Simplot to more than double size of Portage facility

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This article was published 14/02/2018 (2828 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — French fry processor J. R. Simplot Company is investing $460 million to more than double production in Portage la Prairie.

The cash will help create 87 full-time jobs and mark the largest private-sector investment in the province since the Conservatives took over government in 2016.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was in Portage Wednesday morning for the announcement.

“I’m tremendously pleased that people are making the decision to invest in our province. There’s an upside for them and a return for them and we’re working hard as a government to make sure that’s true,” Pallister said.

Simplot’s facility along the Trans-Canada Highway will be increased from 180,000 square feet to 460,000 square feet. The expansion will more than double the plant’s purchase of potatoes from regional growers. Construction is expected to start this spring and be finished by fall 2019.

The province’s incentive package includes tax-increment financing up to $6.31 million to assist with anticipated capital investments and road improvements. Manitoba will also contribute $522,000 toward employee training.

Manitoba Hydro will provide $1 million in PowerSmart program funding for electrical and natural gas efficiency projects, based on the plant meeting program guidelines.

J.R. Simplot CEO Bill Whitacre flew in for the announcement and recalled the last time he visited the Portage facility with Simplot himself.

“(Simplot) was in a combination of a wheelchair and a walker and he kept saying, ‘Boys, we’re going to do it big in Manitoba,”” Whitacre said.

“When it comes to the Simplot company, we’re committed to the potato. And we’re not just committed to it in Manitoba, we’re committed to it in North America and all over the world,” Whitacre said.

“It just so happens that this facility rounds out our portfolio and I can’t thank you all enough for the efficiency and the commitment that you made to us so that we could bring this quickly and make decisions quickly.”

Founded in 1929, J.R. Simplot Company is headquartered in Boise, Idaho and has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and China, marketing products to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Manitoba growers annually harvest over 65,000 acres of potatoes, representing one-fifth of Canada’s total potato crop and making Manitoba the second-largest producer in the country.

“Simplot has long been an outstanding partner and contributor to the community of Portage la Prairie and the surrounding area,” said Kam Blight, reeve for the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie, in a prepared statement.

“We are beyond excited for them to grow their operations here and create even more economic opportunities for the region. In addition to the recent announcement of Roquette, business truly is booming for Portage la Prairie.”

In September, European-based producer Roquette broke ground on a $400-million pea-protein manufacturing plant in Portage.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca