The
Premier Group of Companies is opening a kosher chicken-processing plant in
Abingdon in West Lincoln in the Niagara Peninsula.
The
province has been without a kosher chicken-processing plant since 2013 when Chai
Kosher of Toronto sold its supply rights to Sargent Farms Ltd.
Ontario’s
large-volume chicken processors agreed to yield enough of their chicken
supplies so a kosher plant could set up business in Ontario, and the Chicken
Farmers of Ontario marketing board put out invitations for a plant.
“We are
extremely pleased that Ontario consumers will now have a local option for their
kosher chicken purchasing needs," said Henry Zantingh, chairman of the
chicken marketing board.
The only Canadian
plant left after Chai closed was in Montreal and wholesale prices increased
significantly.
"The
decision to accept the application of Premier Kosher Inc. is the culmination of
tremendous effort on the part of both farmers and industry to find a suitable
business partner to own and operate an Ontario kosher chicken processing plant,”
Zantingh said in a news release.
“The
Ontario chicken industry understands the importance of addressing the needs of
all consumers in Ontario,” said Michael Burrows, chairman of the Association of
Ontario Chicken Processors (AOCP).
“We are
pleased that Premier Kosher Inc. will be in a position to support the ongoing
need of kosher consumers to have a locally grown and processed source of
chicken.”
Paul
Tzellos, president of Premier Kosher Inc., said “this is an exciting
opportunity and we look forward to working with the community to ensure that
Premier Kosher becomes a trusted and preferred choice for kosher chicken.
The
Kashruth Council of Canada (COR) will be working with the Premier Kosher
processing plant to provide the kosher certification.
“Ontario’s
Jewish community has been looking forward to welcoming the arrival of a new
kosher processing plant for several years to provide local Ontario-grown,
fresh, kosher chicken,” said Richard Rabkin, Executive Director of the council.
Chicken Farmers of Ontario will be working with Chicken Farmers of Canada for
an allocation of additional supply to serve the kosher community.
"This
has been a long process and this announcement is yet another signal that CFO
and the chicken industry of Ontario are open for business and working to meet
the needs of all core, niche and specialty chicken markets in Ontario," said
Rob Dougans, president and chief executive officer of the chicken board.
Premier
Kosher Inc. is also being advised by Chuck Weinberg, former owner of Chai
Poultry.
The
Premier Kosher plant is expected to be operating by January will have an
initial capacity of 50,000 chickens per week.
It expects
to employ up to 80 people.
