Canada’s Theobroma Chocolat unveils new multi-million production site
A major investment of around $10 million is being made by Canada’s Theobroma Chocolat into an advanced factory for healthier product ranges at Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, which will enable the business to significantly increase its manufacturing volumes, reports Neill Barston.
As the business explained to Confectionery Production, its new factory will mean the firm has gained financial support from a number of partners in North America, with its expansion heralding exploration into new export markets.
According to the company, its latest site provides three times the manufacturing area of its previous facilities, and it will feature significantly enhanced technology for delivering its established series of chocolate.
“This new factory is a force for positive change for present and future generations. This includes automation and robotisation technologies, and is in complete harmony with our business philosophy which is better for you and the planet! All of our new ideas will be created and produced in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, in the Quebec region,” said Jean-René Lemire, co-president and co-founder.
Josée Vigneault and Jean-René Lemire, co-founders and owners of the company since 2008, confirmed that the project will create more than 20 jobs, and that it followed in the company’s ethos of focusing on operational excellence and the automation of production functions with the aim to improve productivity and maximise the ideas and talents of its employees.
These new ideas have come to fruition thanks to financial assistance from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), the National Bank of Canada, the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) as part of the Food processing programme: robotisation and quality systems, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, and Quebec City’s Entrepreneurial Vision Québec 2023.
This innovation-focused initiative aims to make the area the capital of entrepreneurship in the country. It brings together financial assistance programs and measures to grow businesses. The Vision benefits from $75.8 million in funding from the Government of Québec. The City of Québec, the Secrétariat à la Capitale-Nationale and Québec International act as key partners in the diffusion of the Vision.
The company added that well-being and sustainable development were core concerns of the business, which is set to launch a social innovation campaign to highlight the respect, creativity and cooperation which it said were critical to its operations.
“We are very proud to start a new adventure and help future generations. Social and economic innovations are part of the company’s DNA. We have always done things differently by putting people and pleasure at the heart of our concerns. We want to deliver sustainable solutions through new, nutritious products that are good for chocolate lovers and the environment,” added Lemire of its latest venture.
