Company Responds to Legal Action Over Factory Disruptions
Covered Bridge Potato Chips has announced that it is taking steps to mitigate disruptions to nearby residents after a group of community members launched legal action alleging excessive noise, industrial odours, and intense lighting from the company's facility in Woodstock, New Brunswick.
Brook Dickinson, executive vice president of Covered Bridge Potato Chips, stated in a release on Friday that the company is committed to a plan of action that began last year for its facility located in an industrial park approximately 100 kilometres west of Fredericton.
According to Dickinson, the factory is operating in full compliance with all applicable municipal and provincial regulatory requirements. The company first heard concerns from two community members in November 2025 about living near the facility, which opened in September 2025 after a fire destroyed its original plant in Waterville in March 2024.
"We want to assure our neighbours and the wider community that we take these concerns seriously," Dickinson said in a statement last fall.
Steps Taken to Address Concerns
Since the meeting, the company has implemented several measures, including installing demisters—mist removal equipment—on roof stacks and adding mufflers to reduce outgoing noise. Further upgrades are planned for this spring, including construction of a large fence to meet regulatory requirements and close a gap between the plant and a nearby subdivision, as well as landscaping with a variety of trees and bushes.
"Our team takes pride in being an active and positive member of the Town of Woodstock and greater Carleton County region," Dickinson said. "We contribute regularly and give back to the community that has supported us for over 17 years, including the last two years after our plant fire. We appreciate the continued support as we work to create more jobs here in Carleton County."
Residents Allege Significant Disruptions
Earlier this week, several residents announced they had taken legal action against the company, claiming the factory has caused significant disruptions to their quality of life. The complaints include persistent excessive noise, industrial odours, and intense lighting that have negatively affected nearby homes and properties.
Many of the residents have lived in the neighbourhood for decades, with some residing there for more than 50 years, according to the claim. They also allege that natural vegetation, which previously acted as a buffer between industrial operations and residential areas, has been removed.
"These are not new homes built beside an established industrial site," said Melody Hannah, one of the residents. "Many of us have lived here peacefully for generations. The unexpected scale and intensity of industrial activity now taking place have fundamentally changed daily life in our neighbourhood for the worse."
Safety Concerns Raised
The claim alleges that the factory has evolved into a permanent, high-intensity industrial operation. Among the safety concerns is the addition of a 30,000-litre propane tank to fuel the new facility's additional fry cookers.
The residents, represented by New Brunswick law firm Chiasson & Roy, said the legal claim was filed as a last resort.
"We support economic development," said Robert Harrison, another resident. "The goal is not to oppose business or employment, but to protect long-established neighbourhoods from excessive industrial intrusion. The Covered Bridge Potato Chip Ltd. plant is simply in the wrong place."
Company Background
Covered Bridge describes itself as a fourth-generation family business based in Hartland, N.B., home to the longest covered bridge in the world. In 2004, brothers Ryan and Matt Albright started a potato distribution company and bought the family farm. Five years later, they launched Covered Bridge Potato Chips, which are now sold across North America.
