Quebec company says “Oui” to Alberta lamb business

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For months since the North American Lamb Company (NALCO) announced it had gone into receivership, it’s been unclear as to who would take over the Alberta assets of the company, including a large feedlot and processing facility at Picture Butte.

Finally public, the majority of the Alberta assets of NALCO have been acquired by Préval AG, an international agri-food company headquartered in St-Hyacinthe, Québec, including the two trademarks, Sungold and Lamb Tonight.

The firm and its backers are not new to the lamb business, however this is the first foray into lamb outside of Quebec.  The company currently owns lamb, beef, and veal processing and products in Quebec.

With this transaction, the company’s annual sales will reach more than $750 million and its employees now number over 1,600 in Canada, the United States and South America, the company says.

“We are proud to welcome what are now Westfine Meats Inc. and West Excelamb Inc. to our diversified family of companies,” says Alex Fontaine, president and CEO of Montpak, owned by Préval AG. Fontaine says the company intends on continuing to work with former Sungold customers, with a focus on local sourcing for the Canadian market.

The processing plant will be run by a new general manager, Stéphane Beausoleil.

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