day shelf life.

Olymel said the modernized production systems use the latest-generation technologies, in particular through the automation of certain operations and the implementation of high-performance Cryovac vacuum packaging systems.

The company said it also expanded the shipping room and installed four new loading docks for a new total of 10.