[kirjtc2]

Might as well get this rolling...from today's Woodstock Bugle.

McCain's $65-million plant begins production
Published Friday July 25th, 2008
New facility marks the end of an era, as it replaces the company's original potato processing plant
D1
By Jon MacNeill

A new $65-million potato processing plant began production on Tuesday at McCain Foods in Florenceville-Bristol.

The state-of-the-art facility replaced the first factory ever built by the company more than 50 years ago.

The new plant marks the end of an era and the blossoming of another for both McCain Foods and the Northern Carleton families whose roots have grown alongside the company over the years.

Allen Tompkins of Florenceville ran the steam engine that peeled the first potatoes ever processed by McCain Foods back in 1957.

On Tuesday, Allen's eldest son, Leon Tompkins, supervised production as the first fries came off the line at the new plant.

"I plan to stay here till I'm done," said Leon, who started working with McCain Foods while just a young boy.

"My father always said he'd never leave, and he never did," said Leon.

"McCain was more or less his family."

Operations have certainly changed since Allen Tompkins's co-workers hand-peeled potatoes and packed french fries into cartons by hand.

"Our production and packaging functions are highly automated today," said company spokesperson Calla Farn.

She said new technology at the factory will provide greater flexibility and improved efficiency in operations.

Earlier this month, Farn acknowledged the business has suffered from the strong Canadian dollar.

The new plant will run three shifts, five days a week. That's down from four shifts, seven days at week at the old factory.

"We expect it will be running at full capacity, just not initially," said Farn, adding that even at reduced capacity the plant still has the ability to pump out more product than the old factory.

She wouldn't offer specific figures, saying it might affect the company's competitiveness.

Farn also declined to say how many people the $65-million operation would employ in the Town of Florenceville-Bristol.

Around 10 people were laid-off when production stopped at the old plant in mid-May.

Farn said those were "permanent lay-offs."

The plant opened much sooner than expected, said Farn, as it was originally slated to open in the fall.

An official opening ceremony will take place in September.