Sunrise Farms Invests $100M in Ontario Poultry Plant to Expand Sargent Farms Brand.
British Columbia-based poultry producer Sunrise Farms is building a new $100 million processing plant in Woodstock, Ontario, the development be for a 155,000-square-foot facility.
Sunrise Farms is a large Canadian poultry processor based in British Columbia that acquired Sargent Farms (an Ontario-based poultry company) in a deal that closed June 2023. The acquisition included Sargent Farms’ processing assets and operations, bringing them into Sunrise’s network.
Sunrise Farms has continued to use Sargent Farms as a market-facing brand, especially in Ontario and in halal poultry products.
“We are pleased to continue our growth by expanding our operations within Ontario,” said David Shoore, CEO, Sunrise Farms when the announcement was made.
“This project represents the largest greenfield investment in Sunrise's history. Upon completion, the new facility will enable Sunrise to respond effectively to increasing demand for Sargent Farms branded halal certified products throughout Ontario and nationwide. This development is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to the region and reinforce Ontario's food system.
Key details of the project:
- A $100.5 million greenfield investment, backed by a $4 million grant from the Ontario government.
- The facility will be federally licensed by the CFIA and will produce halal-certified chicken under the Sargent Farms brand.
- The plant will source heavily from local Ontario farmers to support the regional agricultural base
“As demand for Ontario-made products rises, Sunrise Farms’ investment will add critical processing capacity to our domestic supply chain, creating new opportunities for Ontario workers, farmers and suppliers,” stated the Honourable Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economomic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Sunrise Farms employs approximately 3,000 people across Canada and was founded in 1983 in Surrey BC. It is a vertically integrated poultry company, which includes more than just processing facilities, it spans hatcheries, farms, processing, and distribution. The company currently operates processing plants across four provinces:
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- Ontario
The new plant will be located on Alyea Street near Highway 401 in Woodstock, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2027, it will create about 100 new jobs.