Maple Leaf Foods can trace its roots back well over 100 years through the amalgamation of some of Canada’s premier food companies.

In 1991 the merger of Maple Leaf Mills Limited and Canada Packers Inc. created the company now known as Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada’s largest food processor. Four years later McCain Capital Corporation and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired controlling interest in the company from Hillsdown Holdings plc and remain controlling shareholders today.

Maple Leaf Mills was created in 1961 through the amalgamation of the Maple Leaf Milling Company Limited, Toronto Elevators Limited and Purity Flour Mills Limited. Its origins can be traced back over 170 years to Grantham Mills, built in 1836 in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Canada Packers Inc. was formed in 1927 in Toronto, Ontario through the amalgamation of the Harris Abbatoir Company, Gunns Limited and the William Davies Company – Canada’s oldest meat packing company founded in the 1860’s. Canada Packers Inc. dominated the meat processing industry and was a leading researcher, processor and marketer of a wide range of meat and agri products in Canada and abroad.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. owns 89.8% of the Canada Bread Company, Limited which was founded in 1911 by the amalgamation of five separate companies. In the last 90-plus years Canada Bread has grown to become an important manufacturer of value-added flour-based products including familiar household brands such as Dempster’s™ and Olivieri™ fresh pasta and sauces.

OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT

Maple Leaf Foods, a major Canadian and global food products company, has an organizational commitment to responsible and sustainable growth. We believe that minimizing the environmental impact of our activities, while providing quality products that meet the needs of consumers, is fundamental to the successful growth of our business and to the general welfare of communities in which we operate.

In support of our commitment, Maple Leaf Foods and its subsidiaries will:

• Assure sound environmental management by requiring visible leadership and accountability at all levels of our organization.
• Require our operations to meet or exceed applicable laws and regulations, company commitments and standards.
• Educate our employees on the environmental policy and environmental protection principles.
• Seek ways to continuously improve discharges to land, water and air, conserve resources, and recycle and reuse materials
• Set and monitor environmental performance goals throughout the organization.
• Include environmental matters in strategic planning, including changes or additions to operations.
• Work with the communities in which we operate and all levels of government to ensure that management and employees are sensitive and responsive to local environmental concerns.

Regularly review to update our environmental commitment and programs
Protecting our natural environment is everyone’s responsibility and must be part of how we conduct our business. Each one of us needs to do our part to ensure Maple Leaf Foods meets that challenge.

Maple Leaf Foods and Partners in Project Green

Maple Leaf Foods is committed to supporting Partners in Project Green as a Business Ambassador by continuing to improve our environmental performance, encouraging participation in Partners in Project Green, and collaborating with others to improve the sustainability of the Pearson Eco-Business Zone.