New meat processing plant in North Bay

New meat processing plant in North Bay North Bay welcomes investment from Ukraine with ground breaking ceremony for a new meat processing facility. Brittany Bortolon reports.

There's a new addition to the local business community in North Bay.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held today for Canada Meat Group's new processing facility.

It's a business that will bring 40 new jobs to the city.

For Invest North Bay Development Corporation, it's been a project two years in the making.

Bringing Canada Meat Group to the city and the jobs that come with it is something the North Bay team is proud of.

“You know it would have been easy to say 'let’s just forget about it' because it is a lengthy process. This has been two plus years, but we're persistent, we're dogged, and we are determined to bring jobs to North Bay." said George Burton, of Invest North Bay

The company, with help from a firm called Bavarian Premium Meats,  will operate a meat processing plant and cold storage facility in North Bay, handling all forms of meat, including kosher and halal.

“The goal is to have the plant up and running by early August. It will be a lower scale production. We need to be approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and our goal is to have the export licenses. We really want to go after, probably within the first six to nine months, so Bavarian Meats will act as the sales agent for the Canadian Meat Group and also help them get up and running.” said Jamey Heaton of Bavarian Premium Meats.

And for Invest North Bay, it's seen as an opportunity to create more jobs with hopes this company will expand.

“They're serving an international market that's growing. And their business plan, they look at not only the first plan, but already have expansion plans on the drawing board. So, for us, it'll be a business that will continue to grow and they are committed to our city.” said Burton.

Prior to North Bay, Canada Meat Group looked at setting up shop in Saskatchewan, but ultimately decided Ontario was the best fit, crediting support from the local government.