A. Lassonde Inc. officially inaugurates its new Rougemont warehouse with the
presence of Jean Charest, Premier of Quebec

ROUGEMONT, QC, Sept. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - A. Lassonde Inc. inaugurated today its new Rougemont mega-warehouse, in the presence of Jean Charest , Premier of Quebec . Covering an impressive 95,000 sq. ft. and outfitted with cutting-edge equipment, its construction required a $8.3 million investment, included as part of a major $26 million investment program spread out over two years.

During the past 10 years, Quebec-based company A. Lassonde doubled its production activities in Rougemont. Therefore, it was imperative for the company to improve its storage facilities.

"The sustainable bond between A. Lassonde and Quebec is very real, said Premier Jean Charest . This new Rougemont warehouse is further proof of the energy and vision of this Quebec pioneer, based in the Montérégie region for over 90 years. Through its more competitive business structure, A. Lassonde stands out as a leader in Quebec's manufacturing sector. This is yet another shining example of leadership from a homegrown business."

"Today's announcement is the result of several months of hard work and I would like to congratulate our teams who have contributed so much energy to the completion of this mega-warehouse, which will enable our company to be more competitive and increase its output through the new technologies that were integrated," says Mr. Jean Gattuso , President and CEO of A. Lassonde Inc. and Chief Operating Officer of Lassonde Industries Inc.

Empowered by its success, the company has acquired and integrated several pieces of equipment throughout the years to manufacture and market fruit and vegetable drinks and juices. These required an increasing amount of space within our facilities, thereby limiting available product storage space. As such, the company had to spread out its storage operations among a series of warehouses in the Montérégie region.

"This new warehouse will enable us to lessen our ecological footprint by reducing product transportation needs between the Rougemont plant and the various warehouses scattered across the region (a daily minimum of a dozen trailer hauls), as well as minimize damages incurred in transit," added Mr. Gattuso . "Furthermore, this new process will help us maintain our high standards of customer service and ensure that jobs are kept here in Rougemont."

The President and CEO of A. Lassonde Inc. took advantage of this inaugural event to highlight the Rougemont brand's 50th anniversary, underscoring a legacy that, year after year, continues to offer a varied selection of delicious, quality products adapted to the lifestyle of today's consumer.

For more information on the company and its activities, please visit www.lassonde.com.

    
    About A. Lassonde Inc.
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A. Lassonde Inc. is a Canadian leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of fruit and vegetable juices and drinks. It boasts production facilities in Quebec , Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia. Founded in 1918 in Rougemont, Quebec , A. Lassonde Inc. stands out through its vision, know-how, cutting-edge facilities, efficient packaging and quality products. Honored by many high-profile awards throughout the years as part of the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, the company also maintains, year after year, its HACCP certification, a world-renowned quality standard.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: Photos of the event will be available as of 3 pm , on September 28 , at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media./

For further information: Mario Allaire, Vice-President, Communications, [phone], ext. 265, [email protected]; David Barrett, Massy-Forget Public Relations, [phone], ext. 15, [email protected]; Geneviève Blouin, [phone], ext. 23, [email protected]