Monday, March 30, 2015
A Cape Breton businessman is looking to negotiate a sales contract with the province in exchange for the construction of a nearly $12-million pharmaceutical plant in Sydney.
Parker Rudderham said his Montreal-based Pharmacy Wholesale Services Inc., has purchased and is currently renovating the former Sydney steel plant office.
The acquisition of the 16,000-square-foot building, which recently served as headquarters for the Sydney Tar Ponds Agency, will create 25 jobs in the community with plans to hire another 120 to 140 people if a deal for a manufacturing plant can be struck.
Rudderham said he will be negotiating with the province for the purchase of adjacent lands, near Open Hearth Park, to allow for the construction of a manufacturing plant that would pump out a wide-range of generic drugs.
His company has not requested any tax dollars from the province for the proposed building, but it is seeking a multi-year sales contract.
“We’ll do everything with our own money but we want you to purchase those products from us under contract,” Rudderham said Sunday.
“It’s the same products they’re buying now, except manufactured in Sydney, N.S., rather than being manufactured in Laval, Que., or Markham, Ont.”
Rudderham said Pharmacy Wholesale Services currently markets its products to more than 100 countries and offers private label services to independent retailers.
The company manufactures a wide-range of products including those it sells under its PharmaTrue brand such as lancets and pregnancy tests.
For the past decade, Rudderham said the company has operated two manufacturing plants in China.
Rudderham said he’d like about 20 per cent of the company’s manufacturing processes to be located in North America in order to prevent or alleviate any future supply chain problems.
He said right now, the construction of a Sydney manufacturing plant hinges on a government response.
Rudderham 60, said he originally moved back to his native Cape Breton as part of his retirement plans.
He decided to set up a pharmaceutical office in Sydney after being approached by economic development officers at Business Cape Breton.
Rudderham who owns several rental properties in the area, is also the owner of Frank Magazine and Amedeo’s Italian Bistro in Sydney.
“There’s awfully good people here working hard for this community,” he said. “There’s a real concerted professional effort to get things done here and I’m really, really impressed by it. … Everybody has the best interests of the community at heart.”
Rudderham said there will be a number of steps to complete before a manufacturing plant can be built, but he’s optimistic things will move along smoothly.
He said at least two people are expected to be hired this week.
thechronicleherald.ca
