Agropur Cooperative, Saint-Hubert, Quebec, said it will be shutting down its plant in Saint-Damase, in Quebec's Montérégie region. Major investments were needed at the plant, and in view of the inability to reach a long-term agreement with the plant's 110 employees and the need to honor commitments to customers, Agropur said it had no choice but to reorganize its investments.

Operations at the plant will wind down between January and April 2019 and be discontinued permanently in April, Agropur said. Soft cheese manufacturing will be integrated into the operations of the Saint-Hyacinthe plant, while cheese conversion will be transferred to the Beauceville plant.

The affected employees will be able to take advantage of available programs, including employment opportunities at other Agropur sites, severance packages and the employee and family assistance program, Agropur said.