McCain to spend $600M to double potato processing capacity in southern Alta.
BNN Bloomberg
French fry giant McCain Foods has announced it will spend $600 million to double the size of its potato processing facility in southern Alberta.
McCain said the project will create two new production lines, one for French fries and one for other frozen potato specialty products. Once completed, the expansion is expected to create 260 new jobs, more than doubling the facility's current workforce.
"We are projecting strong volume growth over the next five years and need this expansion to accommodate the expected growth," said McCain Foods CEO Max Koeune in an emailed statement.
Koeune attributed part of the expected growth to continued recovery in the restaurant and hospitality sector. Demand for French fries and other frozen potato products collapsed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on in-person dining.
