23 August 2024, SUSSEX (GNB) – The provincial government has awarded a $1-million contract to Mrs. Dunster’s for the purchase and distribution of bread products in New Brunswick hospitals for the next two years.
“Our government is focused on bringing more economic growth to our province and the results of our New Brunswick First Procurement Strategy speak for themselves,” said Service New Brunswick Minister Mary Wilson. “Last fiscal we were well above our target for the dollar value of government contracts awarded locally, and we are pleased to end the first quarter of this fiscal year at 92 per cent, which is 12 per cent over our target.”
The contract was awarded on behalf of the regional health authorities under the New Brunswick First Procurement Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to support local businesses and reduce barriers to obtaining government contracts.
“We are thrilled to be awarded a contract to supply bread products to hospitals in New Brunswick,” said Blair Hyslop, co-owner and co-CEO of Mrs. Dunster’s. “One of our primary responsibilities as a local bakery is to supply local stores, restaurants and institutions in our province with the baked goods they need when they need it. This contract will have a meaningful impact on the growth of our bakery, and we are all very proud.”
“New Brunswick is blessed with an abundance of local food,” said Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Margaret Johnson. “New Brunswickers expect to have access to local food options anywhere they may be in our province, including the hospital. The collaboration between Mrs. Dunster’s, the regional health authorities and Service New Brunswick demonstrates how government can work with New Brunswick companies to meet a need. The work is also an important step in our effort to see more local food options available in public institutions across New Brunswick, a goal of the Local Food and Beverages Strategy 2021-2025.”
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, more than 90 per cent of the value of all goods, services and construction contracts was awarded to local suppliers, representing a nine per cent increase from the previous year and about $1.9 billion in spending kept within the province.
The strategy and action plan resulted from collaboration among Service New Brunswick, Opportunities NB and the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and were based on consultations with suppliers and industry associations.
Opportunities NB invested $1 million in Mrs. Dunster’s during the 2019-20 fiscal year through repayable and conditionally forgivable loans to support its investment in new equipment and technology to increase its competitiveness in the industry. Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Greg Turner, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB, said investments like this equip New Brunswick companies with the tools they need to scale operations and be more competitive, within the province and abroad.
“Opportunities NB proudly supports companies like Mrs. Dunster’s that want to make improvements to benefit their businesses,” said Turner. “Sustainable, healthy and resilient small and medium-sized enterprises are what make New Brunswick’s economy thrive.”
Media Contact(s):
Jennifer Vienneau, communications, Service New Brunswick, jennifer.vienneau2@gnb.ca.