Groupe Cérès inc.

What Groupe Cérès inc. does

Groupe Cérès inc. is a privately held Canadian swine industry services company founded in 2004 by agronomists Janin Boucher and Dan Bussières and headquartered in Lévis, Québec. The company operates an independent integration model delivering tailor-made consulting across genetics, nutrition, feed production, research and development, and contract production to swine producers in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, and Western Canada. Core capabilities include distribution of quality genetic products (25,000 gilts and 30,000+ semen doses annually), operation of two premix factories — wholly owned Nutrition Athena Inc. in Saint-Elzéar, Quebec (opened 2013) and jointly controlled Shakespeare Mills Inc. in Ontario (since 2015) — producing roughly 14,330 tonnes of premixes and micro-premixes per year, and management of a swine herd network that produces over 250,000 slaughter pigs annually from owned operations and 500,000+ via partner CBCo Alliance Inc. The firm also runs a contract production network overseeing 380,000+ piglets and 200,000 commercial pigs per year.

Name

Groupe Cérès inc.

Legal name

Groupe Cérès inc.

Website

https://gceres.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groupe Cérès inc. provides independent integration services — genetics, nutrition, premix feed manufacturing, R&D, and contract production — to Canadian swine producers across Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, and Western Canada, operating two premix factories and a managed herd network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Swine Industry Services

NAICS

Hog and Pig Farming (11221), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Contract Hog Growing (Integrator/Production Contracts) (AFAEAEAK)

Keywords

• Swine consulting services
• Animal feed manufacturing
• Swine genetics distribution
• Premix feed production
• Livestock nutrition advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Lévis

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: Tailor-made consulting services for swine producers covering genetics, nutrition, feed production, research, management and network production

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Groupe Cérès provides tailor-made consulting services for swine producers across Canada, covering genetics distribution, feed and nutrition (complete feeds, micromixes, macromixes, and medicinal additives), research and development, and contract-based network production. The company owns two premix factories (Nutrition Athena Inc. in Quebec and Shakespeare Mills Inc. in Ontario) producing over 14,330 tonnes of premixes annually, and uses its PigKnows software for data analysis and performance monitoring. It also manages a swine herd network producing 250,000+ slaughter pigs per year.

Product overview

Groupe Cérès inc. is a swine industry services company offering a portfolio of integrated services including Quality Genetic (swine genetics distribution), Feed and Nutrition (complete feeds, micromixes, macromixes via Nutrition Athéna), Research and Development (conducting over 500 research projects annually in collaboration with HyLife Ltd.), and Network Production (contract-based swine herd network managing 380,000+ piglet production and 200,000+ commercial pig finishing annually). The company operates two manufacturing facilities (Nutrition Athena in Quebec and Shakespeare Mills in Ontario) producing approximately 14,330 tonnes of premixes annually. Key software used for service delivery includes PigKnows for data analysis and performance monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nutrition Athena: Feed and nutrition brand offering complete feeds, micromixes and macromixes, as well as all the ingredients and medicinal additives needed to make feed for pigs.
• PigKnows

Products and services

• Quality Genetic Distribution of quality genetic products for swine producers, including biosecurity-focused offerings with technical management support and nutritional recommendations designed to maximize herd profitability.
• Feed and Nutrition (Nutrition Athéna) Complete feeds, micromixes and macromixes, plus ingredients and medicinal additives needed to make pig feed, offered by the Nutrition Athéna brand with cost-effective feed programs and formulations tailored to producer needs.
• Research and Development Research and development program validating recommendations in swine breeding management, feed and nutrition, health, and reproduction, with over 600 research trials and 500 projects completed and more than $1.5 million invested annually with partners.
• Network Production Contract-based swine herd network managing production of more than 380,000 piglets per year, finishing 200,000 commercial and breeding pigs, and generating over 500,000 slaughter pigs annually for partner CBCo Alliance Inc., working with animal welfare-conscious producers and transporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 gilts and 30,000+ semen doses delivered annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CBCo Alliance Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020CBCo Alliance Inc. operates in the pig slaughtering industry in Quebec since 2020. Three Quebec-based companies partnered to provide independent Quebec pig producers with a tailored slaughtering option. With over 250 employees, CBCo exports primary cuts to nearly 60 countries.
• Shakespeare Mills Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Co-owned factory since 2015, produces nearly 10,000 tonnes of micros and premixes annually, with bulk transfer capacity of 54,600 tonnes per year along railroad.
• HyLife Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005HyLife Ltd. is the largest swine producer in Canada with more than 80,000 sows producing 2 million slaughter pigs per year. Since 2005, Groupe Cérès has been responsible for their nutrition and research and development departments. Together they invest more than $1.5 million per year toward R&D.
• Nutrition Athena Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHACCP certified manufacturing factory opened in 2013 in Saint-Elzéar, Beauce. Produces over 5,400 tonnes of premixes and micro-premixes annually, employs nearly 10 workers with up to 20 years of experience.
• Demeter Services Vétérinaires Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2004, specializes in large population medicine. Clientele mainly comprises swine producers from across Canada. Offers complete veterinary follow-up with preventive approach that maximizes growth potential.
• FarmHouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmHouse and Groupe Cérès joined forces on animal nutrition as mentioned in publication.
• Excellence PorcsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on website.
• PicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on website.
• ACuFast SwineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on website.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PIC (Pig Improvement Company): Global swine genetics supplier distributing boar lines, semen and genetic services to commercial producers. Directly comparable as a genetics provider that overlaps with Cérès's Quality Genetic product line and is also listed as a Cérès partner.
• Jefo Nutrition Inc. Canadian animal nutrition manufacturer specializing in premixes, feed additives and nutritional solutions for swine and other livestock. Directly comparable as a Canadian-headquartered premix/nutrition competitor with overlapping customer base.
• Topigs Norsvin: Leading international swine genetics company offering boar lines, AI doses and technical services. Comparable as a direct competitor in swine genetics distribution and a potential alternative source for Cérès's producer customers.

Emerging players

• Danbred: International swine genetics supplier offering boar lines, semen and breeding programs. Comparable as an alternative genetics provider targeting the same North American commercial swine producers Cérès serves.
• Demeter Services Vétérinaires Inc. Canadian swine-focused veterinary services firm specializing in large-population medicine and preventive health programs. Comparable as a Canadian swine services partner with overlapping producer relationships and complementary technical expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Major Canadian pork and poultry processor with significant hog production operations. Comparable as a vertically integrated Canadian pork incumbent whose captive supply and advisory services compete for the same independent producer mindshare that Cérès targets.
• Trouw Nutrition (Nutreco): Global animal nutrition company producing premixes, specialty feeds and feed additives across livestock species including swine. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering overlapping premix and nutrition advisory services to swine producers.
• Shur-Gain (Land O'Lakes): Major North American animal feed and premix manufacturer serving swine, poultry and dairy producers. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping premix, complete feed, and on-farm advisory offerings in the Canadian market.
• Olymel L.P. Quebec-headquartered pork and poultry processor with large hog production footprint in Canada. Comparable as a major Quebec swine industry participant and potential competitive force in the region's contract production and slaughtering space.
• HyLife Ltd. Canada's largest swine producer (80,000+ sows, 2M slaughter pigs/year). Comparable as both Cérès's anchor customer and a broad integrated pork producer; meaningful overlap in swine production scale and supply chain, though vertically integrated rather than advisory-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groupeceres
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-ceres-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupe Cérès inc.