Maple Leaf Foods to upgrade Manitoba facility with $35m investment

Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian meat processing company, plans to invest $35m to upgrade its facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Both the federal and provincial governments have provided a grant of $500,000 for revamping the facility.

The facility is being upgraded and expanded to boost bacon production.

Maple Leaf plans to install new packaging and processing equipment, which will increase bacon production by eight million kg per year.

Of the $35m investment, $5.9m is allocated for the bacon line expansion.

The total investment will lead to 34 new full-time jobs and 34 part-time positions.

Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler said: “Manitoba continues to make strategic investments that will add value to our agricultural industry, creating new jobs and strengthening our economy.

“The expansion reflects our shared commitment to producing high-quality food for the world in a safe and sustainable way.  It also reinforces Manitoba’s place as an important centre for food processing in Canada.”

Maple Leaf Foods senior vice-president of government and industry relations Rory McAlpine was quoted by canadianmanufacturing.com as saying: “We appreciate the support from the Canadian and Manitoba governments, which played a direct role in helping our company to create and sustain high skilled jobs here in Winnipeg and value-added export opportunities globally.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by next year.

Production from the expanded facility will help the company to cater to overseas markets.