JBS Foods Canada expands Brooks facility

CANADA – JBS Foods Canada has qualified for Alberta’s Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program by expanding its beef processing facility in Brooks. 

Known globally for its premium quality and exceptional taste, Alberta beef is produced with the highest standards in food safety, animal care, biosecurity, and environmental stewardship. 

The province’s farmers and ranchers are renowned for upholding these standards, contributing to Alberta’s reputation for top-tier beef production. 

In 2023, Alberta’s beef production reached nearly one million tonnes, generating US$12.2 billion in meat product sales.

To further entice large-scale investment in agri-food manufacturing, Alberta’s government launched the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program in spring 2023. 

This initiative encouraged JBS Foods Canada ULC (JBS Canada) to invest approximately US$90 million in a new patty processing line and fulfillment center at its Brooks plant. 

This expansion will enable JBS Canada to produce an additional seven million kilograms of beef patties annually for Western Canadian restaurants.

JBS Canada is also constructing a cutting-edge fulfillment center to support its increased production. 

The new processing line and warehouse expansion are already underway, with completion expected by fall 2025. The project will generate up to 24 permanent jobs and 170 temporary jobs.

“JBS is a cornerstone in Brooks, creating jobs and ensuring Alberta’s world-renowned beef reaches millions of consumers. This expansion is a positive development for JBS, Brooks, and Alberta, showcasing the significance of our Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit. It’s exciting to witness the growth of our local and provincial economies,” said Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta and MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat.

“This tax credit program leverages Alberta’s competitive advantages for agri-food companies and the primary producers who supply them. The facility expansion will boost JBS Canada’s beef production capacity, meaning more Alberta beef patties will be served in restaurants across the nation,” added RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

To qualify for the tax credit program, corporations must invest a minimum of US$10 million in a project to build or expand a value-added agri-processing facility in Alberta. 

The program offers a 12 percent non-refundable tax credit based on eligible capital expenditures. 

JBS Canada has received conditional approval for a tax credit estimated at US$10.7 million.

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