In a recent press release, Olymel announced a $142-million expansion of its La Fernandière pork and poultry processing plant in Trois-Rivières, Quebec in Canada. Construction is set to begin immediately, with operations scheduled to start in spring 2026.
The project will expand the facility’s current sausage production to include a broader range of pork and poultry products. The plant will be converted into an integrated site where products can be fully processed and packaged on location. According to the company, this change is expected to reduce raw material transport, improve process alignment and increase production capacity.
The new facility will include equipment optimised with artificial intelligence to manage operations. Planned technologies include an industrial battery system, continuous cooking line, autonomous slicing, packaging, boxing and palletising operations, as well as driverless vehicles. These technologies are expected to improve consistency and allow for greater packaging flexibility, including the use of eco-friendly solutions.
The plant will also be used as a testing site for artificial intelligence applications that may be implemented across other Olymel operations.
In terms of occupational health and safety, the company plans to install ergonomic equipment to reduce physically demanding tasks and reassign workers to roles requiring more precision.
Energy efficiency measures include heat recovery systems, net-zero water-based cooking, and industrial batteries for energy storage. The facility will also feature a closed-circuit water system for ham cooking, and primary and secondary on-site water treatment infrastructure, including a stormwater retention pond.
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