Four innovative Îles-de-la-Madeleine businesses will be able to pursue their expansion

Company

Contribution – Investment – Description of the project

Total Océan Inc.

Repayable contribution of $600,000 out of a total investment of $3,328,000

The project involves the start-up of an Atlantic seal processing company in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. The main objective of the business is the extraction and purification of oil rich in docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), an omega-3 fatty acid. The initiative will involve the purchase and installation of processing and lab equipment, leasehold improvements to a rented building, professional fees, the purchase of office equipment, and the establishment of a working capital fund.

Total Océan Inc. (TO) was incorporated on December 11, 2015, under the Quebec Business Corporations Act. It is associated with Quebec City–based company SiliCycle Inc. (SI), which was founded in 1995. SI designs and manufactures a number of lines of silica-based products for chromatography, the purification and separation of chemical compounds. Since 2013, SI has been working on the establishment of a multifaceted sea-product extraction and purification plant. The company's studies and work led it to evaluate the potential of Atlantic seal products. To this end, it set up a new business (TO) that primarily targets seal processing for the purpose of extracting and marketing its various products (skin, meat, oil, heart valves and other molecules of interest). TO's mission is to develop global expertise in the gathering, stabilization, processing and sale of seal products.

LA renaissance des Iles Inc.

Repayable contribution of $127,910 out of a total investment of $1,279,096

The project consists in the acquisition of new crustacean processing equipment under QEDP's productivity and expansion component. LA renaissance des Îles Inc. will be streamlining secondary processing activities in its snow crab and lobster production facilities through the installation of a new automated snow crab steam cooker and two meat extractors. The project also entails the acquisition of specialized production monitoring software and stainless steel conveyors specific to the new crab and lobster processing equipment. The Agency's contribution will cover all the costs herein.

LA renaissance des Îles Inc. (LRDI hereafter) was legally incorporated under the Quebec Business Corporations Act in March 2014.LRDI's ownership is held by Ms. Lynn Albert, sole shareholder and company President. Ms. Albert also owns LA Trading Co. Inc., another marine product processing plant located in Caraquet, New Brunswick. LA renaissance and LA Trading are two distinct and independent legal entities. The company's mission is to process quality seafood products that are harvested through sustainable means. Products are sold domestically and internationally. LRDI's product offering includes lobster (live, cooked whole, lobster tails, lobster meat and tomalli or lobster spread), crab (cooked, in sections, and crabmeat), clams (fresh and bottled), frozen scallops, halibut and whelks (bottled, cooked in shell and whelk meat). The company has two processing plants in the Maggies. Lobster, scallops and halibut are processed in l'Étang-du- Nord while Snow Crab, Rock Crab, Spyder Crab, clams, and whelks are processed in Grande-Entrée. LRDI has 350 seasonal employees and 15 permanent year-round employees. LRDI's seafood supply comes from business dealings with over 100 fishers. LRDI sells most of its production to commercial distributors / wholesalers, who in turn sell to food chains and restaurants. Exports represent 80% of the company's sales. Its main markets are: the United States (65%), Canada (20%), Japan (10%), Europe (3%) and others (2%).

La Fille de la mer, savonnerie artisanale Inc.

Repayable contribution of $57,000 out of a total investment of $265,000

The project involves the expansion of La Fille de la mer, savonnerie artisanale Inc., an Îles‑de-la-Madeleine company that makes soap and other cosmetic products.

CED's assistance will only cover the costs associated with the construction of the workshop and the acquisition of production equipment such as molds, tanks, scales, mixers, a stove, stainless steel work tables, carts, a refrigerator, etc.

La Fille de la mer, savonnerie artisanale Inc. has been incorporated under Part 1A of the Quebec Companies Act since 2008.Its operations began, however, in 2003. Located in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, the company specializes in the production and sale of hand-made cosmetic products (soap, bubble bath, massage oil, face cream, lip balm, body mist, etc.). The various products are made with natural ingredients found on the Islands (seaweed, sand, honey, beeswax, cranberries, local beer, blueberries, Labrador tea, etc.). They are designed specifically for woman aged 18 to 60 interested in natural beauty products. In addition, exclusive products have been developed for some of the businesses in the Islands (Fromagerie Pied-De-Vent, the microbrewery À l'abri de la Tempête, Auberge La Salicorne and the Domaine du Vieux Couvent). The company currently has a boutique on the La Grave site in Havre Aubert, a spot visited by over 60,000 tourists during the summer season. It also has several points of sale on the Islands (Jean Coutu, IGA, CTMA, Château Madelinot), as well as two other points of sale in Quebec (Mont-Joli and Portneuf). Furthermore, the company has an online boutique and a YouTube channel. Sales outside Canada account for almost 18% of the company's total revenue. It has three seasonal employees.

L'île imagin'air (7058896 Inc.)(in French only)

Repayable contribution of $34,500 out of a total investment of $359,000

The project involves expanding l'île imagin'air and enhancing its productivity by setting up a multidisciplinary production studio and providing access to more efficient work spaces. The Agency's funding will support the upgrading of work spaces, which will include setting up a video production studio, a soundproof audiovisual control room and an audio recording booth and work stations; making changes to electrical systems; upgrading the Web link; and purchasing production equipment such as projectors and speakers.

Incorporated since 2008 under the Quebec Companies Act, 7058896 Canada Inc., or l'île imagin'air, is an information technology and communications company that specializes in audiovisual and multimedia production and the communication and dissemination of information. The services provided include content design and delivery; imagery capture (in‑studio, or by steady cam, slider, crane or drone); HD audiovisual editing; graphic or digital 2D and 3D animation; material coding and delivery in multiplatform formats; project management; etc. The company also carries out mandates in various sectors, such as culture, tourism, science and technology, the environment and energy. It main clients are Îles‑de-la-Madeleine businesses and organizations, for marketing and event projects. L'île imagin'air generates four full-time jobs.