Government of Canada Supports two Quebec Dairy Processors

SAINT-PRIME, QC – Today, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Richard Hébert, Member of Parliament for Lac-Saint-Jean and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, announced an investment of up to $600,000 in support of dairy processor Fromagerie Perron Inc. from the Dairy Processor Investment Fund (DPIF) and a repayable contribution of up to $564000 from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. Nutrinor Coopérative, the parent organization for Fromagerie Perron, will receive up to $293,000 from the Dairy Processor Investment Fund.

The investments will help Fromagerie Perron to purchase and install new equipment including a pasteurizer and a complete refrigeration unit which will help the company to increase production capacity, while improving efficiency. It is expected that the project will allow Fromagerie Perron to increase their annual processing capacity of Canadian milk and create five new jobs.

For Nutrinor Coopérative Ltd., the investment will allow them to purchase and install new automated high-temperature (UHT) equipment to sterilize and render aseptic milk and creams, extending the shelf life of products and reducing production costs. The project is expected to increase use of Canadian milk and maintain a strong workforce of 300 employees.

DPIF was designed to help the sector increase productivity and competitiveness, and help them prepare for market changes resulting from the Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).