From family legacy to international success: A story of growth
Founded in 1939 in Quebec, Sanimax is a family-owned company that has spanned generations and borders. Backed by trusted partners and driven by innovation, Sanimax has built their reputation as a leader in the rendering industry, with more than 2,500 employees proudly serving a network of over 40,000 clients in 4 countries in the Americas.
With over 85 years of expertise, Sanimax is firmly established as a key player in the circular economy and a partner of choice for sustainable transformation.
An evolving industry for an ever-changing world
As a part of the agricultural sector, Sanimax has adapted to a world in constant motion. Our growth over the years has allowed us to expand into new industries, applying innovative transformation processes to every type of reclaimed material.
Today, we’re proud to lead the rendering industry across the Americas. In the face of a rising global population and increasing demands on the agri-food industry, we remain focused on finding smarter, more effective solutions.
We take our role in the food chain very seriously. For over three generations, we’ve supported more and more businesses while upholding the highest standards of sustainability and quality. Our mission remains the same: to reclaim, renew, and return for a greener future.
A few pivotal moments in our history
The foundation
Brothers Alex and Déziel Couture, both familiar with meat by-product transformation and rendering techniques, founded Couture Enr. They established their first plant in Québec City’s Saint-Malo neighbourhood, near the local slaughterhouses.
Second World War, the early days of Sanimax
The early days of the company were both modest and challenging. But with the onset of the Second World War, demand for glycerine, used in the production of explosives, soared. The plant quickly found its footing, marking the beginning of a promising and fast-growing business.
Growth takes root in Québec
In the 1970s, a second wave of growth began under the leadership of Murray, son of cofounder Alex. Now operating as Alex Couture Inc., the company expanded its footprint by acquiring smaller rendering plants across eastern Trois-Rivières. Operations were centralized in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Lévis (Charny), where the volume of organic material processed grew by nearly 10% annually. Just five years after opening, the plant was already running at full capacity.
A turning point in Québec
After several unsuccessful attempts, Alex Couture Inc. finally acquired a major Montréal-based competitor. The strategic acquisition of the Rivière-des-Prairies plant doubled the company’s size and firmly established its position as the dominant player in Québec’s rendering industry, capturing 85% of the market share, a position Sanimax proudly maintains to this day.
A new generation steps in
Thérèse and Murray Sr.’s five children joined the family business. Murray Jr., Hélène, André, Julie and Martin each played a role in shaping the next chapter of the company’s evolution.
Expansion into Ontario and the United States
In the 1990s, the company, now known as Sanimal, began expanding beyond Québec, acquiring a plant in Toronto and a bio-food brokerage firm in Guelph. This marked the start of a major growth phase.
Between 1991 and 2004, Sanimal completed 35 acquisitions, steadily building out its reclamation network. In 2005, the company took a major step into the U.S. market by acquiring two facilities in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
A new name to symbolize a bigger vision
In January 2005, the company merged with Anamax, a five-generation family-run rendering business in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This strategic partnership marked a turning point—Sanimal officially became Sanimax, as we know it today.
Preparing for succession
Martin, André and Julie, members of the Executive Board and sole owners of the family business, began preparing the next generation to take the reins. With nine children between them, they designed a welcoming office space to ensure the founding values of Alex Couture would be passed on to the next generation.
Sanimax in Brazil
The acquisition of Farima, a Brazilian company, marked the arrival of Sanimax in South America, followed by the acquisition of Folem a short time later.
Sanimax in Colombia
The company continued its expansion in South America by acquiring two Colombian companies: Agrosan and Proteicol. Today, Sanimax operates multiple sites across the country, primarily specializing in meat and animal by-products.
The future is green
Sanimax maintains a competitive edge by constantly offering new and improved eco-friendly products and services for its clientele. As the technology becomes more advanced, and data is more accessible than ever, the opportunities for operational optimization are endless.
Entosystem partnership
At Sanimax, we’ve always been proud to transform it all. In 2022, we strengthened our commitment to the circular economy by becoming the majority shareholder of Entosystem. This Drummondville, Québec–based global leader produces high-quality insect protein and flours derived from black soldier fly larvae.
The Entosystem joint venture enables Sanimax to further its positive impact on the circular economy by transforming specific organic materials, alongside its existing transformation streams.
Martial Hamel appointed as new CEO
The company appointed Martial Hamel as its new CEO. Martial had been with the company for over 13 years and demonstrated all the qualities needed to take on the role and continue building a greener tomorrow for future generations. This appointment brought our operations under a single management team, facilitating collaboration among our sites worldwide.
Committed to our local communities
Sanimax continues to reaffirm its commitment to enhancing the quality of life in local communities through various initiatives in the Americas, such as improving infrastructure and fleet management.
Dive deeper into our history, check out our memory book (published in 2014)
