Caring for

Our Communities

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We’re committed to the communities where we operate and recognize that resilient and healthy communities are essential for a sustainable future.

Working to cut food insecurity in Canada in half by 2030

Nearly seven million people face food insecurity in Canada. Every day they make impossible choices, like choosing between paying for food, rent, utilities or other necessities.

We created The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security to make a lasting, positive impact on food insecurity in Canada. We know that food & food donations will not solve the problem. We advocate for change and work with organizations to address this complex social issue.

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Maple Leaf Foods employees at Eden Garden volunteering.

Doing good in communities where we operate

We operate in many communities across Canada. We’re fortunate to have amazing people on our team who volunteer, support and contribute to causes that they are passionate about. The time and skills they share have a positive impact on our communities. Our people have big hearts!

Our Raise the Good in the Neighbourhood volunteer program

The Raise the Good in the Neighbourhood program allows our people to volunteer and give back time in their community in the way that resonates for them. Salaried Team Members receive two days of paid time off a year to volunteer with the cause of their choice. To encourage participation and help people get started, we have a national network of trained Volunteer Champions promoting local opportunities.

Not only does being involved in the community link to our Purpose and Values but drives social impact and is fun – our team members love it!

Raise the Good in the Neighbourhood logo
Farmers Edge Smart Carbon Soil Carbon Project 1

Supporting other community initiatives

Over the last seven years, we’ve forged deep relationships with thought leaders and have committed more than $12.4 million to 33 initiatives seeking to address underlying drivers of food insecurity that span coast-to-coast.

Supporting Education and Research on Food Insecurity

As part of our ongoing effort to increase the knowledge base on food insecurity in Canada, the Centre provided four new Maple Leaf Board Chair Scholarships in Food Insecurity to Masters and PhD students from the University of New Brunswick, the University of Calgary, McGill University, and Dalhousie University. Maple Leaf Foods and the Centre will be supporting four new scholarships in the 2024-25 academic year.

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2023 Integrated Report

We’re documenting and calculating all the changes we’re making. See our progress in our 2023 Integrated Sustainability Report.