Olymel Shuts Doors, Leaving 400 Employees Jobless in Ontario and Quebec

Canada’s meat production and processing company Olymel has announced closure of its facilities, impacting approximately 400 workers in Ontario and Quebec. The company closed two facilities located in Ontario and Quebec respectively the move also accelerated closure of a third facility in Quebec.

This development has met the affected individuals unaware and raised questions about the challenges faced by the Canadian meat processing industry. In a press statement, the company claimed the closures are part of measures to reorganize its business lines and optimize operations at its facilities.

In recent years, the meat processing industry has faced a series of economic challenges including fluctuating commodity prices, supply chain disruptions, changing consumer preference and increased competition.

The above factors have pressed immense pressure on profit margins, making it difficult for some companies across the industry to sustain their operations costs.

Olymel says the affected employees will be granted the opportunity to to transfer to other facilities within the company further adding that its other poultry plants will benefit from an increase in capacity and production.

The company’ president and CEO Yanick Gervais, said they will work with the authorities so that the 33 temporary foreign workers at the Princeville plant can also apply for relocation.

“The fresh pork industry is slowly getting back on track after two years of tumult that forced us to reorganize our operations,” added the CEO.