MOUNT FOREST – It has been more than a year since Wellington Produce Packaging experienced one of its most significant setbacks in nearly a century in business, but the company has reasons to celebrate.
On Oct. 18, the local manufacturer’s employees, customers and suppliers joined government representatives and others for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open a new addition to its plant – the response to a fire in June 2023 that destroyed a warehouse filled with product poised to ship out to customers.
At the same time, the company celebrated two milestone anniversaries: 40 years in the current building on Sligo Road, and 90 years in business.
“It is so important that we celebrate these milestones when they happen,” said company president Paul Hincks, addressing a small crowd gathered in the bright new warehouse for the celebration.
Hincks told the crowd a little bit about the history of the company, noting it has had a number of owners and six different names over the years, including Wellington Wood Products.
It was his father, Ken Hincks, who had initiated construction of the main building, which had its grand opening on Oct. 19, 1984, Paul said.
Wilma Shannon, whose children worked for Wellington Produce Packaging, flips through an album of news clippings during the grand opening event, which also marked the company’s 90th anniversary. Photo by Jessica Lovell
“He did it because he always said he saw a future for Wellington Wood,” he said.
At one time, wood had featured more heavily in the company’s product line. These days, cardboard is far more prominent, as well as plastics.
The company supplies farmers and producers with everything from plastic berry boxes to egg cartons, fruit baskets, and boxes for everything from mushrooms, to cucumbers to asparagus.
“We really focus on Canadian growers,” said Adam Hincks, son of Paul, grandson of Ken.
Adam, who works in sales and is transitioning to managing the company, said the majority of Wellington Produce Packaging’s customers are in Ontario, but they are also across Canada.
“We started here, because this is where all the trees were,” he said, explaining the Mount Forest area had an abundance of the raw material needed to create the company’s products.
With so much cardboard and paper in its warehouse, it is not surprising that the building was engulfed when an arsonist set fire to cardboard outside of the building in June of 2023.
The loss of the building was a disaster for the business, not just because of the structure that was lost.
“June is our busiest month,” said Adam, noting the company lost about $500,000 worth of inventory set to go out to customers.
He called it a “pretty big setback at probably our most crucial time.”
Luckily, no one was injured in the fire, and many people stepped up to help the business in its time of need.
“Even our competitors gave us product to keep us going,” Adam said.
He said Coburn Insurance made the claims process easy and he credited employees with doing their part to get the company back on track.
“Our business grew last year despite our setback,” Adam said.
The warehouse that was lost in the fire was about 10,000 square feet. The new space that has been added to the building that was opened in the 1980s is 15,000 square feet.
“We’re expanding, business is growing, and we plan to keep expanding,” Adam said.
Adam Hincks, left, of Wellington Produce Packaging, provides a tour of the Mount Forest facility to MPP Matthew Rae, centre, and MP John Nater on Oct. 18.
Photo by Jessica Lovell
Multiple people spoke at the event, acknowledging the value of the business and its products, including Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association executive director Alison Robertson, and Canadian Corrugated Containerboard Association executive director Allen Kirkpatrick.
Three levels of government were also represented, with Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, MPP Matthew Rae and Wellington North Mayor Andy Lennox congratulating the company on its milestones.
Lennox added some perspective about what a 90th anniversary means, noting that 90 years ago, Mount Forest had two railways and not many cars.
“For a business to be this successful for this long is a really remarkable accomplishment,” Lennox said, emphasizing how the company would have had to adapt.
He also noted that through his own background in agriculture, Wellington Produce Packaging seemed to be a company that put Mount Forest on the map.
“I can’t count the number of times people said to me, “Mount Forest? Don’t they make baskets there?’” Lennox said. “I hope you continue to represent Mount Forest proudly as you have for 90 years.”
