Snack company Super-Pufft has announced a new $50 million processing plant for Airdrie, Alta., that will use the province’s potatoes.
Yousif Al-Ali, president of the Mississauga, Ont., snack manufacturer that produces a range of potato chip products, said he hopes to open the new facility, which will employ more than 100 people, soon.
Al-Ali said production in Airdrie will be part of the company’s efforts to move into the western Canadian and United States markets.
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“Super-Pufft has been in business for many years and we supply almost each and every retailer and national brands in the country and the U.S.A.,” he said, referring to the company’s 60-year history.
Super-Pufft bills itself as the continent’s largest manufacturer and co-packers of salty snacks, embarking on a growth strategy since Al-Ali took over the company two decades ago.
The facility is anticipated to annually use nearly 80,000 tonnes of Alberta-grown potatoes.
The company received $250,000 through the federal-provincial joint Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is cost-shared 60-40 between Ottawa and the provinces.
Alberta’s Agricultural Minister Nate Horner said it is part of the government’s commitment to encourage agricultural investment.
“I can assure you, more companies are on the way,” said Horner at Super-Pufft’s facility announcement. “Our goal is to attract $1.4 billion in new investment and create 2,000 new jobs by March 2023.”
Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown praised the company for choosing his city, noting the number of his municipality’s staff at the announcement.
“We can’t thank you enough for choosing Airdrie as your first destination outside of Ontario in Canada,” said Brown.
Notably absent from the announcement were the city’s two UCP MLAs, Angela Pitt and Peter Guthrie, both of whom have been critical of their party’s leader Premier Jason Kenney who has announced his intent to resign.
Super-Pufft’s operation includes three facilities in Ontario as well as a U.S. office in Florida. It ships to more than 20 countries.
Contact alex.mccuaig@producer.com
