Agropur to close cheese plant in Québec, Canada

Canadian dairy cooperative Agropur has announced plans to close its cheese plant in Québec.

Located in Saint-Damase in Québec’s Montérégie region, the plant featured cheese conversion and soft cheese manufacturing operations.

Agropur plans to initiate the closing process from January next year and is expected to be completed by April 2019.

Agropur’s decision to close the plant comes after the company identified that a major investment was required to maintain operations.

The soft cheese manufacturing processes of the Saint-Damase plant will be integrated into the Saint-Hyacinthe plant, while the cheese conversion activities will be shifted to the Beauceville plant.

Agropur’s cooperative CEO Robert Coallier said in a statement: “Major investments were needed at the Saint-Damase plant. In view of the inability to reach a long-term agreement with the plant’s employees and the need to honour commitments to customers, Agropur had no choice but to reorganise its investments.

“The cooperative must take the necessary measures to remain a major player in an increasingly competitive market.

“Agropur is keenly aware of the impact of today’s announcement on the plant’s employees.”

The dairy cooperative further added that the employees affected due to the closure can take the advantage of available programmes, including employment opportunities at its other sites, severance packages and the employee and family assistance programme.

The Saint-Damase, Beauceville and Saint-Hyacinthe facilities are said to be part of a network of 12 production plants in Québec, including six within 100km of Montréal.

Once the closure of this cheese plant in Québec is completed, the number of production units in the Montreal region will reduce to five.

Agropur operates 39 plants in the US and Canada.