Maple Leaf Foods - food industry company news 
Editor's choice: The highlights on just-food last week
10 June 2013
A tragic fire in a Chinese poultry facility highlighted continued concerns over safety standards in emerging markets last week. The just-food briefing looked at the need to innovate to prevent breakfast cereal sales going soggy, insight that was swiftly followed by the news that Kellogg is launching a number of breakfast bar and drink products in response to changing consumption patterns. Meanwhile, chocolate giants Nestle and Mars were accused of price fixing in Canada. Here are the highlights on just-food this week.
UK: Maple Leaf looks to lift NY Bakery Co. sales
4 June 2013
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods plans to increase its sales of New York Bakery Co. branded-bagels in the UK by expanding production and increasing marketing spend.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
3 May 2013
M&A - as ever - was a hot topic on just-food this week. Some deals were done - Hain Celestial acquired UK organic baby food firm Ella's Kitchen and PAI Partners snapped European own-label giant R&R Ice Cream. Potential transactions were speculated about - the spin off of WhiteWave Foods prompted rumours over possible suitors and Unilever's ongoing problems in spreads led to talk it could one day sell the unit.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
3 May 2013
Two UK-based firms were the subject of takeovers this week: R&R Ice Cream, Europe's largest own-label ice cream firm, changed hands after PAI Partners struck a deal to buy the business; and Hain Celestial snapped up UK organic baby food brand Ella's Kitchen.
CANADA: Protein woes surprise Maple Leaf
2 May 2013
Maple Leaf Foods today (2 May) admitted the problems within its meat business were worse than expected after reporting first-quarter company losses that more than doubled.
The week ahead - US retail conference; Kellogg, Kraft Q1s
29 April 2013
Wal-Mart, Kroger and Supervalu are among the US retailers presenting at a Barclays sector conference next week. The first-quarter results will continue to roll in, with Kellogg, Kraft Foods Group and Canadian retailer Loblaw part of a group of companies to publish numbers.
Comment: Sovereign, pension funds to vie for M&A with trade, PE
19 April 2013
Could sovereign wealth funds and pension funds become more active participants in deal-making in the FMCG industry? Perhaps so, writes Dean Best.
CANADA: Canada Bread closes Quebec bakery
17 April 2013
Canada Bread Company has announced plans to shutter its snack cakes bakery in Shawinigan, Quebec, at the beginning of May.
CANADA: Lower costs boost Maple Leaf FY
26 February 2013
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods said lower restructuring costs helped boost profits in its full-year.
CANADA: Maple Leaf's Canada Bread to close two bakeries
31 January 2013
Canadian baker Canada Bread, in which Maple Leaf Foods has a 90% stake, has announced plans to close two bakeries, affecting around 120 jobs.
RUSSIA: Russia widens ban on Canadian, US meat imports
18 January 2013
Russia has widened its ban on the import of US meat amid concern over the use of growth stimulator Ractopamin to include Canada.
CANADA: Maple Leaf to sell potato plant to Cavendish Farms
11 December 2012
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods is to offload a potato processing plant to local frozen potato firm Cavendish Farms.
CANADA: Maple Leaf boosts hog supply with Puratone deal
2 November 2012
Maple Leaf Foods has agreed to buy Canadian hog production firm Puratone, a deal the food group said would provide a "consistent supply" to its value-added meats business.
CANADA: Maple Leaf profits hit by write-downs
31 October 2012
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods has booked a drop in third-quarter earnings due to declining sales and the write-down of certain assets.
CANADA: Maple Leaf H1 profits slide
1 August 2012
Canadian food manufacturer Maple Leaf Foods has booked a drop in first-half profits.
CANADA: Drought commodity pressure could hit Maple Leaf FY - analyst
20 July 2012
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods may struggle to meet its full-year guidance as drought pressures in the US continue to place pressure on commodities, an analyst has warned.
CANADA: Maple Leaf Q1 profits slide on restructuring costs
2 May 2012
Maple Leaf Foods has booked a drop in first-quarter profits, hit by restructuring costs and the implementation of the Canadian food group's plans to improve its margins.
UK: Maple Leaf's New York Bakery Co. enters muffin category
23 April 2012
Maple Leaf Foods has taken its New York Bakery Co. bagel brand into the UK's muffin category.
CANADA: Cost cuts will not affect food safety, insists watchdog
13 April 2012
Canada's food watchdog has said cost-saving measures that have included the sacking of 100 government inspectors will have no impact on food safety in the country.
CANADA: Sofina to buy Fearmans Pork from Sun Capital
11 April 2012
Canadian company Sofina Foods is set to buy local firm Fearmans Pork from private-equity firm Sun Capital Partners.
CANADA: Maple Leaf chooses Puslinch for Ontario distribution site
30 March 2012
Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods has decided to locate a new distribution centre that will serve Ontario in the town of Puslinch.
CANADA: Maple Leaf ends 2011 with Q4 profit fall
28 February 2012
Maple Leaf Foods has reported higher profits for 2011 although the Canadian food manufacturer saw "strong" raw material costs lead to a fall in earnings in the last quarter.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
13 February 2012
The US grabbed the industry headlines this week, with PepsiCo at last outlining its plans to drive growth at the business, although the measures it has lined up has led to more questions from Wall Street analysts. And the uncertainty around the sale of global snacks brand Pringles has intensified after prospective buyer Diamond Foods decided to appoint a new CEO and CFO after it found improper accounting at the company.
CANADA: Maple Leaf closes poultry plant
8 February 2012
Maple Leaf Foods is to close a poultry facility in Canada to boost efficiency, hitting around 100 jobs.
UK: Maple Leaf UK bakery set to close
4 January 2012
A bakery in operation since the 1800s will close after owner Maple Leaf Bakery, the UK arm of Canada's Maple Leaf Foods, could not find a buyer.
UK: Maple Leaf to close Walsall site
14 November 2011
Maple Leaf Bakery, the UK arm of Maple Leaf Foods, is set to close one of its production sites.
US: New York Bakery secures Maple Leaf expansion funding
9 November 2011
New York Bakery Co has secured an GBP11.5m (US$18.3m) investment package from parent company Maple Leaf Foods to expand its business on the back of increasing bagel sales.
CANADA: Maple Leaf shares up on Q3 profit growth
28 October 2011
Shares in Canadian food maker Maple Leaf Foods closed up over 3% yesterday (27 October) after the company reported improved third-quarter profits.
CANADA: Maple Leaf to shed 1,550 jobs
20 October 2011
Maple Leaf Foods is to cut over 1,500 jobs in Canada as part of plans to revamp its production and distribution network in the country.
Talking tech: Food sites look to ride Groupon wave
31 August 2011
The concept of group buying has grabbed the headlines in recent months, with sites like Groupon and LivingSocial providing consumers the opportunity to benefit from discounts on a range of products. Now, in North America, food-specific sites have been launched, allowing shoppers to buy food in bulk. MJ Deschamps reports.
