Maple Leaf Foods to close two US plant-based meat plants
Maple Leaf Foods will wind down its Seattle and Turners Falls facilities by 2027 as it consolidates US plant-protein production and invests in its Indianapolis operation.
USA – Maple Leaf Foods will close two US plant-based meat manufacturing facilities as it consolidates production in Indianapolis amid declining volumes in the plant-protein category.
The Canadian food company said production at its Seattle, Washington, and Turners Falls, Massachusetts, facilities will be wound down over 12 to 18 months, with the transition expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027.
The move is part of Maple Leaf’s Fuel for Growth initiative and follows a review of its plant-protein manufacturing network.
The company said the consolidation will simplify operations, improve capacity utilisation and strengthen the competitiveness and structural profitability of the business.
Curtis Frank, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, said declining demand had left the company’s manufacturing network underutilised.
“But the category has changed significantly, and declining volumes have left our manufacturing network substantially underutilized. Maintaining three facilities at these utilization levels creates structural costs that are not sustainable over the long term,” Frank said.
Maple Leaf will consolidate production at its Indianapolis, Indiana, facility, which will become its Plant Protein Centre of Excellence. The company plans to invest in the site and add employees as production expands.
“Consolidating production in Indianapolis will significantly improve the economics of our manufacturing network and is an important step toward creating a structurally stronger and sustainably profitable Plant Protein business,” Frank said.
The company said production will continue at the Seattle and Turners Falls facilities during the transition to maintain business continuity and support an orderly transfer of operations.
Maple Leaf owns plant-based brands including Field Roast, LightLife and Yves Veggie Cuisine. The company recently relaunched Yves Veggie Cuisine in Canada after acquiring the discontinued brand from Hain Celestial.
Frank said the closures would not change Maple Leaf’s commitment to plant-based protein.
“This decision does not change our commitment to the plant protein category,” he said. “In fact, we believe it strengthens the foundation of the business.”
Maple Leaf said it will work with affected employees throughout the transition and consider opportunities at other company facilities where feasible.
In the second quarter, Maple Leaf’s sales increased 1.6% year on year to C$1.02 billion, while adjusted EBITDA rose 4.8% to C$137.1 million. Prepared foods, which includes plant-based protein, recorded a 2% sales decline during the quarter.
The company reaffirmed its 2026 guidance for mid-single-digit revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA of C$520 million to C$540 million.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
