Canadian company starts up highly-automated new plant to roast, grind, blend and package private-label coffee products at an annual capacity of 20 million lbs.

The result has been spectacular growth south of the border during the past decade. To keep pace with its growing U.S. markets, Mother Parkers in February, 2000, acquired a coffee-roasting plant from Tetley Tea Co. at Palisades Park, N.J., then last June started up a $25-million, 100,000-sq.-ft. greenfield plant at Fort Worth, Texas.