On Tuesday, December 3, Lactalis Canada Inc. (‘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 centre – now the largest distribution centre, from a capacity standpoint, within Lactalis Group globally.
“Lactalis Canada’s new Oshawa Distribution Centre 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 & CEO, Lactalis Canada. “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.”
“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.
Increasing the capacity and efficiency of Lactalis Canada’s supply chain network, the Oshawa facility will principally support the company’s cheese and tablespreads business. Located at 1600 Thornton Road North in Oshawa, Ontario in the Northwood Business Park, Lactalis Canada’s Oshawa Distribution Centre will employ approximately 80 employees.
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 centre was developed, built, and leased by Broccolini with the building design supported by GKC Architecture and Design.
