On Monday, October 3, 2011, Seed Hawk hosted the grand opening of its recently expanded plant. More than 300 guests gathered to hear speeches from the Honourable Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan; Lionel LaBelle, President and CEO of STEP; and Pat Beaujot, President of Seed Hawk Inc. Premier Wall also cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the plant.
Beaujot credits growers for the company’s success. “It’s the innovative spirit of prairie farmers that has driven Seed Hawk to become a leader in the global direct seeding market and led Saskatchewan to become a recognized centre of excellence in low disturbance dry-land seeding,” says Beaujot.
In his speech, LaBelle spoke favourably of Seed Hawk’s progress in the global market. “As an organization that champions the province’s export industry, STEP applauds the efforts and successes of Seed Hawk. With today’s announcement of a multi-phase expansion their export potential has dramatically increased and we are proud to assist Seed Hawk as they further develop their global opportunities.”
Premier Wall congratulated Seed Hawk on contributing to Saskatchewan’s growing economy. “Seed Hawk is a true Saskatchewan success story,” says Premier Wall. “From its humble beginnings, an entrepreneurial idea in 1986, to a company today that markets home-grown innovation across the world, Seed Hawk is to be commended for investing in our economy and creating 120 jobs right here in Saskatchewan.”
After the ceremony, visitors were invited to tour the new space. The $7.5 million expansion was the second step in a multi-phase expansion plan. It provides an additional 50,000 square feet of space for manufacturing and administration. As well as tripling Seed Hawk’s production capacity and increasing manufacturing efficiency, the new space allows for a dedicated research and product development area.
The renovations enable Seed Hawk to keep up with growing international and domestic demand for their sought-after products. With the dedicated development area, Seed Hawk will continue to lead the industry with innovative direct seeding products.
