Feds invest nearly $4M toward dairy processor’s $20M expansion project

Apr. 3, 2018 – Quebec cheese processor Fromagerie Bergeron says it will be able to lower production costs and improve its competitiveness thanks to an investment of up to $3.9 million from the federal government. The funds, part of a $20-million total expansion investment over four years, will go toward securing new robotic equipment and increasing its production line automation at the Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly plant, says the manufacturer.

“I want to thank the Canadian government for its confidence and its support. This demonstrates support for our industry in the current international context. This contribution will allow us to support, in part, the modernization projects at Fromagerie Bergeron to deal with strong competition and to protect jobs and products here and across the country,” said Roger Bergeron, president of Fromagerie Bergeron.

“The government’s support is to modernize and improve our efficiency. At the same time, we want to develop new products. We have innovative ideas and we need other machineries,” he added.

Employing 250 workers, Fromagerie Bergeron is a family-owned, medium-scale enterprise which specializes in Gouda-style firm cheese. The company produces cheese seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

“[Brothers] Roger and Mario Bergeron are great examples of forward-looking dairy processors focused on improving their company’s productivity, modernizing their equipment, and enhancing dairy products. I’m glad the Government of Canada is contributing to keeping the dairy processing industry modern and competitive and enabling new market opportunities,” said Jean-Claude Poissant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.