A subsidiary of one of China’s largest meat processors is building a $13-million processing facility in Edmonton.
Siwin Foods, an offshoot of Yantai Xiwang Foods, has been working out of the Leduc Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator since 2004. It produces ready-to-eat meals and quick-cook products, notably dumplings, potstickers and other Asian dishes. In order to keep up with growing demand, Siwin has partnered with the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency to build a new processing facility.
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A spokesperson from ALMA said the agency contributed $260,000 to the engineering and design of the new building, and $435,000 for processing equipment. That equipment uses technology that will help Siwin boost exports to the U.S. and China.
The current facility has 13 full-time and five part-time staff, and Siwin plans to hire five to seven additional staff during their startup phase.
“Siwin will hire local staff to join their team as they ramp up production and source more Alberta meat products to meet demand across Canada, and eventually enter export markets,” the ALMA spokesperson said in an email.
ALMA president and CEO Gordon Cove said he supports the partnership because it creates a new “made in Alberta” product. Many other brands of dumplings and potstickers sold in Alberta are made by processors in other provinces or countries, he said.
