Sunrise Farms invests more than US$100M in new Ontario poultry processing plant

CANADA – The Ontario government has announced a private-sector investment exceeding US$100 million by poultry producer Sunrise Farms to construct a new processing facility in Woodstock, Ontario.

The planned 155,000-square-foot facility is expected to rank among the most advanced poultry processing plants in Canada, incorporating modern processing technologies aimed at improving operational efficiency and increasing production capacity.

Once completed and operational, the facility will allow Sunrise Farms to process higher volumes of poultry, source more products from Ontario growers and contribute to economic activity in rural communities across the province.

The development is expected to create 100 new jobs in Woodstock while helping maintain 248 existing positions elsewhere in Ontario connected to the company’s operations.

David Shoore, chief executive officer of Sunrise Farms, described the project as the largest greenfield development undertaken by the company to date, adding that the new facility will help meet growing demand for Sargent Farms halal-certified poultry products in Ontario and other Canadian markets.

According to Shoore, the investment is intended to strengthen the company’s ability to supply consumers nationwide as demand for halal-certified poultry products continues to increase.

The company said that obtaining a federal operating licence from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will enable it to distribute Sargent Farms branded products across provincial and territorial boundaries, expanding its reach beyond current markets.

To support the project, the Ontario government has committed up to US$4 million through the Invest Ontario Fund, a programme designed to attract business investment and job creation within the province.

Sunrise Farms, which is headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, is among Canada’s largest privately owned poultry producers and processors, operating several facilities across the country.

The company generates approximately US$987.5 million in annual revenue and employs about 3,200 people across its operations, making it one of the country’s leading poultry processing businesses.

Industry data places Sunrise Farms among the four largest poultry processors in Canada, with annual sales approaching US$1 billion and a workforce of roughly 3,200 employees.

The new Woodstock development, valued at approximately US$100.5 million, forms part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its national presence and increase production capacity to serve growing demand in the Canadian poultry market.

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