Multi-national food company SunOpta is investing in its roasted snacks operations at its manufacturing facility in Crookston, Minnesota, US.

In addition to the significant investment, the company also intends to consolidate the customers and capabilities from its Wahpeton, North Dakota roasting unit into the Crookston production site.

Operations at the Wahpeton location are expected to stop during the second fiscal quarter of next year.

The new investment in its roasted snacks capabilities will help support the company’s aim to manufacture the highest-quality food products to ensure safety for its customers.

SunOpta chief executive officer Dave Colo said: “The investment in our roasted snacking capabilities reflects our continued efforts to optimise our portfolio and focus on product lines wher the company is effectively positioned to generate long-term profitable returns.

“The investment in the Crookston facility will expand our capabilities and allow us to capitalise on the strong underlying consumer trends in healthy snacking.”

“The investment in the Crookston facility will expand our capabilities and allow us to capitalise on the strong underlying consumer trends in healthy snacking and further advance our quality and food safety initiatives.”

In the process of closing down its Wahpeton facility, SunOpta expects to incur expenses approximately between $2m and $2.5m related to asset impairment charges and severance costs of which less than $1m is expected to be cash.

The charges are expected to be recognised during the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.

In September, the company also confirmed its intention to exit from its nutrition bar product lines and operations in Carson City, Nevada.