June 14, 2006

Canadian pork producer reopens plant, sees export opportunities
 

Canada's Moose Jaw Pork Packers Ltd. has reopened its pork processing plant in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

With a slaughtering capacity of 6,000 hogs a week, the plant will start off by selling pork within Canada, but will seek exports to Japan by September, said chief executive Don Fancourt.

Moose Jaw Pork Packers Ltd. was formerly known as Worldwide Pork Co. Ltd., which shut down in May last year after hog producers stopped supplying hogs to protest against late payments.

Worldwide Pork has been renamed Moose Jaw Pork Packers in May this year after a Saskatchewan court approved a plan that allowed restructuring and refinancing.

Employees hold a significant portion of shares in the new company, which is now under new management.

South Korea, Russia, Romania, Australia, New Zealand and the US also present export opportunities for the company, said Fancourt.

More workers will be employed as the plant's daily slaughtering capacity is increased from an initial 500 hogs to 1,200 hogs, he added.   

While the company will purchase most of its hogs locally, the neighbouring provinces of Alberta and Manitoba may also provide hogs for processing.