The Rural Voice, 1998-04, Page 31perhaps to establish marketing
alliances with other small food
processors, combining distribution
forces to get product into markets
over a larger geographic area.
The wide variety of products the
plant will produce mean a variety of
different processes and equipment.
"There's probably more specialized
equipment in our plant than you'd
find in a lot of small plants." Some
of the Pinnau equipment is unique,
he says.
Twelve of the original 14
investors are still involved among the
40 investors in the company today
(most of whom are from
southwestern Ontario). While
declining to reveal the company's
investment he says "It's a pretty good
whack." Still, despite some surprises
along the way that drove costs up, the
final investment isn't significantly
more than the original group
envisioned.
Was the long battle worth it?
Schmidt says to come back
in a year with that question.
"There have been days when we've
wondered. Certainly when we see
product rolling out the door we'll
think it was all worthwhile," he says.
That objective was realized March 18
with the first shipments.
"It's been a real learning
experience for all of us, especially
the board of directors where we're
involved with the development of the
company and the structure of the
company," he says.
"It certainly broadens your
horizons and opens your eyes. For
me, it makes me realize how small
my world was before. When you're
younger you think your world is
pretty big and then you move on to
something else and you realize 'gee
that was a pretty small little world I
lived in wasn't it'. I view myself as a
primary producer as being less
significant to the end product than I
used to. That's personal for me, I
don't know how the rest of the group
feel about iL"
The 40 investors now have their
foot in the door of an integrated
industry, from the milking parlour to
the processing plant. Though starting
small, their hard work and dedication
has put them on their way to
realizing the dream that was born
five years ago.0
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APRIL 1998 27