Maple Leaf Foods is to shut two US plant-based meat manufacturing sites as the Canadian food company seeks to improve profitability amid weaker demand.
In a statement yesterday (22 September), the meat and plant-based business said the move aims to "simplify" operations, "improve the competitiveness of its manufacturing network" and "strengthen the structural profitability".
Production at plants in Seattle, Washington, and Turners Falls, Massachusetts, will be wound down over the next 12 to 18 months.
Maple Leaf did not disclose how many jobs would be affected but said it would consider opportunities at other facilities where feasible.
Curtis Frank, Maple Leaf Foods president and CEO, said the plant protein business has "changed significantly, and declining volumes have left our manufacturing network substantially underutilised. Maintaining three facilities at these utilisation levels creates structural costs that are not sustainable over the long term".
The owner of brands including Field Roast, Lightlife and Yves Veggie Cuisine will move US plant-protein production into what it called a single "Plant Protein Centre of Excellence" in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Maple Leaf plans ...