The owners of BullockSA国际影视传媒檚 Bistro expect the first bottles of their mass-produced sauces to run off the line of their new production plant by September.
The spring and summer saw a flurry of building activity at their site in Kam Lake, where the Great Slave Bottling CompanySA国际影视传媒檚 new facility is now SA国际影视传媒�99-per-centSA国际影视传媒� finished, said owner Jo-Ann Martin.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e finishing up the last parts of the mechanical and electrical work and the inspections should be done by the end of this week.SA国际影视传媒�
Martin and her husband Mark Elson bought a plot of land in Kam Lake in December and construction of the facility started in May.
The popularity of their homemade herb and garlic salad dressing and teriyaki fish sauce has grown beyond Yellowknife and the borders of the NWT and spurred them to consider ramping up production.
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Shipping woes hold up bottling equipment
The total budget of the two-storey building is $800,000, with LeggeSA国际影视传媒檚 Construction hired for the build. Bottling production will happen on the 305-square-metre ground floor. The 120 sq m second floor will house a washroom and office space.
Martin describes the project as like climbing a series of hills, where things will proceed smoothly but then level off to a period of waiting for the next stage.
In April, she estimated production could begin by August but delays in acquiring her bottling equipment have pushed back the timeline.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e kind of in limbo with dates. Originally we had sourced our equipment from Ontario but the price went up by three times,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
As an alternative, they ordered some equipment from China but the ship carrying it has been held up in Vancouver harbour since July 12. Wildfires in B.C. are compounding shipping backlogs and she isnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure when the ship will unload.
They ordered the rest of the equipment from Quebec, which has yet to arrive in Yellowknife.
In total, the bottling equipment budget comes to $250,000, Martin said.
And then once the machines arrive, they still have to go through inspections and trials.
SA国际影视传媒淚t has been a challenge. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e optimally saying the end of September weSA国际影视传媒檒l make the first bottle and full production in October. Fingers and toes crossed we get our equipment from Vancouver!SA国际影视传媒�
Once the bottling gets going they hope to produce 1,800 bottles per day. Later on, their maximum production target is 10,000 bottles per day.
They plan to employ five staff to start off and eventually hire 15 workers.
While large-scale sales are still a few stages down the road, Martin said there is one potential client who owns 40 stores and wants to do a big promotion with Great Slave Bottling.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檒l be a big deal for us, but I canSA国际影视传媒檛 give the name.SA国际影视传媒�
Other possible retail buyers in southern B.C, Alberta and in the Maritimes are interested and waiting for production to begin before they make an agreement.
Delays aside, Martin and Elson are grateful for the support theySA国际影视传媒檝e received from customers and from the community and are looking towards the finish line of their project.
SA国际影视传媒淚t feels surreal. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been looking forward to it for over a year now. Once the equipment lands in Yellowknife weSA国际影视传媒檒l breathe a big sigh of relief.SA国际影视传媒�
