HyLife, Canada, invested up to $125 million to modernize and expand its integrated pork production and processing system at its flagship pork processing facility in Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada, effective early 2017.

“HyLife’s investment into growing our Japanese and Chinese markets has been very rewarding, and is sending the signal that we can do more,” says Claude Vielfaure, president. “This new investment in Manitoba will mean not only more jobs across the province, but [also] a greater demand for value-added pork thanks to our integrated system and our great primary producer partners.”

HyLife provides fresh chilled pork to Japan.

“HyLife has taken that unique Japanese consumer demand for its domestic pork and worked tirelessly to recreate this taste profile at home in our integrated production and processing system,” adds Vielfaure. “The result has been a solid and growing base of Japanese consumers seeking to buy HyLife’s premium fresh chilled pork products, which we grow and process right here in Manitoba.”

Expansion plans include moving to a full double shift and adopting innovative technologies to improve yields and processes and increase shelf life. Hylife also plans to construct new finishing barns and a feed mill. This will bring up to 165 new jobs to the communities and will increase its total employee base to approximately 2,000.