Frito-Lay to modernize Canada plant

16-Jun-2015 - Last updated on 17-Jun-2015 at 13:05 GMT

Frito-Lay will invest its own funds in the plant modernization as well

Frito-Lay will modernize its Ontario plant in Canada, helped along by a $3m investment from the local government.

The Ontario government, through its Rural Economic Development program, has invested the sum to increase productivity and protect jobs in the agri-food sector.

Frito-Lay will modernize its entire facility – which employs more than 550 people and has been operating for over 50 years. The aim is to improve food safety, deliverability and product quality as well as make way for a high-speed packaging system.

Marc Guay, president of PepsiCo Foods Canada, said the investment would help ensure the company is “well positioned for future growth at the site”.

Agri-food investment

The $3m comes as part of a wider government plan to drive business in the local area with the view of creating 120,000 new jobs by 2020 and doubling annual growth of the agri-food sector.

Kathleen Wynne, premier of Ontario, said maintaining a strong agri-food sector was also crucial to a prosperous rural community.

“By investing in this vital sector today, our government is making sure the agri-food sector plays a key role in Ontario’s economy for years to come,” she said.