Olymel to close two Quebec plants, cut 170 jobs

Olymel is closing two of its pork processing plants in Quebec, a decision that will result in the loss of 170 jobs. 

The closure of the facilities, located in Blainville and Laval, respectively, is part of a reorganization of the company that began in 2021.   

Operations will cease at both plants on April 28.   

Olymel said the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW 1991P) representing the workers at the Blainville plant, as well as all employees at both facilities, were informed of this decision earlier today and given 12 weeks' notice of termination. 

The company said it will offer opportunities for staff to relocate to other Olymel facilities. An outplacement committee will also be set up to assist employees who wish to change careers.

"The decision to close our two processing plants in Blainville and Laval is part of the reorganization that began more than a year ago and is due to the ability of other facilities to produce the same products and therefore achieve savings and efficiencies. I know that this is a difficult decision for the affected employees, but I want to reiterate our firm commitment to relocate any who wish to do so in our other Olymel facilities. I believe that today's announcement should enable us to achieve our operational optimization objectives more rapidly in the context of an unfavorable economic conditions, with rising raw material costs, labour shortages and the weakness of certain markets all affecting the company's profitability," Yanick Gervais, president and CEO of Olymel, said in a statement. 

The Blainville and Laval plants have 134 and 36 employees, respectively.  

These two facilities are specialized in the production of hams, pâtés and deli meats marketed under various brand names, including La Tour Eiffel and Nostrano. 

Most of these brands will be maintained, Olymel said, and production volumes will be handled by the company’s other facilities, mainly in the pork further processing plants.