Maple Leaf Foods Acquires New Automated Food Processing Line
By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online
The government of Ottawa is providing innovation and processing support in the form of a $5 million loan as part of a government initiative to facilitate the adoption and innovation of agriculture-based products and technologies
Toronto-based Maple Leaf Foods – Canada’s largest processor of value-added meats which employs roughly 19,500 people throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia – is receiving a $5 million loan from the Ottawa government to purchase and install new meat processing technology that will enhance Maple Leaf’s food safety and product innovation, while improving operating and production efficiencies.
The loan, announced by Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Agriculture Minister, is being issued under the AggriInnovation Program. The program is a five-year, up to $698 million initiative under the Growing Forward 2 policy framework. The funds will help Maple Leaf purchase a fully-automated meat processor. The meat processing system, Thermix, which is manufactured by Armor Inox, a food equipment and process innovation organization, will be the first of its kind in Canada. The system will enhance food safety and has built-in features to facilitate product traceability. Additionally, the system is expected to improve the shape, texture, consistency, and shelf-life of Maple Leaf’s deli meat products while also reducing sodium content.
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The investment also will boost the competitiveness of the meat sector and create opportunities for other Canadian meat producers. Lemieux comments, “Innovation continues to be a priority for our government, and making strategic investments like this in one of Canada’s largest food processors will boost the competitiveness of the meat sector and create employment opportunities for years to come.”
Rick Young, executive VP of transformation with Maple Leaf, says, “We are building the most advanced prepared meats facility in North America,” noting that, “the loan has helped us secure world-class technology that will improve our efficiency and support high-skilled, knowledge-based jobs in Canada’s food industry.” Once the project is completed, Maple Leaf’s Hamilton, Ontario plant will have the capacity to produce roughly 180 million pounds of deli products annually.