Kellogg hires more than 40 people in Belleville for new cereal production line
Cereal maker Kellogg plans to create at least 40 new jobs when it opens a new production line at its Belleville plant by the end of the year.
The new line, which will feature advanced food-processing techniques, will make the Belleville plant the most sophisticated in Kellogg’s worldwide operations.
Kellogg spent $43 million on the new line, which includes $4.5 million from the province.
The investment comes just over three years after the international cereal maker opened its $100-million plant, which produces Mini-Wheats cereal. It was the first new Kellogg factory to open in more than 20 years and the second Kellogg factory in Canada.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says in a recent news release that the investment is a vote of confidence in the skills and knowledge of Ontario workers.
“It’s another positive sign that our investments in people are paying off and that our economy is turning the corner,” McGuinty says.
Former Kellogg North America president Jeff Montie said in 2004 that Kellogg chose Belleville because of its proximity to major transportation routes; lower costs of doing business; and support from the local community, region, and province.
The area’s strong manufacturing network also played a role, the company said. The Bay of Quinte Region, where Belleville resides, is one of Ontario’s largest food-processing centres and is home to more than 35 food-processing companies that employ more than 2,500 people.
Chris King, Chief Executive Officer of Quinte Economic Development Commission, says the area offers food-processing manufacturers plenty of advantages.
“The Bay of Quinte Region offers a competitive environment with supply chain linkages, infrastructure, transportation networks and support services to meet the needs of the food processing sector,” King says.
“You get the advantages of our proximity to major markets —Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, the Northeastern United States—but you don't get all the heavy costs associated with being in a major metropolitan area,” he says. He says it also helps that in Ontario East traffic congestion is a rarity and workforces are loyal.
Fresh meats producer boosts Ontario East agri-food industry with new facility
Ontario East will soon welcome another food-processing company as the area celebrates its steadily growing agri-food industry.
Calgary-based Vantage Foods says, by November, it will start producing retail-ready fresh meats from a new state-of-the-art facility in Belleville.
Doug Paddock, chief operating officer of Vantage Foods Canada, says the company will initially hire 150 people for the operation, which will supply meat to 115 Food Basics (Metro) retail stores.
“The Belleville service centre will be state-of-the-art, incorporating the most advanced food processing technology and a dedicated team of case-ready professionals to ensure production and distribution of fresh meats under superior food safety protocols,” says Paddock.
The Belleville facility will be Vantage’s third in Canada. In Canada, Vantage supplies retailers such as Canadian Safeway Ltd. and Metro Inc. The company has another operation in Lenoir, North Carolina, where there is a shipping and distribution centre and food science laboratory.
Gary Haley, president and chief executive officer of Vantage Foods, says Belleville was an optimal location for serving Eastern Canadian customers due to the city’s location alongside Highway 401.
“Belleville provides an excellent food distribution point for supply within Ontario and cost-effective access to markets in Québec and the Maritimes,” says Haley, adding that Ontario and the city have been helpful.
“We are highly motivated to make the facility operational and we’re excited about building a future in eastern Ontario. That’s why we selected a 13-acre site that has room for expansion,” he says.
Ontario East agri-food hub expands—again
Eastern Ontario’s agri-food industry is about to grow a little bigger.
Global food supplier Bakkavor Foods Canada has announced it will add another 50 employees to the 15-person workforce at its Cobourg plant when an expansion is complete.
Bakkavor Foods Canada, a subsidiary of Bakkavor USA, opened its first Canadian production facility in Canada in April. With $1.1 million from the provincial government, it is expanding to meet the needs of Canadian food retailers with a fresh food manufacturing centre.
Lou Rinaldi, MPP for Northumberland-Quinte West, says the investment will make a big difference in the region.
“Forward-thinking companies like Bakkavor are key partners in the development of Ontario’s provincial and regional economies,” says Rinaldi.
Bakkavor Foods Canada plans to deliver upwards of 70 new products to market, including items such as Italian, traditional and Asian meals, as well as vegetable side dishes, soups, sauces and salad meals.
The company chose Cobourg after learning about the benefits of doing business in Eastern Ontario from members of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission marketing team.
“I was provided with a package highlighting potential sites to locate a food company and Cobourg was on the list,” Dutton says.
Bakkavor is a growing global food company based in the UK with 57 operations in 10 countries and employing more than 19,000 people. It supplies more than 6,000 products in 18 fresh prepared food categories and a variety of fresh produce categories that are sold predominantly under customers’ own brands, supplying many of the world’s top grocery retailers.
Goat research centre receives big boost from Ontario government
Leading goat and small ruminant research that’s part of a collaboration involving Peterborough’s Trent University has taken a big step forward with $485,000 in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Trent University is a partner in the Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation. It is an industry-led partnership between the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, Trent University, the University of Guelph, Ontario Goat, and the Ontario Dairy Goat Cooperative.
Research will be undertaken in collaboration by Trent University in Peterborough, the University of Guelph in Guelph, and the private sector.
The money will be used to enhance the market for goat dairy products, meat and fibre by elevating the level of research and understanding about the genetics, animal health and products in order to serve growing ethnic markets in Canada.
Andy Mitchell, President of the Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation, says the money will ensure goat producers can more ably compete in markets as the innovation and research advances. It will also increase animal health and food safety and will improve the viability of rural economies.
Neil Emery, VP of Research & International at Trent University, says researchers from the institutions will collaborate to build on current strengths to streamline the process and not duplicate efforts.
For more information regarding the Centre of Excellence for Goat Research and Innovation and this announcement, please contact kyoung@gpaedc.on.ca