It is no secret how important the hog industry is to rural Manitoba, Manitoba, and all of Canada. According to Canadian Pork International, with revenues amounting to over three billion Canadian dollars, the pork sector accounts for 30 per cent of total livestock shipments and 10 per cent of all farm cash receipts.
Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture said it is companies like HyLife Foods that help secure Manitoba’s position as a world leader in the production of high-quality, high value protein.
Recently, representatives of the provincial, federal and municipal governments, HyLife Foods and the public gathered in Neepawa, MB to recognize the government-industry partnership that has stimulated HyLife Foods $176 million dollar investment in new infrastructure.
Eichler said investments in agriculture and processing create economic activity and jobs.
Claude Vielfaure, the CEO of HyLife said government support of the expansion of the company’s pork production and processing infrastructure has created new jobs and stimulated economic growth in Manitoba.
Vielfaure told those on hand at the Neepawa event HyLife prides itself in its contributions to the community. “We would like to thank the Manitoba government for their support enabling us to transform our company into the best Canadian food company in the world, which provides premium pork products and creates value-added jobs and economic activity locally here in Neepawa, in Killarney, Turtle Mountain, and throughout the province,” he said. “We purchased Springhill Farms processing plant in 2008 with approximately 300 employees. Over the past ten years, we expanded and modernized the plant with the latest $176 million dollars investing throughout our company, which includes $105 million right here in Neepawa.”
Vielfaure said this world-class facility in Neepawa now has 1,300.
“We continue to export our products to many countries around the world with hogs raised in Manitoba and processed right here in Neepawa. We see our products branded with the HyLife Pork logo in many countries, including Japan which is our most important market,” he said. “We can distinguish ourselves from our competitors through quality products, meeting our customer specifications but most importantly through the greatest tasting pork in the world.”
The HyLife CEO said they work closely with the town of Neepawa, the town of Killarney and the surrounding
communities. The outcome is positive with school expansions, new and expanded businesses in town.
Vielfaure applauded the support of the governments of Manitoba and Canada creating and helping rural communities flourish in Manitoba.
“The food processing industry is a major economic driver which accounted for, in 2017, 25 per cent of all manufacturing activities here in Manitoba and generated $4.7 billion in sales,” said Minister Eichler. “Of that amount 42 per cent, or two billion, is from the meat processing sector, very exciting for Manitoba’s protein industry.”
He said in the last two years over $1.1 billion dollars in new investments in agriculture and processing industry here in Manitoba. This is creating economic activity, new jobs, and creating markets for locally grown foods and crops.
HyLife’s investment of $176 million results in 165 new jobs at the company’s processing facility, hog barns and feed mills. It’s equally exciting to see Manitoba’s success story grow and thrive. “HyLife Foods continues to demonstrate innovation in producing and processing pigs to create a premium product to a demanding specification,” said the Ag minister. “Through this project, they are having a significant positive effect on Manitoba’s economy by using local trades and services during the construction of these facilities.”
Eichler said people around the world want more protein and companies like HyLife position Manitoba as a world leader in the pork processing sector. •
— By Harry Siemens
Photos supplied by HyLife.
