Canada: Covered Bridge Potato Chips expands with $867K in government money

Covered Bridge Potato Chips has purchased new equipment and expanded its Hartland-area manufacturing facility in New Brunswick with $867,000 in federal and provincial funding announced on Wednesday. Government officials and company president Ryan Albright did not respond to a request from CBC News for details about when the funding was provided. The announcement comes less than eight months after a strike and boycott at the plant ended with the signing of a new contract that included a pay increase for workers and more money for boot and clothing allowances. The contract dispute was settled after a New Brunswick judge rejected an application by Albright to dismantle the union. The nearly 836-square metre (9,000-square foot) expansion is expected to improve the company’s efficiencies and optimize operating space to increase production of its old-fashioned kettle chips, which are made from dark russet potatoes, harvested from the Albright family’s local farm. More