Maple Leaf Foods
New Hamburg
70 Heritage Dr,
New Hamburg, ON
N3A 2J4
We hatch poultry eggs and distribute chicks to farmers for raising.
What we do at the Maple Leaf Foods New Hamburg hatchery
At our New Hamburg plant, we hatch breeder eggs to produce broiler chicks. Once these chicks have hatched, we deliver our product to farmers across the province for raising.
Our history
The history of the New Hamburg hatchery can be traced back to 1921 when Carl Buck established Hillside Poultry in New Dundee, eventually becoming the village’s second-largest industry. Over the years, mergers and expansions occurred, including the opening of the Kitchener Big 4 Hatchery in 1929. By 1959, the Kitchener Big 4 Hatchery was closed, and everything was moved back to New Dundee. In 1968, United Co-operatives of Ontario acquired Kitchener Big 4 Hatchery, and in 1983, Maple Leaf Mills took over the New Hamburg hatchery. Further changes occurred, stemming from the establishment of Maple Leaf Foods in 1991, with ongoing investments and expansion at the New Hamburg location.
Waste diversion at the New Hamburg hatchery
We have achieved the GreenCircle certification for waste diversion four years in a row. Our team has placed a focus on landfill waste diversion opportunities, with the majority of material derived at the facility going to rendering, recycling, and composting with a small unavoidable amount going to landfill. GreenCircle has verified that we have diverted 99% of waste from landfill!
Plant Facts
- Approximately 93 Team Members
- Size of plant: 67,708 sq ft
- Proud to consist of a diverse workforce
Q&A with the New Hamburg leadership team
- Tell us about your plant and what you produce there?
New Hamburg opened in 1975 under the original name, the New Dundee Hatchery. Since then, renovations and additions have been made to our plant.
At New Hamburg, we hatch poultry eggs and distribute chicks to farmers across the province for raising. Our Team Members are actively engaged and involved in farming operations at our plant. - What’s an interesting fact about your site or operations that people wouldn’t know?
Prior to moving to New Hamburg, the facility’s history can be dated back to 1921 when Hillside Poultry was established in New Dundee. Numerous mergers and amalgamations have led us to where we are today. - Do you have a unique plant tradition or culture?
Working with live animals provides many challenges and the work doesn’t stop until the baby chicks are cared for! - What makes this a fun place to work and a good community to work in?
We find joy in seeing all the cute little baby chicks that we raise here. The politeness of this community in New Hamburg is refreshing and makes for a good atmosphere! - Does your plant do events or team building? What does Diversity and Inclusivity look like at New Hamburg?
We organize several different events and activities throughout the year to commemorate occasions like Valentines Day, Occupational Health & Safety Week, and the 12 Days of Christmas.
New Hamburg is a facility that welcomes all. Everyone is treated with respect in accordance with our Maple Leaf Leadership Values. - What are the different departments that work here? What is your location and access like?
At New Hamburg, our teams include: production, maintenance, sanitation, driving and logistics, quality assurance, general labour, poultry welfare, human resources, finance, sales and procurement, health and safety, and even opportunities for students.
As for our location, we are conveniently located near a major highway (Hwy. 8), and we provide ample free parking for visitors and Team Members. - What kind of perks does your plant offer? How do you reward and value your employees?
We offer discounted product sales to our Team Members whenever possible.
We also reward and value our Team Members by offering:
– Competitive wages
– Training premiums (additional payments when time spent training others)
– Referral bonuses
– Dental and medical benefits
– Pension
– Employee and family assistance programs
– Opportunities for growth and development - What is the process to receive your uniforms and PPE? Is this provided or paid for out of pocket?
All uniforms and PPE are provided to Team Members. We have a boot reimbursement program of up to $125 which can be acquired once individuals surpass three months of service. - What does professional growth and development look like at your plant? Do you have a success story?
We use the Leadership Academy for supervisors and provide hourly Team Members with the opportunity to work up to lead hand roles. We follow succession planning to provide our lead hands the opportunity to grow into supervisory positions. Our very own Plant Manager started as a student within the hatchery.
Are you looking for an exciting career in manufacturing? Join us in New Hamburg!
