Aspire Foods building world’s largest cricket processing plant in London

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aspire foods cricket image
Image from the Aspire Foods website

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A food-grade cricket processing facility expected to be the largest in the world will be built in Londonโ€™s Innovation Park.

Aspire Food Group says the new facility will be one of the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient protein production systems in the world and will initially employ 60 employees to meet the growing demand for premium alternative protein products serving both human and pet food markets.

The Texas-based company bought a 12-acre parcel of land in Londonโ€™s exciting Innovation Park strategically located at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway and Highway 401. Construction will begin in August 2020 and the facility is projected to be completed by the end of 2021.

โ€œCleantech companies like Aspire are investing in today and helping to position Canada as a leader in an expanding market as investors and businesses seek sustainable growth,โ€ said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

โ€œInvestments in clean technology support the work of Canadian innovators to reduce Canadaโ€™s environmental footprint and grow economic opportunities.โ€

Aspire Food Group recently received $10 million in funding and support from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), a fund that helps Canadian entrepreneurs accelerate the development and deployment of globally competitive clean technology solutions.

โ€œWe are extremely excited to welcome Aspire Food Group to London,โ€ said London Mayor Ed Holder.

โ€œThis highly innovative and internationally renowned firm represents a significant addition not only to Londonโ€™s growing food and beverage sector, but also to Innovation Park where Aspireโ€™s facility will soon occupy 12 acres. With our economy in the early stages of recovery, Aspire Food Groupโ€™s imminent arrival is proof that Londonโ€™s industrial land strategy is succeeding at expanding and growing our workforce in new and diverse ways.โ€

Officials say Aspire is a great addition to the agri-food cluster of more than 90 companies employing over 7,000 people at leading businesses including Labatt, McCormick, Dr. Oetker, Cargill, Original Cakerie and Nestlรฉ, as well as several fast-growing food and beverage start-ups.

โ€œThis first-of-its-kind commercial facility will enable not just Aspire Food Group, but our entire an excellent-value protein at a fraction of the environmental impact of most conventional protein sources,โ€ said Mohammed Ashour, Co-Founder and CEO of Aspire Food Group.

โ€œWe are thrilled to be building this facility in Canada, where our journey started seven years ago as graduate students at McGill Universityโ€.

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