Maple Leaf Foods’ History
For more than 100 years, we have served Canadians by delivering high-quality, nutritious food to their tables.
We have innovated, transformed, adapted and grown. We are proud to be part of Canada’s food history.
Tracing our food story
Maple Leaf Foods traces its roots back more than 100 years. In fact, our origins trace back more than 180 years to Grantham Mills, built in 1836 in St. Catharines, Ontario.
The Maple Leaf brand first appeared in 1898, but the company you know today formed in 1991. That year, Maple Leaf Mills Limited joined Canada Packers Inc. to create Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s leading food processors. Shortly after, in 1995, McCain Capital and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board acquired a controlling interest in this new company.
Maple Leaf Foods also had a rich baking history as majority owner of Canada Bread. In 2014, the company sold all non-protein businesses to focus on its protein business.
Our History
Click through the timeline to learn about our key milestones.
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1992
Maple Leaf Foods purchases Vancouver Fancy Meats, along with Shopsy’s® prepared meats plant in Ontario.
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1995
McCain Capital Corporation and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board acquire controlling interest in Maple Leaf Foods from Hillsdown Holdings plc.
National rollout of Maple Leaf PrimeTM poultry products.
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1996
Maple Leaf Foods purchases Pioneer French Bakery, a leading supplier of partially-baked sourdough breads to the U.S. supermarket industry; Cambridge Frozen Bakery, a specialty sourdough business in New Jersey; and Burns Meats operations in Manitoba.
We also acquire Hamilton-based Bella Pasta and make Olivieri™ fresh pasta and sauce products available nationwide.
Maple Leaf Bakery U.K. establishes a manufacturing base in Rotherham, England.
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1999
The new Maple Leaf Foods pork processing operation in Brandon, Manitoba, receives its license and begins production.
Maple Leaf Ready Crisp™ pre-cooked bacon is launched. -
2004
Maple Leaf Foods acquires J.M. Schneider Inc., one of Canada’s largest producers of premium branded products.
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2006
Maple Leaf Foods announces a strategic transformation of its protein operations focusing its strategy on growing its value-added fresh and further processed meat business.
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2017
Maple Leaf Foods establishes a greater purpose and vision: To Raise the Good in Food, in its pursuit to be the most sustainable protein company on earth.
We expand our protein portfolio into plant-based protein through the acquisition of Lightlife Foods, Inc. -
2018
Maple Leaf Foods continues to pursue plant-based proteins through the acquisition of Field Roast Grain Meat Co.
The company unveils a new logo marking the biggest brand strategy launch in our history, with rejuvenated flagship brands Maple Leaf®, Schneiders® and Swift®.We also announce construction of a $660 million value-added fresh poultry facility in London, Ontario. The facility will be technologically advanced in Canada with leading-edge food safety and animal welfare processes.
