2 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

By Cheryl Long
..............................................................................................................................

dding a healthy dose of innovation to a recipe founded on hard work

and family traditions has been the secret to success for one of Canadas
flourishing hog producers.

Since the early days when Fulgence Menard purchased his fathers feed mill in
Ange-Gardien, Quebec in 1961, F. Menard has evolved and grown to become a
leader in the field of pork production. Today, the family-owned business has approximately 1,000 employees, more than 200 associate producers in Quebec
and Eastern Ontario, and customers in 50 countries worldwide. Now run by Fulgences sons Pierre, Francois and Luc, F. Menard continues to look to the future
through expansion, investment and improvements across the company.
The companys General Manager, Luc Menard, worked his way up through the
business, first helping the farms manager at age 12 and then taking on full-time
work at 15. Along the way, he learned all facets of the company ranging from feed
production, breeding and technical advice to management positions that even-

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 3

tually led to his current role. After working for 38 years, my responsibilities now
consist of defining future strategies and
overseeing the growth of the company,
he explained.

VERTICAL INTEGRATION FOR

ALL STAGES OF PORK
PRODUCTION
F. Menard is a vertically integrated business, which allows them to be involved in
all stages of pork production. They have a
hand in genetics, livestock breeding, feed,
transport, biosecurity and processing, and
everything comes full circle with a strong
commitment to research and development supported by an annual investment
of $500,000.
We have our own R&D service, which annually conducts many tests in all divisions
of the company to ensure we remain competitive and maintain the very best product quality, Luc explained.
Each year, F. Menard processes more than
one million pigs in one of Canadas most
Dr. Julie Mnard,
veterinarian and agronomist,
recipient of the Science in Practice
award from the University of Minnesota

advanced cutting and processing plants.

Because they process for international
distribution, F. Menard prides itself on the

4 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

abcd
Nos sincres flicitations
dune entreprise familiale une autre
Sincere congratulations from one
family company to another

Nous investissons sur le capital humain pour innover en production porcine.

We invest in human capital to innovate in swine production.
Longue vie votre succs et notre partenariat.
Long live your success and our partnership.

Lquipe porcine Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Lte | The Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. swine team

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 5

17

We greatly value their unique know-how and skills and would not have
achieved our present position without their valuable contributions.
6 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

companys ability to adapt to their custom-

ity to the premium feed they use, atten-

ers different needs and demands based

tion paid to animal welfare in all facets of

on regulatory requirements. That adapt-

the business, and the humane methods

ability can be traced in part to a commit-

incorporated into both the production and

ment to several core priorities: research

slaughtering processes.

and development, biosecurity, animal welfare and sustainable development.

FARM OWNERS PLAY

A KEY ROLE

Research and development is the umbrella

At the grower level, F. Menard has found

under which F. Menard dedicates time and

success in partnering with a network of

resources to genetic testing, feeding pro-

producers who are farm owners capable

grams, animal husbandry and slaughtering

of maintaining a high level of operations.

processes. They attribute their meat qual-

Like their employees, many of F. Menards

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 7

21

35

WIND

LESS
MANURE

Solid management of swine manure

and odour control at the farms
through a biofiltration system.

WINDBREAK
HEDGES
INSTALLED AT THE
PERIPHERY OF
OUR INSTALLATIONS

PHYTASE

8 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

producers have been working in collabo-

and water metres monitor usage and new

ration with the company for 30 years or

farms are located in areas screened by

more. Producers are supplied with piglets

wooded terrain. Their state-of-the-art pro-

and pigs, feed and medications, and any

cessing plant uses only biodegradable

technical and veterinary assistance, and

products, recycles where possible and uti-

each must comply with animal welfare

lizes waste-free production methods. One

standards under the Canadian Quality As-

of their key achievements is the ability to

surance program (CQA). F. Menard also

trace their products through all steps of

oversees the distribution of feed and the

the process. Each part of production, from

transport of the animals, using handling

reproduction and fattening to slaughter

methods designed to maximize animal

and butchery, takes a structured and rigor-

comfort.

ously controlled approach.

Many of their practices are aimed at re-

F. Menard holds numerous certifications,

ducing both water consumption and their

including Porc Europe, HACCP, Canadian

carbon footprint. Windbreaks limit odours

Quality Assurance (CQA), Transport Qual-

emitted by their farms, water-saving bowls

ity Assurance (TQA), Certified Livestock

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 9

We have our own R&D service, which annually conducts many tests in all
divisions of the company to ensure we remain competitive and maintain the
very best product quality. Luc Menard, General Manager

10 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

Transporter (CLT) and PAACO, the Pro-

strong focus on innovation and the various

fessional Animal Auditor Certification Or-

initiatives theyve taken in optimizing their

ganization. In addition, theyve received

infrastructure.

numerous awards with one of the most recent coming from Canadas Best Managed

One of the companys greatest strengths

Companies program for 2014. This was the

comes from the wealth of experience that

first year that F. Menard made the pres-

their employees bring to the workplace.

tigious list of 50 companies, and is sym-

We greatly value their unique know-how

bolic of their continued commitment to

and skills and would not have achieved

their industry and the extended family that

our present position without their valuable

supports the F. Menard brand. The award

contributions, Luc said. Many of our em-

recognizes the companys solid business

ployees have been with us for more than

model, their rigorous management of re-

30 years!

sources in order to maintain growth, a

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 11

30

a shared suCCess
to this dAy, F. MnArd cAn proudly clAiM thAt
it hAs Achieved enviAble prosperity. the FAMily coMpAny
hAs grown thAnks to its AssociAtes innovAtive
spirit And vision.

Our suppliers

Our assOciate
stOck farmers

Our emplOyees

Our clients
however, we are well aware that without our associate stock farmers trust,
without our suppliers expertise, without our employees work
and without our clients appreciation, none of this would be possible.
All our faithful collaborators have sided with us in our decisions,
our choices and our orientations. today they still help us to innovate,
to progress further together and to believe in our bright future
as pork producers.

12 business elite canada H MAR/APR 2015

$14 MILLION INVESTED IN

NEW PROCESSING PLANT
The companys Agromex division oversees the slaughter and meat-cutting plant,
which processes about 15 percent of Quebecs total hog production annually. The
company invested $14 million into the
plant last year, which allowed them to expand departments, add new equipment
and increase production capacity for products destined for international markets.
The grain division, a rigorously managed
transport services program, and their
highly-skilled research division round out
the companys operations. Finally, the
company-owned retail butcher shops provide customers with an opportunity to buy
directly from the farmer, a concept that is
growing in popularity among consumers
concerned about the sources of their food.
Commitment to quality, innovation and
long-standing traditions will serve F. Menard as they look to the future. Long-term

coming best in the world is within their

plans include expanding their processing

sights.

capacity, continually improving animal welfare in their breeding facilities and ongoing

To learn more about F. Menard, visit

progress in environmental protection. Be-

www.fmenard.com.

MAR/APR 2015 H business elite canada 13

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CANADA

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