Canadian vegetable processor Nortera invests C$28m to expand its Quebec facility, citing food sovereignty priorities amid economic uncertainty. The move aims to strengthen competitiveness and generate economic benefits for agricultural communities by increasing capacity from six to 10.6 million case-equivalents, supporting local production in Quebec.

The investment will create 70 permanent roles at the Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu plant, but will lead to around 100 job losses at the Saint-Césaire facility. Nortera’s CEO, Hugo Boisvert, sees this as a crucial step for the agri-food sector, positioning the plant as a key site in the company’s industrial network with enhanced production capacity.

Nortera, formerly Bonduelle Americas Long Life, underwent a transformation in 2022 when Canadian investors acquired a majority stake. The company operates 13 plants in Canada and the US, processing over 400,000 tonnes of vegetables annually with 540 farming partners and close to 3,000 employees in the region.

Bonduelle entered exclusive talks with Canadian investors in May 2022, leading to the transformation of Bonduelle Americas Long Life into Nortera. The strategic move follows a review of the business, aligning with Nortera’s focus on food sovereignty and strengthening the agri-food sector in Canada.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Canadian vegetable group Nortera cites “food sovereignty” with capex move