Flax Plant to resume Operations in December.
From Brandon Newspaper
FINE tuning the dozens of moving parts needed to operate a multimillion-dollar flax crushing plant will delay production for at least another month, says Shape Foods co-owner and CEO Jim Downey.
"Everything is coming along nicely, but we're not quite at the processing stage," Downey told the Brandon Sun. "All of the little fixing of problems that needs to be looked after takes time.
"We're at the stage that we can test the crushed flax... But when we're dealing with a lot of moving parts, we want to make sure things are in tip-top working order before we get into full production."
In an interview in September, Downey said he hoped the facility would be up and at full production potential by early October.
Downey said it's more likely the plant will open in the first week of December.
"We've tested some of the flax to ensure crushability so we're starting some of the presses, but again, we want to get everything in order before we move to full press speed."
Meanwhile, local health-food retailers Two Farm Kids Natural Foods, Hedley's Health Hut and Fitness Fanatics have been selling flax seed oil that had nowhere to go when the plant closed temporarily last fall.
The focus on local stores is part of Shape Food's strategy to develop Canadian as well as American and international markets.
From Brandon Newspaper
FINE tuning the dozens of moving parts needed to operate a multimillion-dollar flax crushing plant will delay production for at least another month, says Shape Foods co-owner and CEO Jim Downey.
"Everything is coming along nicely, but we're not quite at the processing stage," Downey told the Brandon Sun. "All of the little fixing of problems that needs to be looked after takes time.
"We're at the stage that we can test the crushed flax... But when we're dealing with a lot of moving parts, we want to make sure things are in tip-top working order before we get into full production."
In an interview in September, Downey said he hoped the facility would be up and at full production potential by early October.
Downey said it's more likely the plant will open in the first week of December.
"We've tested some of the flax to ensure crushability so we're starting some of the presses, but again, we want to get everything in order before we move to full press speed."
Meanwhile, local health-food retailers Two Farm Kids Natural Foods, Hedley's Health Hut and Fitness Fanatics have been selling flax seed oil that had nowhere to go when the plant closed temporarily last fall.
The focus on local stores is part of Shape Food's strategy to develop Canadian as well as American and international markets.