Metro held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new produce and dairy products warehouse. The facility is in Laval’s new industrial park and was built at a cost of $50 million. Metro's warehouse is slated to open its doors in March of 2013. The 241,000 square foot building will stand on a piece of land that measures 1.5 million square feet. It will be able to store a larger quantity of produce including certified organic and exotic produce, as well as a wider variety of Quebec produce, and dairy products. White roofing on the facility will reduce the impact related to heat islands while outdoor LED lighting will be designed to light pollution. Also indoor lighting will be controlled using presence sensors to provide savings. An ecological refrigeration system using CO2 as a coolant has been favored. The technology performs well due to the energy that it recovers. It also lowers greenhouse gas emissions. The heat from the system’s compressors will be redistributed in order to heat employees’ offices and other areas. Laval Mayor, Gilles Vaillancourt, stated, “We are proud that Metro chose the Laval industrial park, located near Highway 25, to set up its new produce and dairy products warehouse. Metro’s presence will add to the dynamic nature of our third industrial zone and confirms once again the major economic role that Metro plays not only in the Greater Laval Area, but also throughout Quebec."
