EDMONTON, ALTA. — Canadian commercial bakery Crust Craft plans to invest C$51 million ($35.7 million) to build a bigger production facility in the metropolitan Edmonton region, according to nonprofit investment and development agency Edmonton Global.

Plans call for the construction of the new plant to start this fall and the facility to become operational in 2026. Edmonton Global said the larger plant will bring expanded production capacity and advanced baking technology, opening up new market opportunities for Crust Craft across North America.

Founded in Edmonton in 1989, Crust Craft serves the retail and foodservice channels in Canada and is known for its artisan bread and bakery products. The company’s roster of private label and branded offerings runs from pizza crusts and doughs (including par-baked items) and fully baked flatbreads (including flatbreads, naans and pitas) to pie crusts (including shells and tops) and a range of thaw, proof and bake doughs (including demis baguettes, sourdough and pizza dough balls, cheese dough stick and cinnamon bun dough sheets). Its brands include Panaji and Panjimi packaged naan bread.

“We are thrilled to be growing and expanding this locally owned company in the province where it started 35 years ago,” said Paul Flesher, chief executive officer of Crust Craft. “We will be able to provide not only employment opportunities and growth for our people, but a larger local market for our farming families and vendor partners. Our goal of ‘Bringing Real Bread to Life’ is being realized with this expansion by introducing our brand of Panaji naan breads to even more people.”

Crust Craft’s new facility is expected to create 55 new jobs. Edmonton Global noted that the project is supported by a C$2 million investment from the Investment and Growth Fund (IGF), a provincial incentive to spur economic development in Alberta.

“We’re thrilled to see a homegrown company like Crust Craft investing in its future here, creating new jobs and further cementing the Edmonton region as a leader in food manufacturing,” said Malcolm Bruce, CEO of Edmonton Global, which represents 14 municipalities in the metro Edmonton region.

In total, the Crust Craft project’s economic impact is pegged at C$70 million, with an estimated C$29 million contribution to the region’s gross domestic product, Edmonton Global said.