Government of Canada grants $250,000 in funding to Edde Almond Paste for productivity enhancement

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June 19, 2009

Gatineau, Quebec, June 19, 2009 −Acting on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for Canada Economic Development, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister responsible for the Outaouais region and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, today announced the awarding of $250,000 in repayable funding to Edde Almond Paste Inc. to support the company's ongoing efforts to raise productivity.

Edde Almond Paste Inc. specializes in the development, manufacture and sale of ingredients such as almond pastes, praline and nut pastes, glazes and jellies for use in the bakery, pastry and chocolate-making industries. Based in Gatineau, this small firm conducts more than half of its sales on foreign markets, particularly in the Middle East.

“Ensuring the prosperity of communities is a priority for the Government of Canada, and that is why we are there to stand by enterprises looking to bolster their productivity, develop new products and expand into new markets. This company's project will lead to the creation of three new jobs in the area while preserving another dozen existing positions. As well as strengthening the Outaouais' brand image in the agri-food industry, this initiative promises to stimulate the region's manufacturing sector,” Minister Cannon explained.

This funding will serve for the purchase of specialized pastry and chocolate-making equipment that will allow the enterprise to improve productivity while increasing its production capabilities. These new acquisitions, along with an expansion of the company's facilities, have required an overall investment of more than a million dollars. Edde Almond Paste Inc. also intends to take the steps needed to obtain HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) accreditation, a certification system for food safety management.

Agri-food processing, along with high technology, tourism and value-added wood processing, are considered promising growth sectors for the Outaouais. It is therefore in these priority areas that Canada Economic Development has decided to focus its development efforts in the region.

This funding has been awarded through Canada Economic Development's Business and Regional Growth program.