CANADA – Saputo has announced that it will close two plants and sell another from its milk division.

The plants located in Calgary and Armstrong will cease operating in January and February 2004 respectively. Its manufacturing operation, which is based in Annacis Island, will be sold to Soyaworld, a soy-based beverage company from British Colombia, by February 2004 but terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.

A total of 254 employees face losing their jobs as a result of the closures and sale, but in some cases employees will be offered the possibility of transferring to other company facilities.