Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency : Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company Expands to Meet Growing Demand

The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company has purchased new equipment and expanded its facility thanks to investments from the federal and provincial governments.

TJ Harvey, Member of Parliament for Tobique - Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Rick Doucet, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, joined the Albright family at Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company to make the announcement today.

This project involved a 9,000 square foot expansion to the potato chip manufacturing facility to improve the company's efficiencies and optimize operating space to increase production.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA's Business Development Program, provided a repayable contribution of $500,000 for this project while the Province of New Brunswick contributed $367,000 through a forgivable loan from Opportunities New Brunswick.

This project builds on the Government of Canada's commitment to drive economic growth in Atlantic Canada through the Atlantic Growth Strategy, is providing strategic investments for projects that build on the region's competitive advantages, such as its strong export potential, growing innovation ecosystem, and skilled workforce.

Quotes:

'The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadian businesses grow, innovate and participate in a global economy so that they can create good quality jobs and generate wealth for Canadians. Through ACOA, we are making strategic investments in companies such as Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company so they can build on competitive regional advantages while helping to expand and diversify the local economy.'

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

'Since 2009, Ryan Albright has grown his small business which began with only three employees into a successful venture that now employs nearly 100 people in the rural region of Carleton County. I am pleased that ACOA's support for this project has enabled Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company to continue to grow and diversify its product offerings so it can meet growing demand now and in the years to come.'

- TJ Harvey, Member of Parliament for Tobique - Mactaquac

'Investing in the expansion at Covered Bridge Potato Chips will help deliver on our number one priority of job creation. Covered Bridge has shown it is an innovative and driven company that is positioned for growth and we are pleased to be able to support this project.'

- Honourable Rick Doucet, Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, on behalf of the Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick

'This expansion is another step for us in our efforts to build a more efficient platform for the future growth of the company. The space will enable us to add more cooking capacity and a new product line in the near future. We had a record tourism season this past summer and can attribute a lot of this to our expanded tourism viewing area, gift shop and facilities and look forward to growing that next summer!'

- Ryan Albright, President, Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company

Quick Facts:

• Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company, located just five kilometres away from the world's longest covered bridge in nearby Hartland, is the only factory in Canada that makes old fashioned kettle chips with dark Russet potatoes.
• Each batch of potato chips is cooked using homegrown potatoes harvested at Albright Farms, the family's 500 acre potato crop.
• The potato chip manufacturing facility is also an agri-tourism destination that offers self-guided factory tours. The newly-expanded building has a better viewing space for visitors and additional washrooms to better accommodate tour bus traffic.

Associated Links:

• http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/eng/ImLookingFor/ProgramInformation/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?ProgramID=2
• http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/ags-sca/Eng/atlantic-growth.html
• http://onbcanada.ca/
• http://coveredbridgechips.com/en

Contacts:

Lisa Gautreau
Acting Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-471-1565
[e-mail]

Mary-Anne Hurley-Corbyn
Communications
Opportunities NB
506-476-7596

Ryan Albright
President
Covered Bridge Potato Chip Company
506-375-2447