New chicken slaughterhouse and cutting plant at Clair: Sunnymel embarks on a new phase in its manpower recruitment process

SAINT-FRANÇOIS-DE-MADAWASKA, NB, Jan. 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Less than a month after starting the process of recruiting manpower to meet the needs of the new chicken slaughterhouse and cutting plant at Clair in the Haut-Madawaska region, Sunnymel has already received over 70 applications—in spite of the Holiday Season. In order to meet its goal of recruiting 250 workers for the startup of the new plant, scheduled for November, the company is continuing its recruitment campaign in 2012, in collaboration with representatives of Enterprise Madawaska, giving priority to local and regional manpower. Sunnymel has set up a dedicated recruitment telephone line as well as a website so candidates can apply directly online.

Interested persons may call 1-866-943-5048 or visit the company website at www.sunnymel.com, and find out more by clicking on the "Apply On Line" tab. Candidates can choose from a long list of positions that match their experience and qualifications, including a wide range of functions ranging from production employees and several technician and clerk positions in various departments to supervisory and management positions, covering all the functions that are essential for the operation of the new plant. Sunnymel undertakes to ensure the confidentiality of all applications submitted, and to contact all applicants personally.

"CAREER" DAYS IN THE SPRING

Starting in April 2012, Sunnymel will intensify its recruitment efforts in the region in order to ensure that all positions are filled in anticipation of the plant opening. This spring, a campaign will be run locally, with advertising, posters and dissemination of information, while a team of recruiters will be on hand in Clair to conduct interviews with candidates.

Construction of the plant Sunnymel in the Village of Clair is going ahead on schedule. The new facility, which represents an investment of over $40 million, is expected to commence operations in November. It will have a weekly slaughtering capacity of 450,000 birds, and will be able to serve the entire Maritimes market from New Brunswick. Upon completion, the project, developed through a partnership between Westco and Olymel, will create stable, quality jobs, in addition to generating significant economic benefits for producers and suppliers in the north-western New Brunswick region and strengthening the poultry industry in the province for the benefit of consumers.

About Westco

Groupe Westco Inc. is a New Brunswick company with its head office in Saint-François-de-Madawaska. The result of a common vision for expansion by many poultry producers, the company has become a model of success and profitability. Westco owns its own hatcheries, breeding farms, and shipping companies, and is also one of the largest poultry production organizations in Canada. The company has a strong commitment to the community, sponsoring several social programs and contributing to fund-raising initiatives in its region.

About Olymel l.p.

Olymel l.p. is a leader in the slaughtering, processing and distribution of pork and poultry meat products in Canada, with facilities in Québec, Ontario, and Alberta. The company employs some 10,000 persons and exports nearly half its production, mainly to the United States, Japan and Australia, as well as some sixty other countries. Its sales stood at $2 billion this year, with a slaughtering and processing capacity of 160,000 hogs and 1.7 million birds a week. The company markets its products mainly under the Olymel, Lafleur and Flamingo brands.

Olymel l.p.

Richard Vigneault Communications [phone] ou [phone]

Groupe Westco Inc. :

Martin Daraîche   Senior Consultant NATIONAL Public Relations Tel.: [phone], ext. 230 Cell.: [phone]