One of Manitoba’s long-time layer operations is changing hands.
Clark’s Poultry, out of Brandon, announced Dec. 5 that the company had been jointly acquired by International Layer Distribution and Trouw Nutrition Canada.
Why it matters: Two companies with ownership roots in Europe have purchased the Manitoba chick provider.
Read Also
Farm resilience pilot projects launched
The Canadian Alliance for Net Zero Agri-Food (CANZA) aims to reduce farmer risk for adopting sustainable farm practices with projects outlined Oct. 7.
The company, which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary, has been locally owned since its start in 1947. It was founded by Douglas Clark, who began hatching about 11,000 chicks a year, starting in 1951, after building a facility on his 20-acre property in Brandon. Eight years later, he expanded the business by building a facility that produced 65,000 chicks and poults per week.
By the end of his career, Clark’s achievements included a Canadian Hatchery Federation Award and membership in the Buffalo Rooster Club from the Manitoba Hatchery Association, according to the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame.
In 1999, Clark was inducted into the hall, which cited his contribution to Canada’s poultry breeding stock. The organization particularly noted his work in developing the dual purpose Paymaster 101 genetic line, which “was noted for its livability, disease resistance and egg production capabilities.”
In 1970, the reins of the company transferred to Brandon-area resident Glen Lawson. The Lawson family operated the business until this year.
Today, the business sells day-old chicks across the three Prairie provinces.
Clark’s Poultry president Brad Lawson described the company as “a proud family legacy” and said he was “proud of our involvement in this dynamic industry over the last 52 years.”
His own history with the company has spanned 44 years, he noted.
“The time has come for me to move on and let the current management and sales team, along with the new ownership group, take Clark’s Poultry to the next level of excellence in the hatchery industry,” he said.
A joint statement issued by Maarten Bijl, managing director of Trouw Nutrition’s North American branch, and ILD managing director Albert Cordts, said the sale “shows long-term and continued commitment to the Prairie provinces and their producers.
“We are excited about this acquisition and partnership. Continuing the high quality and the excellent service customers know from Clark’s [Poultry] is very important to us,” the statement said.
The Lohmann Breeders brand of layers, which Clark’s Poultry distributed, is an existing subsidiary of ILD’s German-based parent company, EW Group. Trouw Nutrition and aquaculture feed company Skretting operate under the umbrella of Dutch company Nutreco.
Day-to-day management of Clark’s Poultry will now shift to new general manager Greg Moorehead.
He declined requests for a further interview, but noted in the Dec. 5 statement that the change will “allow us not only to invest in the Canadian community and the team we have built, but also to continue improving on our existing chick quality and customer support.”
– With files from Dave Bedard.
