McCain Foods is investing C$600 million (US$438.5 million) to add two production lines at one of its plants in Canada with sustainability initiatives.
The project at the Coaldale site in Alberta will double the production capacity of the facility and create 260 jobs when completed. Work will begin “later” this year, the supplier of frozen potato products said.
“The development in Alberta marks our largest global investment in our 65-year history,” said Max Koeune, president and CEO of the private company. “This will fuel the continued growth of the company, allowing us to further serve key markets by providing customers with high-quality potatoes that start with our dedicated local farming community.”
Toronto-based McCain Foods is installing wind turbines and solar panels as part of the project to supply 100% renewable energy to the site. A water recycling system will also be added to “produce clean drinking water” for the manufacturing process.
To offset the natural gas requirement, “renewable biogas generated at the wastewater treatment plant will be maximized and transported to the steam boilers,” McCain Foods explained.
The company has operated the Coaldale facility since 2000 and employs 225 people. A McCain Foods spokesman confirmed that the two new lines will produce French fries and “specialty” potato products for the North American market, but declined to provide further details on production.
A “minority of future production” will be for Asia and Latin America, the spokesman said. just food.
In the year to June 30, McCain Foods reduced its scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide emissions by 6% and increased its use of renewable electricity to account for nearly 20% of its total usage, the company said in its latest sustainability report.
By 2030, McCain Foods has set a goal of reducing carbon dioxide use per ton from potato cultivation by 25% and improving water use efficiency by 15% in “water-scarce regions.” by 2025.
It also seeks a 50% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, along with a goal of using 100% renewable electricity and completing the phase-out of coal. Under the same threshold, the business aims to reduce scope 3 emissions by 30%.
Palm oil will also be phased out of McCain Foods’ frying operations by 2025.
