Carp’s OVGP modernizing, expanding

CARP – Thanks to a federal development $3 million loan, Carp’s Ottawa Valley Grain Products (OVGP) will renovate its Carp location and expand in to Lanark County.

Last Friday (June 28), politicians including Kanata-Carleton MP Jenna Sudds, Mississippi Mills Mayor Christa Lowry and her council; OVGP owners Kevin and Jennifer Stewart and several of their team, gathered for an official announcement in front of one of Carp’s landmark businesses.

On behalf of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Minister Filomena Tassi, Kanata-Carleton MP Jenna Sudds, who serves as minister of Families, Children and Social Development, visited OVGP, to announce the Government of Canada investment of $3 million to modernize and grow operations. the investment will support the company to adopt new equipment as it establishes a new grain mill in Almonte. The repayable investment is part of an $11.3 million project.

The $3 million investment in OVGP is part of an $18.4 million dollar investment supporting eight food manufacturers across southern Ontario, including: Andriani Ltd., Aspire Bakeries, Baxter’s Bakery, Demetres Manufactory, O’Doughs, Picard Peanuts and Schep’s Bakeries. By expanding production capabilities and adopting new cutting-edge equipment, these companies are meeting growing demand for quality food products, creating skilled jobs and laying the foundation for future success.

“Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector is critically important, generating over $48 billion in annual revenues and providing jobs for more than 100,000 Ontarians,” the federal government released in a statement Friday (June 28). “Investing in the expansion of businesses in this sector strengthens our economy and aligns with the Government of Canada’s commitment to support our nation’s food supply.”

For OVGP, a business looking at its 100th anniversary in five short years, it means the mill will be able to modernize, expand and grow. The current Carp Road location will modernize, and OVGP will also get to work on building a new mill in Mississippi Mills.

Owners Kevin and Jennifer, with Jennifer also serving as CEO, are part of the fourth generation to operate OVGP. Their children and their parents were part of the entourage taking part in the federal announcement just outside the front doors of OVGP and spilling on to Carp Road.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our journey, reinforcing our commitment to excellence, sustainability and technological advancement,” Jennifer said. “As we embark on this transformative journey, I am reminded of OVGP’s core values that have driven OVGP since its inception. Our dedication to providing superior products to our customers remains unwavering. This new chapter, however, is not just about technological progress. It’s about honouring our heritage, while looking forward to a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.”

OVGP’s roots go back to 1929, when Nat Lindsay purchased a small flour mill in Renfrew. OVGP grew at its Renfrew location, and in 1942 acquired another mill in Shawville. Three years later an outlet was opened in Beachburg. It wasn’t until the ‘60s and ‘70s during expansion, OVGP came to Cobden and Carp.

The current mill sits on the site of a flour mill that dates back to 1827.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team’s hard work,” Jennifer said. “Their dedication and passion have been the driving force in our success.”

“This is an exciting day,” Sudds said. “Not just for the Stewart family, but I think, for this community and frankly all the food processing industry across the country. I know the Stewart family, in all their generations in attendance with us today, really understand the importance of providing folks with local, nutritious food with their wheat and their barley along with other grains. Kevin, Jennifer, I am extremely grateful for your leadership here in the local agriculture sector. I’m really excited to see the impact of today’s announcement.”

‘Your support and vision for the future of OVGP means a great deal to us,” Jennifer said. “The funding that you have announced today for us will significantly advance are ability to modernize our milling facility. It will enable us to integrate cutting edge technologies in to our milling processes ensuring higher efficiencies, a better product and reducing environmental impact which is incredibly important to us.”

The new facility is expected to streamline production.

“But also set a benchmark for industry sustainability practices,” Jennifer said.

The funding will also go to building a new facility in Mississippi Mills “that will take our business to new heights, diversify our products and better let us support farmers all across the province,” Jennifer said.

Mayor Lowry is thrilled the Stewart family business is coming to Mississippi Mills.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have OVGP expand in to Mississippi Mills,” Lowry told West Carleton Online after the press conference. “It’s a great fit for the type of economic development we’re focused on. As an agricultural community that has the value add of manufacturing and a couple other areas happening in the community, so we’re absolutely thrilled to have the Stewarts joining our family and having the expansion happen in Mississippi Mills.”

Lowry, who is no stranger to Carp and West Carleton, says she has known of the Stewarts for some time.

“The Stewarts are very well known for their involvement in the community, their involvement with 4-H, involvement in all things in the community,” Lowry said. “Carp isn’t so far from Mississippi Mills, there’s a lot of back and forth between the two communities.”