Two months after opening its doors, Thunder Creek Pork is running at about half capacity.
The Moose Jaw, Sask., plant underwent extensive renovation last summer and fall to accommodate the plans of its new owners, Donald’s Fine Foods/ Britco Pork of British Columbia.
The plant had been closed for about four years after the previous owners couldn’t make a go of it.
But Donald’s Fine Foods chief financial officer David Pruim said last December the new owners already had secure markets. The plant is federally inspected and the company intends to apply for European Union certification.
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The first hogs arrived Jan. 19.
The facility has capacity to slaughter between 1,000 and 1,200 head a day but is processing about 500 right now.
“With the high hog prices we’re seeing and just to make sure everything was running right, we’re probably a little bit behind,” said senior vice-president, Tony Martinez, March 18.
“First we had to make sure we were cold and clean. We’re really happy with the progress there and what our microbiology reports are telling us.”
Supply has been a bit of an issue.
“Obviously a lot of the Saskatchewan farmers are tied up in contracts with either Maple Leaf or Olymel and we’ve respected those contracts,” he said.
The company is waiting for some producers to come off those contracts and is sourcing hogs where it can.
About 120 people are working at the plant. That will also climb to 200 as full capacity is reached.
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