Olymel modernizes Quebec pork and poultry plant

Pork and poultry processor Olymel has opened its modernized plant in Trois-Rivières, Que.

The previously announced $142 million project—one of the largest in the company’s history—expands the plant’s production capacity by more than four times to 50 million kilograms. Its footprint has also grown to 137,200 square feet from 51,700 square feet.

Olymel said the facility handles pork and poultry processing, slicing and packaging.

In addition to whole and slides La Fernandière sausages and hams, the plant now produces the vast majority of Olymel deli meats.

"Today, we're celebrating the successful completion of a key project for Olymel and recognizing the exceptional work of our teams and many partners," says Daniel Rivest, CEO of Olymel, in a press release. "They worked tirelessly for over 15 months to bring this high-tech facility to life, and I'm very proud of that. Thanks to them, we're now better equipped to serve our customers in Canada and around the world."

The facility's new features include an industrial battery system that stores energy when demand is low and releases it when demand is high; a focus on water-based over air-based cooking; heat recovery; closed-loop water management; and reduced transportation.

Roughly 100 jobs have been created, bringing the plant's total workforce to about 400 employees.

The expansion project saw the closure of Olymel’s Anjou and Cap-de-la-Madeleine facilities, which employ 140 and 150 people, respectively, in spring 2026.

More than $20.3 million in financial assistance was provided by public-sector partners including  Investissement Québec, acting on behalf of the provincial government; MAPAQ; Hydro-Québec;  the Ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs; and Ville de Trois-Rivières.