Vitalus & Gay Lea Foods Announce Plans For New Processing In Manitoba

Winnipeg, MB - Vitalus Nutrition Inc ("Vitalus") and Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited ("Gay Lea Foods") today announced plans to invest in new dairy processing in Manitoba.

Vitalus and Gay Lea Foods have entered into a joint venture to process dairy ingredients and butter in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The joint venture includes plans for significant upgrades to modernize an existing food manufacturing facility, creating a need for new skilled labour, increased drying capacity in Western Canada, and new butter production to respond to market demands.

The Vitalus-Gay Lea Foods joint venture also provides a new market opportunity for milk from Manitoba dairy farms, as Dairy Farmers of Manitoba will be supplying the raw milk for the new processing facility. In addition, dairy farmers in the province will have the opportunity to join Gay Lea Foods as member owners.

QUOTES

"Vitalus is pleased to partner with Gay Lea Foods and Dairy Farmers of Manitoba to increase much needed drying capacity while further developing the dairy ingredients industry, adding growth and new market opportunities for Canadian dairy."

• Philip Vanderpol, President, Vitalus Nutrition Inc

"Gay Lea Foods is excited by the opportunities that the joint venture brings to both the Co-operative and Canadian dairy, through increased processing capacity for ingredients and butter while extending our open membership to farmers in Manitoba."

• Michael Barrett, President & CEO, Gay Lea Foods

"Dairy Farmers of Manitoba is pleased to provide milk for this joint venture. This new opportunity and our commitment to working together to increase processing capacity in Manitoba will help ensure the continued sustainability of the Canadian dairy industry today and for future generations."

• David Wiens, Chair, Dairy Farmers of Manitoba