The Honourable Chester Gillan, Minister of the Environment, representing Development and Technology Minister Mike Currie and Shawn Murphy, Member of Parliament for Hillsborough joined Mr. Glenn Cooke, Chief Executive Officer for Atlantic Fish Specialties Inc. today to announce their support for the company's plant expansion project. The company expects to create over 60 new full-time jobs.
"The Government of Prince Edward Island supports and invests in companies such as AFS," said Minister Gillan. "AFS is a world renowned company which is dedicated to developing and promoting value-added seafood products, and as a result, AFS has been and continues to be a significant contributor to our provincial economy and employment."
Atlantic Fish Specialties Inc. is undertaking a $1.7 million expansion at its plant on Walker Drive in order to accommodate the recently acquired assets and production line of Allavoix Ltd., a smoked fish company based in Lyons, Illinois. The product line from Allavoix Ltd will complement the current line of AFS products and opens new markets in mid west USA.
"Over the past five years, the ownership of Atlantic Fish Specialties has clearly shown their commitment to PEI, and I am very pleased that the Government of Canada is able to support this latest step to ensure their continued success," noted Mr. Murphy. "This latest expansion will help AFS take full advantage of its export potential to the US marketplace.
"Our company is driven by the desire and commitment to produce quality seafood products," said company CEO Glenn Cooke. "We believe that our company is only as great as its employees, and we have been very successful in finding highly qualified and dedicated employees here on Prince Edward Island."
Atlantic Fish Specialties began its smokehouse operations in 1981 and has developed a reputation as one of the world's finest producers of smoked seafood. Purchased by Cooke Aquaculture Inc. of New Brunswick in 1997, Atlantic Fish Specialties officially opened and expanded a new facility in Charlottetown in the fall of 2001 and has recently expanded its operations considerably with the acquisition of Allavoix Ltd.
Allavoix Ltd. produced a range of smoked salmon and other smoked fish products. Also produced at Allavoix were other value-added products including smoked salmon rilettes, lobster bourdin, smoked salmon truffle sausage, shellfish terrine, and smoked salmon bacon. AFS will continue to serve existing Allavoix customers with the same branded product formerly produced by Allavoix Ltd.
The Province of PEI is contributing to the Atlantic Fish Specialties project with a $490,000 forgivable performance loan through Prince Edward Island Business Development. ACOA is supporting the expansion through a $500,000 repayable loan under the Business Development Program.