Rougemont, Québec, October 11, 2013 – A. Lassonde Inc. has announced today major investments in its Rougemont plants. These projects, totalling up to $19 million, include the implementation of new production lines and the upgrade of existing facilities, which will create up to 24 new jobs, improve the Rougemont facilities’ output and support their performance in a highly competitive market.

These projects will benefit from the financial support of the Government of Québec, through a non-repayable financial contribution of $1.85 million. This announcement was made today during a press conference attended by Mr. Nicolas Marceau, Minister of Finance and the Economy; Mr François Gendron, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; and Ms. Marie Bouillé, Iberville MP.

“Lassonde operates in a rapidly developing North American market, where it stands out by leveraging quality and innovation in product development and production, said Jean Gattuso, President and COO of Lassonde Industries Inc. Our Rougemont plants are the company’s very first facilities, and these investments will ensure that they remain on the cutting edge and maintain their key operational role.”

These investments are also part of Lassonde’s sustainable development strategy, in which packaging weight reduction is a core priority. The addition of two new preform production lines, which will be used to manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, will offer environmental benefits that can already be quantified. This project will enable Lassonde to make its PET plastic bottles and caps 16% lighter. In concrete terms, 1.2 million kilos will be trimmed from selective collection each year. A series of projects related to the production of PET bottles will result in a reduction of 2,400 trucks on the road.

Furthermore, the company plans to implement new production technologies and increase the size of its storage facilities, which is a growing need in light of its sustained production growth.

“Over the past 10 years, we have more than doubled our production operations and created hundreds of jobs in Rougemont concluded Mr. Gattuso. Firmly rooted in its community, Lassonde was able to grow thanks to the support of its clients and consumers especially those in Quebec and we thank them. It is a source of great pride for us to keep growing and creating jobs at home.”