Old Dutch Foods has opened an 8,400-square-foot accounting office and warehouse in Summerside, P.E.I., bringing its Eastern Canadian operations together in a facility that uses solar power, geothermal heating and cooling and energy recovery technology.
The facility is located in Slemon Park and Old Dutch says the investment is intended to improve operational efficiency while reducing energy consumption at the site.
Energy-efficient operations
The building does not use fossil fuels and releases zero carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, according to the company.
Its solar power system includes an array spanning approximately 160 metres and is expected to generate about 40 kilowatts of power.
The facility also uses geothermal technology as its primary heating and cooling source. The system has 16 geothermal boreholes connected through a vertical closed-loop geothermal heat exchange system, which transfers energy between the ground and the building.
An Energy Recovery Ventilation system captures energy from exhausted air and uses it to temper incoming fresh air. Old Dutch says the system is designed to improve indoor air quality while reducing the energy required to heat and cool the facility.
The new workplace combines warehouse and accounting office operations, with the company saying the design is intended to support long-term operational efficiency.
Company investment
Scott Kelemen, senior national director of brand and market strategy at Old Dutch Foods, said the facility represents an investment in the company’s operations as well as its employees and future.
“Quality has always been at the heart of Old Dutch Foods, and that commitment extends beyond the products we make to the investments we make in our people, our operations and our future,” said Kelemen. “As we look ahead to the next generation of Canadians who will enjoy our products, we are proud to invest in innovative technologies and infrastructure that help us operate more efficiently and responsibly for generations to come.”
Old Dutch said the facility is part of its broader environmental efforts across its operations.
Those initiatives include waste reduction and resource recovery measures, including advanced biological wastewater treatment technology, recycling programs and the diversion of food waste for beneficial reuse.
Atlantic operations
The Summerside facility brings accounting and warehouse functions under one roof as the company continues its operations in Atlantic Canada.
Old Dutch said the building reflects its focus on future operations while maintaining its connection to employees and communities that have contributed to the company’s business over several generations.
The company said the combination of renewable energy generation, geothermal technology and modern industrial construction practices is intended to support the facility’s long-term operational efficiency.
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