March 20, 2008

Maple Leaf to invest US$50 million to expand its Brandon hog plant
 

Canadian pork processor Maple Leaf Foods has invested almost US$75 million in two hog plants while closing down another hog plant. 

The investment will be used to expand value-added cut operations and hog slaughter capacity. Invested plants include Brandon plant and Lagimodiere Road plant.

The almost US$50 million expansion work for Brandon plant will begin in June and is estimated to complete in September. Hog slaughter will increase to 86,000 hogs per week from 75,000 hogs per week at year-end as Maple Leaf consolidates its primary pork processing.

About US$25 million was invested into the Lagimodiere Road plant to achieve the company's target of consolidating its ham boning operations in western Canada into one single facility.

By year-end, about 1,100 jobs would have been created at these facilities with support from an investment of US$120 million.

In addition, the company's Warman Road plant located in Winnipeg would be closed.