Champion Feed’s closure came as a complete surprise to everyone, including both Town of Barrhead and County of Barrhead officials.
On Monday, April 18, Daren Kennett, Hi-Pro Feeds founder and senior vice-president of sales and marketing, broke the bad news to Barrhead Champion Feed employees, he then made his way to Barrhead’s town office to talk to town officials.
Martin Taylor, Barrhead’s chief operating officer, said Kennett’s visit was very brief.
“He just told us the plant here in Barrhead would be shutting down because they were consolidating their plants and that there was nothing the town could do. It was just business,” he said.
Barrhead mayor Gerry St. Pierre, who was out of the office when Kennett visited, said he was shocked and saddened.
“It is very disappointing news. Champion Feed and their employees are a very big part of Barrhead and their absence will be missed. We just hope the employees are well taken care of and that they will be able to remain part of our community.” he said. “Right now we don’t have a lot of details about what is going to happen, but as we know more, hopefully there is something the community and the town can do to help anyone who has any difficulties.”
Bill Lee, County of Barrhead reeve, was also saddened by the closure announcement. When Kennett arrived to tell county officials the news, the majority of council and senior administration staff were in Edmonton at a municipal zone meeting so Lee hadn’t heard the news until the Leader called.
“In the county we were saddened to hear about the closure. They will definitely be missed,” he said, adding his first job in high school was at the plant. “That was back in the winter of ’72.”
Back then the mill was called Royal Blue. they changed their name after Champion Feed bought them a few years later.
“There are so many people who use that facility, especially the small operators. We go there and get our grass seed, ear tags, and the the majority of our cattle supplies and I know my grandchildren go there to buy their 4-H rations. But they are a business and they are free to run their business as they see fit.”
Although, Lee said any time a community loses a business it is a blow to the community and it is something no one wants to see, it will give other businesses in Barrhead a chance to fill the void.
“Businesses like the Co-op, the vet clinics or perhaps a new business will come into town. Hopefully something good can come from this,” he said.
