A mature Cooperative Pork Network continued to pursue growth in 2018

Drummondville, March 26, 2019 – The Cooperative Pork Network held its 8th annual general meeting today in the Drummondville region during which the organization reported on a solid performance for the 2017-2018 fiscal year despite a difficult year for pork producers in both Quebec and in the rest of Canada.

In the last year, the Cooperative Pork Network delivered 1.25 million Coop pigs to Olymel. Since its establishment 8 years ago, members of the Cooperative Pork Network have received close to $47 million in quality and loyalty premiums and nearly $72 million in patronage and share dividends. This year alone, $11.2 million was paid in share dividends to members of the Network. "While 2018 has not been an easy year for pork producers, the Cooperative Pork Network has made good progress, an undeniable sign of its relevance as a future model for this sector of activity,” said the president of the Cooperative Pork Network, Réjean Vermette. "The Network also increased in membership, now with 233 member producers in 2018," he added.

Listening to the needs of its members and connected into the demands of consumers and industry, the Cooperative Pork Network is becoming a structured model that that has put in place several tools and programs in order to constantly improve the situation of its members. The president of La Coop fédérée, Ghislain Gervais, pointed out that "La Coop fédérée, well aware of the difficult situation of the pork production sector, made the decision to pay 50% of dividends in cash for 2018, as well as having advanced the payment for the progressive premium.” The Cooperative Pork Network is privileged to be part of a wider network that shares the wealth between all the links in the chain. The Network enjoys exceptional support from its valued partners. In this regard, a financial support program has been put in place by La Coop fédérée and Olymel to support producers in converting their buildings and respecting the new animal welfare standards.

Phase 1 of the Fermes Boréales project in the process of being completed
The Fermes Boréales project, which has as its objective the establishment of a facility based on a collective farrowing concept that will become, in the medium term, a development model favoured by pork producers in Quebec, is well underway. The first phase, which planned to build five farrowing barns in the Témiscamingue region, is presently being completed with four farms currently in operation and a fifth under construction. "Not only does the Network support its members, it also makes it possible to market quality meat, recognized and sought after by high-value-added markets,” concluded Mr. Vermette.

Presentation of the 2018 Silver Snout Awards
The annual meeting of the Cooperative Pork Network was also the perfect opportunity to highlight the work of producers with the best provincial performance for pork production. The list of Silver Snout winners will be available at www.porclacoop.coop starting on March 28th.

About the Cooperative Pork Network 
Founded in April 2011, the Cooperative Pork Network has 233 members in Quebec who are divided into farrowing, finishing, farrow-to-finish, weaned piglets and weaner-finishing sectors. Thanks to the coordination work of its members, it offers quality products at competitive prices to consumers in Quebec and elsewhere and generates wealth for its producers. For more information, visit www.porclacoop.coop.

About La Coop fédérée
Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food enterprise in Québec, the only pan-Canadian agricultural cooperative and the 24th largest agri-food cooperative in the world. It represents more than 120,000 members, agricultural producers and consumers, who are grouped together in nearly 60 cooperatives spread out across several Canadian provinces. It employs 14,000 people and has sales reaching $6.5 billion. Including its affiliated cooperatives, La Coop fédérée accounts for nearly 19,000 employees and combined sales of $9.5 billion. Its activities are divided into three divisions: Olymel S.E.C. (under the Olymel, Flamingo and Lafleur, Aliments Triomphe, and Pinty’s banners), Sollio Agriculture (under La Coop and Elite, Agrocentre, Agrico and Agromart, and Country Stores banners), and Groupe BMR inc. (under the BMR, Unimat, Agrizone and Potvin & Bouchard, La Shop and Country Stores banners). To find out more, visit www.lacoop.coop. Twitter: twitter.com/LaCoop_federee. Facebook: facebook.com/LaCoopfederee

About Olymel s.e.c. 
Olymel is Canada's leader in the production, processing and distribution of pork and poultry meats. The company's mission is to feed the world with passion and with products that are irreproachable in quality. The company employs more than 13,000 people and has production and processing facilities in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Olymel exports nearly a third of its total sales and annual sales are on the order of $3.5 billion. The company markets its products mainly under the Olymel, Lafleur and Flamingo brands. For more information on the company, visit: www.olymel.ca

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Source:        
Ben Marc Diendéré
Senior Vice-president, Communications, Public Affairs & Brand Management
La Coop fédérée
@Marc_Ben

Information & requests for interviews: 
Marie-Hélène Cliche
Manager, Enterprise Communications & Graphics Services, La Coop fédérée
marie-helene.cliche@lacoop.coop | 514-347-5939