Centennial Foods of Calgary today opened its new food processing plant in Saskatoon. The plant will employ up to 190 people to make frozen meat products for markets in North America and southeast Asia.

"We are very pleased and proud to welcome Centennial Foods to Saskatchewan," Premier Lorne Calvert said at the plant's grand opening. "We congratulate the company on this major expansion of its business and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership."

The Centennial Foods plant is located at 820 - 60th Street East in Saskatoon. Production will begin later this month with a start-up staff of 50. The number of employees will gradually increase to the full complement of up to 190 by the time the plant is in full production over the next few years.

"The jobs and spin off benefits created by this project are very important to Saskatchewan's economy," Crown Investments Corporation Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "This project will also contribute to the growth of our food processing industry and help Saskatchewan become a leader in value-added food processing. These areas have great potential because of our expertise in primary food and agriculture production."

CIC announced in August, 2000 it was forming a partnership with Centennial for a $35 million project that would include building and equipping a world class facility in Saskatoon. CIC has invested $20 million in the company.

Centennial is a family-owned food service, distribution and value-added manufacturing company that was established in 1967. The company has more than 500 employees. In addition to the new Saskatoon facility, it has two manufacturing plants in Calgary and eight food distribution facilities throughout western Canada, including Saskatoon and Regina, and a sales office in Toronto. The company's products are made under a variety of brand names, including its own.

For more information, contact:

Ted Boyle
Crown Investments Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-9039