Lilydale Plant to find a new home in southeast Calgary industrial area

The City of Calgary and Sofina Foods Inc. are pleased to confirm they are working towards an agreement to purchase the land at 2126 Hurst Road SE (existing Lilydale plant location) to accommodate the Green Line LRT. Discussions are also underway on the sale of City-owned land for a new processing facility at Dufferin North, in southeast Calgary.

The Green Line LRT was a major catalyst in moving negotiations forward between The City of Calgary and Sofina Foods, Inc. The new transit line will require the land at 2126 Hurst Road SE to accommodate the elevated guideway for the future LRT line. The City has been working with the local community since 2015 to envision the future of the area with the addition of the new LRT line. This site had been identified as having high potential for future mixed-use redevelopment to complement the existing neighbourhood.

“We believe the Green Line LRT will help create vibrant and sustainable communities,” said Michael Thompson, Director of Transportation Infrastructure. “Strategic land purchases such as this will enable development to occur over time around our transit stations.”

Working together to reach a successful agreement ensures Sofina Foods, Inc. remains in Calgary to continue providing jobs and supporting local food production, while further advancing a major municipal infrastructure project that will benefit thousands of Calgarians.

Sofina Foods Inc. is planning to build a state of the art plant at the new location, with an anticipated opening date of or around 2020. Timelines for moving from the old facility are currently unknown but will align with Green Line LRT construction timelines.

“We are happy to be able to remain in the Calgary area,” said Michael Latifi, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Sofina Foods Inc. “As a long-term and a sustainable partner, our commitment to Alberta producers remains unchanged. The new site is ideally situated to ensure a smooth transition for our producers, for our suppliers and for our employees.”

Certain details of the negotiations will remain confidential until late 2018, when the real estate transactions are finalized and closing conditions are met.

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