The S.M. Group International Inc.'s Agri-food and Environmental Laboratories Enter into Strategic Partnership with La Coop fédérée

MONTREAL, Sept. 11, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - La Coop fédérée announced that it has transferred its Agridirect analytical laboratory operations to S.M. Laboratory Services Inc., a subsidiary of The S.M. Group International Inc. (SMi).

La Coop fédérée has agreed to work in partnership with the SMi Group Laboratories so it can continue to provide its network with top-tier analytical services in a market that is in constant technological evolution. It is also aligning itself with a Quebec firm specializing in project management and development of analytical laboratory services for the agri-food and environmental sectors.

This partnership agreement will make it possible for La Coop fédérée to maintain momentum on its path to becoming Canada's top supplier of agricultural supplies and food products. Meanwhile, S.M. Laboratory Services Inc. will be able to complete its service offering in the agri-food sector with a broad range of analytical services, counsel and quality management—from the farm to the table—for its clients as well as for the members and affiliates of La Coop fédérée's network.

SMi will thus become the owner of La Coop fédérée's Agridirect laboratory. It will not only maintain high-quality services but will also continue to develop its offering to better meet the needs of the Coop's network as well as those of food producers and processors.

This alliance will enable Agridirect's employees to continue to provide quality analytical services to their client base as they become part of a company whose vision they can share: From science, to solutions, to execution.

About La Coop fédérée
Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food company in Quebec, and ranks among the world's 100 largest co-operatives and mutual societies, across all sectors. It is owned by more than 90,000 members grouped into 103 cooperatives in several Canadian provinces. La Coop fédérée is present throughout the agri-food chain and, as a wholesaler, also provides agricultural producers with all the goods and services they need for their farming operations. The network has five banners: Elite and La Coop (livestock and crop production, grain marketing), Unimat (hardware and farm machinery), Sonic (energy) and Olymel (meat processing). La Coop fédérée employs over 10,000 people and has sales totalling $4.6 billion. www.lacoop.coop

About S.M. Group International Inc.

The S.M. Group International Inc. (SMi) is a multidisciplinary company with over 1,600 professionals and specialists who provide integrated, sustainable and safe solutions to ensure future generations a better quality of life true its services in engineering, environment, construction as well as in project management, technological and scientific applications and laboratory services. Recognized and active in more than 30 countries, SMi has 26 offices in Canada and 10 offices on four continents. The S.M. Laboratory Services Inc. division specializes in the control of food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and natural health products and in the environment. It employs some 150 professionals specializing in analytical chemistry and microbiology as well as in food and environmental sciences. www.groupesm.com, www.labo.groupesm.com

SOURCE: La Coop fédérée

Roch Landriault
For : The S.M. Group International Inc..
Vice president, Media Relations
[email protected]
tél : [phone]
cell : 514-249-4537

Ben Marc Diendéré
La Coop fédérée
Director of communications
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Twitter: Marc_Ben
Tel: [phone]
Cell: 514-710-9772