Old Dutch plant in Montreal closes, affecting 216 workers

A 49-year-old potato chip plant built by Humpty Dumpty and now owned by Old Dutch closed Friday, affecting 216 workers in the Montreal area.

Its U.S.-based company announced in May that the plant had “reached the end of its economic life” and would close after Old Dutch failed to get a $20-million to $25-million subsidy from the Quebec government to renovate the plant.

Built in 1964 by Humpty Dumpty, the plant in the suburb of Lachine was acquired by Old Dutch in 2006.

In the mid-1990s, the facility employed about 500 workers.

The Quebec market will be supplied by Old Dutch plants in New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta.