Plant eyes pork and beef niche markets

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

by KRISTIAN PARTINGTON

A provincial investment of more than $860,000 will help a Trenton-area meat processing facility increase production significantly, develop new “value-added” products and expand a niche outlet for pork and beef producers from Ontario and Quebec.

Canadian Blast Freezers Inc. is a processing operation that debones product from meat packers and abattoirs in Ontario and Quebec. Currently the facility processes approximately 85,000 pounds of boneless pork loin per day and around 50,000 pounds of ground beef per week.

Dale Willard, president of the company, said this expansion will allow the facility to increase capacity and explore additional products such as pork chops and sausages for chain stores in North America. The global market is also a major focus of the small company.

“We export probably 50 per cent of what we produce,” said Willard, “and we ship all over the world: Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan.

The facility's location, just off highway 401 approximately half way between Toronto and Montreal, makes it a prime outlet for Ontario and Quebec producers and meat packers, said Willard, adding that any additional processing capacity along the corridor helps boost productivity for the entire livestock value chain.

The facility, which will cover 100,000 square feet upon completion of the expansion, is federally inspected, he said. Every product is fully traceable, right back to the raw materials.

A provincial news release estimates the facility’s expansion will help it increase annual sales by as much as $40 million. BF