Highland Ridge, the retail component of a meat-packing facility in Smithville, is now open.

“The entire team at Highland Packers and Highland Ridge have worked diligently on this project and there is a real sense of pride seeing it come together,” said Janet deJonge, co-owner of Highland Packers, which owns the Spring Creek Road business.

DeJonge said the $15-million, 1,670-square-metre facility has been processing smoked products such as bacon, ham, pepperoni sticks, sausages and weiners since February. The 167-square-metre retail store inside the plant opened on Wednesday.

Highland Packers has been operating in Stoney Creek (part of Hamilton) for more than 60 years.

DeJonge said the company decided to build in west Niagara after incurring delays in securing a building permit from t

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