Cavendish Farms launches Culinary Creation Centre

CHARLOTTETOWN, Oct. 16 /CNW/ - Cavendish Farms is pleased to announce the official opening of Cavendish Culinary Creation Centre and Canada's Smartest Kitchen, the research arm of Holland College's Culinary Institute of Canada .

"This new facility is a great example of a win-win collaboration with The Culinary Institute of Canada , which is recognized as one of Canada's best known and most successful culinary training schools" says Cavendish Farms' President Robert K Irving . "We'll have access to the college's talented research chefs and their staff, and this partnership will help Cavendish meet customer demand for new and innovative food solutions."

For Holland College president Brian McMillan, the partnership is yet another example of the college's leadership in culinary arts, and research and development. "The major benefit for us is that we will be working directly with industry on innovative yet practical product development ideas for the food service industry. Partnering with industry is fundamental to our philosophy of training, and to our vision for moving forward," he said.

The Cavendish Culinary Creation Centre is co-located with Canada's Smartest Kitchen, the research arm of The Culinary Institute of Canada , in Holland College's Tourism and Culinary Centre in downtown Charlottetown, P.E.I. At 12,052 square feet, the two-story facility will deliver a suite of services including food concept development, testing and pilot-line production.

"Continual product innovation is at the heart of Cavendish Farms' future," states Irving. "Recently, our 'From The Farm' Homestyle Wedges & Fries won the Canadian Grand Prix Best New Product Award for Frozen Food, which celebrates product innovation in the grocery industry. This partnership with Holland College is a vital component of our ongoing commitment to food innovation."

The Cavendish Farms Culinary Creation Centre includes a state-of-the-art pilot production line with scalable food processing equipment. These production facilities will work in collaboration with Canada's Smartest Kitchen and its food science laboratory.

The new facility is the result of financial support from the federal government, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Province of Prince Edward Island , Cavendish Farms and Holland College.

    
    Background Facts
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    Holland College
    ---------------

    - The Culinary Institute of Canada has been training aspiring chefs
      since 1983
    - Internationally recognized
    - Students from The Culinary Institute of Canada have won the right to
      represent Canada in the past two Culinary Olympics, held in Erfurt,
      Germany
    - Students and staff have won international competitions
    - 'Canada's Smartest Kitchen' is equipped with state-of-the-art food
      preparation equipment
    - President: Brian McMillan PhD

    Cavendish Culinary Creation Centre
    ----------------------------------

    - 5,300 sq foot footprint, including a production line and testing
      facility
    - Co-located within Holland College's Tourism and Culinary Centre in
      Charlottetown, PEI
    - Will employ 5 full time staff
    - Vice president, Alan Thorpe

    Cavendish Farms
    ---------------
    

Cavendish Farms is the fourth largest processor of frozen potato products in North America , supplying leading grocery, food service and quick service restaurants around the world.

Cavendish Farms is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2010 and has been part of Prince Edward Island since its inception. The company operates two plants in New Annan, PEI and this past summer launched a new Bio-Gas Facility there as well. This facility, which takes non-usable organic material from the plants and turns it into usable energy, is an example of our commitment to innovation and sustainable business practices.

Cavendish Farms employs a dedicated team of approximately 700 people at our New Annan, PEI operations. We use quality potatoes, grown by over 150 Island farmers to produce quality frozen potato products.

Cavendish Farms is a member of the Irving Group of Companies - a family-owned organization whose commitment to quality products and services dates back 127 years. Founded in 1882, the Irving Group has operations in Eastern Canada ( New Brunswick , Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island , Quebec , Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador), and the United States . We are a team of 15,000 dedicated employees, with business units in:

    
    - Forestry & Forest Products
    - Transportation
    - Shipbuilding & Industrial Marine
    - Retail
    - Industrial Equipment, Construction Services & Building Materials
    - Consumer Products
    

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Geoff Britt, Communications Officer, J.D. Irving, Limited, Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]