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St. Boniface Plant Update
Management team with international experience now driving plant forward.
A new management team with deep international experience has been hired to drive the plant forward through its start-up phase. The move is strongly supported by the Manitoba Cattle Enhancement Council, a major investor in the plant, which reiterates its continued focus and determination to bring new federally-inspected beef slaughtering and processing capacity back to the province.
Beginning in the summer of 2010, the Astana Group, led by Doug Cooper, has been working closely with plant management and MCEC to refine the plant's business plan. The Astana Group has extensive experience building, overhauling and running highly successful beef plants in both the United States and Uruguay. The Astana team has strong connections to international buyers of premium beef products including in the Kosher market.
"Our main goal here is to bring profits back to Manitoba producers. We see eye to eye with the producers and the MCEC on that," said Doug Cooper, President and CEO of the Astana Group. "We are working to help fulfill that mandate by ensuring this plant will have adequate capital financing, be as efficient as possible and will deliver quality beef products reliably, day in and day out."
The Astana Group is responsible for securing private financing the plant requires to complete its upgrades and begin operations. The private financing will complement the $17.5 million in support previously announced by the federal government and MCEC. The Astana Group will also oversee the expected decommissioning of parts of the old building in preparation for demolition and reconstruction.