Agropur pumping $34 million into Truro ice cream plant
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Those who posed for the ribbon-cutting photo during the recent expansion announcement at Agropur’s Truro ice cream plant included, from left, Agropur executive Karen Baker, Nova Scotia Attorney General and Justice Minister Brad Johns, Truro Mayor Bill Mills, Agropur executive Jeannie van Dyk, plant manager Robert Bowman, local MLA Dave Ritcey, Cumberland-Colchester MP Stephen Ellis, and Agropur executive Claudia Joanis. (Contributed photo)
by Dan Woolley
The Quebec-based Agropur Dairy Cooperative has begun a major expansion of its Truro ice cream plant with a $34-million investment to both redefine the floor space of its production area and add a new manufacturing line for its frozen novelty treats.
Agropur made the announcement during a press conference and ribbon-cutting at the plant in the Truro Business Park on June 17.
Completion of the expansion in 2023 will add another 25 jobs to Agropur’s Nova Scotia payroll, said plant manager Robert Bowman. He said the ice cream plant now employs 255, with another 30 working off-site in the Truro area.
“We are the largest producer of ice cream for Agropur,” said Bowman, adding that the Truro plant is a major player in the private label market, packaging ice cream products for Sobeys, Walmart, Costco, Baskin-Robbins, and President’s Choice.
Jeannie van Dyk, vice-president of the Agropur board of directors and Agropur’s Atlantic regional director, stated that the Truro plant expansion is the largest capital investment Agropur has made in Canada in the last five years.
Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow stated in a press release that the expansion represents “a significant commitment to Atlantic Canada’s agriculture sector.” Morrow was represented at the press conference by Nova Scotia Attorney General and Justice Minister Brad Johns.
Dominique Benoit, Agropur’s senior vice-president of institutional affairs and corporate communications, added that the Truro plant is “known for its expertise in dairy processing and production of frozen treats.”
“This investment certainly contributes to the economic development of our town and sends a strong signal that Truro is a great place to invest,” stated Truro Mayor Bill Mills in a news release.
According to Agropur, its $34-million investment means that the company will be eligible for a $4-million capital investment tax credit from the Nova Scotia government.
Agropur was founded in 1938. The cooperative has 2,908 members, approximately 7,500 employees, and 31 processing plants across North America. It had $7.3 billion in sales in 2021.
