Frozen potato products specialist McCain Foods announced on March 13 that it is making a substantial investment to double the size of its potato processing and output at its plant in Coaldale, Alberta, Canada, where it has been operating since 2000. The project is a significant economic boost for the region as it is expected to create 260 new jobs.
“The development in Alberta marks the largest global investment in our 65-year history, totaling $600 million, while underscoring our commitment to the future of agriculture and innovation in Canada,” said Max Koeune, president and chief executive officer of McCain Foods. “This will fuel continued growth for the business, allowing us to serve key markets further by bringing customers high quality potatoes that begin with our dedicated local farming community.”
Aligned with sustainability commitments, best practices will be implemented to ensure the facility helps the company continue to work towards its goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations in half by the end of the decade.
The project will include wind turbines and solar panels, providing 100% renewable electricity to the Coaldale site. Additionally, renewable biogas generated at the wastewater treatment facility will be maximized and transported to the steam boilers to offset natural gas demands. To further build on sustainability efforts, a water recycling system will be implemented to produce clean potable water to be used in the manufacturing process.
The expansion will see two new state-of-the-art production lines come on line. Once fully operational, the workforce at Coaldale will more than double to 485. Construction is expected to start later this year.
