Lactalis Canada Officially Opens New Distribution Center in Oshawa, Ontario; Mark Taylor Comments

On Tuesday, December 3, Lactalis Canada—the Canadian dairy leader behind iconic brands such as Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia, and a subsidiary of France-based Lactalis Group—held a special event to celebrate the official opening of the company’s new Oshawa, Ontario, distribution center—now the largest distribution center, from a capacity standpoint, within Lactalis Group globally.

“Lactalis Canada’s new Oshawa Distribution Center is yet another part of our growth story in Canada and a testament to our ambitions as a dairy leader in this country,” said Mark Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer. “This facility ensures we meet the evolving needs of our business and valued customers, while its sustainable design will revolutionize our network's efficiency and ESG agenda.”

Increasing the capacity and efficiency of Lactalis Canada’s supply chain network, the Oshawa facility will principally support the company’s cheese and table spreads business. Located at 1600 Thornton Road North in Oshawa, Ontario, in the Northwood Business Park, Lactalis Canada’s Oshawa Distribution Center will employ approximately 80 employees, a press release noted.

“We look forward to being a key employer in the region and are committed to creating opportunities for employment, skill development, and career growth to contribute to the strong community of Oshawa,” continued Taylor.

Key Facility Features:

• 379,000 square feet facility with the ability to store up to 60,000 pallets in both cooler and freezer environments
• Zero-carbon ready with the potential to be Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) certified
• Source of energy fully on the Ontario power grid with no additional reliance on non-renewable energy sources
• Use of energy efficient lighting controls, equipment, and high insulation values reduce power load imposed on the refrigeration system
• Heat generated from the refrigeration system fully reclaimed and used to heat the facility’s offices and the truck apron to melt snow for safety reasons
• White roof to 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
• CBRE Limited facilitated the long-term lease agreement, while the distribution center was developed, built, and leased by Broccolini with the building design supported by GKC Architecture and Design

As Lactalis Canada continues to expand its business, DMN will be here to report.