gŏđŏ
editionap.ca
Sources Véo Springs tapping into new markets
as in Ottawa and Montréal. “We are trying to promote our products in the regional
market, within a 100-kilometre radius,” re- lated Baril.
RICHARD MAHONEY richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
GRENVILLE-SUR-LA-ROUGE | Optimism springs eternal at Les Sources Véo Springs Inc. The Grenville-sur-la-Rouge water bot- tling company, which hopes to tap into new markets with its line of infusion bot- tles, is expanding its plastic intrusion sec- tion and is drawing up plans for an invest- ment that could create as many as 75 jobs. General manager Noël Baril will provide few details about this “major project” but he gushed when he talked about the 23 employees at the water bottling plant, the quality of Véo’s products, and the busi- ness’s potential for growth. “We have a good team here,” said Baril during a tour of the 30,000-square-foot operation on Chemin de la Rivière Rouge. He cited the employees’ cooperation when Montréal was forced to issue a boil- water advisory recently. To meet the spike in demand for bottled water, employees at Véo worked 13 days in a row. “I was flabbergasted. We had no problem with the union. That tells you we have a hell of a good team,” stated Baril. Some 19 of the plant’s workers are represented by local 1999 of the Teamsters. The company’s immediate plan is the expansion of its injection operation that will enable it to increase bottle produc- tion. “We will be able to produce different
sizes and types of bottles,” explained Baril, reiterating, “We have a good solid team.” The expanded injection department will create three to five jobs. “Most of the people who work here are locals. We are eager to protect and create jobs,” continued Baril, adding that Véo is constantly seeking ways to gain a larger slice of the bottled water market. Supply is not an issue. Extracting and bottling between 300,000 and 400,000 litres a day, Véo has a permit to draw 1.1 million litres daily from a spring that is the second largest natural water source in Québec. “This is one of the best water sources. The mountain clay acts as a natu- ral filter,” says Baril. Water is pumped via a stainless steel pipe from a spring located 600 metres from the plant, which is situated beside the Rouge River. Incorporated in 1999, Véo began opera- tions in 2005 on a vast tract of 610 acres of farmland. Since the outset, the corpora- tion has integrated its extraction, plastic transformation and bottling operations. A supplier for Labrador, Véo sells water under its own label, as well as under the “Montebello” name. Fruit infusion A new line is being promoted -- “Flavour It” infusion bottles. Véo sells water across the region as well Plant manager Ben Grégoire, Erin Smith, director of sales and purchasing, and general manager Noël Baril.
Photos Richard Mahoney
Les Sources Véo Springs bottles about 400,000 litres of water a day.
MTO pressed to act RICHARD MAHONEY RICHARD.MAHONEY@EAP.ON.CA
ume that is not considered to be high by the MTO. The Hawkesbury Ontario Provincial Police detachment does not view the in- terchange as being a particularly danger- ous spot, said detachment spokesperson Constable Pierre Dubois. Still, Champlain council members stress that it is only a matter of time be- fore another fatal crash occurs at 417 and 34. Several years ago, a driver was killed when his car collided with a tractor trailer there, recalled Barton. Duval recounted that improvements were made at the Highway 34 and Sandy Hill Road intersection south of Hawkes- bury only after a local man lost his life in a collision at that busy spot. The Vankleek Hill councillor pointed out that traffic at the Highway 417 inter- change in Casselman is controlled by a light. Champlain is asking Glengarry- Prescott-Russell M.P.P. Grant Crack to sup- port its request. Jacques Laplante (président de Laplante Auto) et Geneviève Laplante (directrice générale) ont procédé à la coupe du ruban le 22 juin dernier à Hawkesbury. Sébastien Laplante (directeur des véhicules usagés) ainsi que Stéphanie Laplante (secrétaire trésorière) ont fait partie de l’inauguration officielle du nouvel emplacement de Laplante Auto.
VANKLEEK HILL | Citing two motor vehicle accidents in 10 days, Champlain Township is again pushing for provincial action to improve safety at the intersection of High- ways 417 and 34 south of Vankleek Hill. “Something is seriously wrong,” Mayor Gary Barton commented when the is- sue was again debated at a recent council meeting. Councillor Paul-Émile Duval re- lated that over the course of a week and a half, two accidents have occurred at the intersection. Council decided to ask the Ontario Minis- try of Transportation to install a traffic light at the interchange. In recent years, both Champlain and North Glengarry councils have pressed the province to improve safe- ty at the intersection. Council members noted that there have been many close calls in that area. However, counts have shown that 5,100 vehicles pass there on a daily basis, a vol-
Infusion bottles represent another chance for Véo to capture a large piece of the huge bottled water market.
OUVERTURE OFFICIELLE
CADILLAC CHEVROLET BUICK GMC
640, rue Main Est, Hawkesbury, ON Tél.: 613 632-2764 www.laplantechev.com
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker