The C$50 million plant, which gradually started operations in November last year, already employs nearly 200 people.

When it reaches its full slaughtering capacity, the Sunnymel plant will process 12,000 chickens per hour, or about 450,000 birds per week, which represents a major opportunity for all players in the NewBrunswick poultry supply line.

The plant was opened in a ceremony attended by more than 700 guests including Réjean Nadeau, President and CEO of Olymel l.p. and also President of Sunnymel and Thomas Soucy, CEO of Groupe Westco Inc., and Vice President of Sunnymel, who took part in the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.

The event was also attended by many elected officials, including the Premier of New Brunswick, the Honourable David Alward and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, Bernard Valcourt.

“Alliances like the one between Olymel and Groupe Westco help create jobs here and promote our products and the know-how of our producers and workers. This partnership draws on the innovativeness and strength of our workforce here in New Brunswick.

“This achievement is fully in line with our plan to create jobs and grow the economy by working with innovative partners like Westco and Olymel, ” said Premier Alward .

Groupe Westco President and CEO Thomas Soucy and Olymel President and CEO Réjean Nadeau were behind the Sunnymel business partnership, formed by the two companies with equal shares to build this plant.

“This plant represents five years of solid effort and hard work to bring our products from our poultry producers to market,” they said.

“It’s a dream we saw on paper for 5 years that is now real, and provides employment to some 200 people and creates many economic benefits for suppliers and services in the region.”