Gay Lea Foods Co-operative has announced a substantial investment surpassing C$200 million (approximately US$143.5 million) aimed at augmenting its cottage cheese production within Canada.
In a statement released on August 11, the dairy organization indicated that this financing will facilitate the integration of “advanced” processing technologies and enhanced manufacturing capabilities at its Clayson Road facility located in Toronto.
The initiative is designed to tackle the existing national “shortage” of cottage cheese while simultaneously increasing the production capacity of its “high-protein” dairy lines.
Completion of this expansion is anticipated by the year 2028.
The development is projected to create 75 new job opportunities, encompassing “skilled” manufacturing roles, as stated by the co-operative.
Suzanna Dalrymple, president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods, articulated, “This investment reflects our confidence in the future of Canadian dairy and in Gay Lea Foods’ role in helping shape it. That future will be built on Canadian dairy farms and in modern processing facilities equipped to respond to evolving consumer preferences.”
Gay Lea Foods characterized this investment as a “first major milestone” in its C$450 million Network for Growth strategy, which aims to “modernise” the manufacturing infrastructure across Canada and align it with shifting consumer demands.
Additionally, the strategy places emphasis on providing “long-term value” to its farmer members.
Presently, Gay Lea Foods boasts approximately 1,200 dairy farmer members situated in Ontario and Manitoba.
Founded in 1958, the company produces a diverse range of dairy products and ingredients under well-known names such as Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Ivanhoe, and Bothwell Cheese.
In May of the previous year, Gay Lea Foods made headlines by selling Notre Dame Creamery to the local firm Fromagerie Chaeban. This sale occurred three years after the co-operative’s acquisition of Notre Dame Creamery via its purchase of Bothwell Cheese in 2022.
This transaction included a “long-term supply agreement,” ensuring that Notre Dame Creamery would continue sourcing its cream from Bothwell Cheese.
