ROUGEMONT, QUEBEC — Lassonde Industries, Inc. is investing C$19 million ($18.35 million) to expand and upgrade its two juice processing plants in Rougemont. The investment will include two new preform production lines so the company may manufacture polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, implement new processing technologies, and increase the size of its storage facilities.

“Lassonde operates in a rapidly developing North American market, where it stands out by leveraging quality and innovation in product development and production,” said Jean Gattuso, president and chief operating officer of Lassonde Industries Inc. “Our Rougemont plants are the company’s very first facilities, and these investments will ensure that they remain on the cutting edge and maintain their key operational role.”

The company said the investments also are part of its sustainable development strategy, in which packaging weight reduction is a priority. The new PET production lines will allow Lassonde to make its plastic bottles and caps 16% lighter.

Beverage brands produced at the Rougemont plants include Rougemont, Fruite, Oasis, Orange Maison and others.