Yourbarfactory launch a third production line
The Châteauguay-based cereal bar manufacturing company, Yourbarfactory, is thriving. After several years of strong growth, it is preparing to launch a third production line, representing a $12M investment.
From bar preparation in a new kitchen to packaging, the new production line will eventually generate $18M per shift, explains Marie-Ève Bibeau, head of operations. The factory will be able to run 24/7 with the hiring of 25 new employees and the addition of evening and night shifts.
Yourbarfactory produces bars for major local and international retailers. According to Martin Joyal, head of sustainability, the company works with Canadian businesses such as Metro Inc., Loblaws, and IGA Inc., as well as American brands like Costco and Walmart.
The company has seen its production increase by 85% since 2020. Facing a lack of space even before launching the new production line, it purchased a plot of land behind its factory on Bélanger Street for expansion. The new building is expected to total between 50,000 and 60,000 square feet.
In addition to increasing its production, the company has invested $5 million in the automation and digitalization of certain tasks. In August 2021, it automated the process of placing bars into boxes and boxes into shipping cases. “This was a highly manual process that required a lot of labor. With the ongoing labor shortage, automation allows us to boost our production while maintaining our capacity with fewer workers,” explains Ms. Bibeau.
A Green Factory
Yourbarfactory’s plant obtained the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in 2019.
The certification is awarded to buildings that are constructed with a focus on water conservation, energy efficiency, the selection of more eco-friendly materials, recycling, indoor air quality, and more.
For example, the company reuses the heat from equipment to warm the factory and offices. The cold from refrigerators replaces air conditioning during the summer. This allows the company to save money. It spends about $18,000 per month on heating, compared to a similar building that may spend around $100,000, as Mr. Joyal explains.
“Downtown offices, high-tech offices, that’s easy to [make them] more eco-friendly because you don’t have to worry about the worker who is in a factory with machines,” says Mr. Joyal.
During the transportation of products by truck, the company uses an aluminum cover to maintain the bars at the right temperature instead of refrigerators.
Other examples? During the transportation of products by truck, the company uses an aluminum cover to maintain the bars at the right temperature rather than refrigerators. Additionally, food waste is sent to a company that recycles it into animal food. The air is filtered once per hour, and windows allow sunlight to pass through. The trees cut down for the construction of the new building will be used to make furniture.
