Maple Leaf Cutting Jobs to Cut Costs

Maple Leaf Foods Inc.is a leading Canadian consumer protein company, making high quality, innovative products under national brands including Maple Leaf®, Maple Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections®, Schneiders®, Schneiders Country Naturals® and Mina™.

Maple Leaf has been cutting costs by closing some plants and merging in addition to a reduction in its number of distribution centres.

Maple Leaf Foods has been undergoing a long-term, $1-billion restructuring plan that began in 2008 that involving shutting some plants, modernizing other facilities and selling off parts of the company.

The company employs roughly 12,000 people across Canada.

Struggling meat processor Maple Leaf Foods is getting even leaner just in time for the holidays.

The cuts are expected to happen by the end of the year, or by early 2016.

President Michael McCain said the ramp-up of facilities like the Hamilton plant are putting the company in a good position.

Maple Leaf’s move will affect about three per cent of the company’s employees across Canada, including middle management and office jobs, though the layoffs will be concentrated in Ontario, said spokesman David Bauer.

In a news release the company said the cuts are being made “after a comprehensive review, it is implementing changes to further streamline the organization, establish a highly competitive cost structure and support a renewed focus on growth”.

Maple Leaf shares ended at C$21.20 on Tuesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange.