Lactalis and Broccolini Break Ground on Oshawa, Ontario, Distribution Center; Mark Taylor Comments

As September came to a close, we reported that Lactalis Canada had invested in a new distribution center in Oshawa, Ontario. Now, the dairy supplier has officially broken ground on the facility, having recently held a ceremony to mark the start of construction.

“Our sincere thanks to the city and residents of Oshawa for embracing Lactalis Canada into your community. With over 30 operations across the country, and a significant presence in Ontario, we are honored to contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Oshawa,” commented Mark Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lactalis Canada. “Our decision to invest in this distribution center in Oshawa underscores our commitment to this country and its people, the food industry and Canadian economy at large, and most importantly, our contribution to the prosperity and vitality of the communities in which we operate.”

The 379,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open in Q4 2024 and will create approximately 80 jobs in Oshawa and the surrounding region, a release shared. The zero-carbon ready building will become the largest distribution center, from a capacity standpoint, for Lactalis Group globally and will be principally used for Lactalis Canada’s cheese and table spreads category.

Some features of the new facility include:

• Use of energy-efficient lighting controls, equipment, and high insulation values will reduce the power load imposed on the refrigeration system
• Heat generated from the refrigeration system will be fully reclaimed and used to heat the facility’s offices and the truck apron to melt snow for safety reasons
• White roof will reduce heat island effect
• Solar panels on the roof in a future phase will provide renewable power to partially or completely offset reliance on the power grid under certain conditions

As this new distribution center comes to fruition, DMN will continue to share the latest updates and impacts.