Canada's Largest Bakery Officially Opened Today

Maple Leaf Foods Celebrates the Launch of Their New Bakery in Hamilton, Ontario

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TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods celebrated today the official opening of Canada's largest commercial bakery in Hamilton, Ontario producing a variety of delicious fresh bakery products for Canadians to enjoy.  This 385,000 square foot "Trillium" bakery benefits from efficient design flow and best-in-class technologies.  Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina and David Adames, President of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, joined Michael McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods to offer remarks during the opening ceremony.

"As Canada's largest bakery, our new facility is among the most efficient in North America," said Michael McCain. "We are particularly proud of the environmental features that we engineered into the facility to meet rigorous environmental standards. The new bakery also provides us with dedicated space to support new product innovation, supported by our leadership in providing Canadians nutritious, fresh and wholesome bakery products." 

"A bakery of this size and scale in Hamilton means significant benefits to our local economy, providing sustainable jobs and an important anchor development in the Red Hill Valley Industrial Park," said Mayor Bob Bratina.

The bakery represents an approximate $100 million investment by Maple Leaf Foods to support the Company's long-term growth as Canada's leading bakery, and increase manufacturing efficiencies through scale and technology.  It will support up to 300 full-time jobs with an additional 30 seasonal hourly positions and produce white and whole wheat breads, buns, English muffins and tortillas using 100% Canadian wheat.

The bakery operates to the highest standards of productivity, quality assurance and environmental management.  It is designed to obtain certification under the LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) New Construction program, a green building rating system that covers an explicit set of environmental performance criteria, organized within five key performance categories: sustainable sites; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality. For broadcast quality footage (b-roll) please click on the link below: http://cnw.pathfireondemand.com/viewpackage.action?packageid=484

SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

Image with caption: "Ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Canada's largest commercial bakery in Hamilton, Ontario: David Adames, President of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Bob Bratina, City of Hamilton; Michael McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110928_C7460_PHOTO_EN_3997.jpg

Image with caption: "Grand opening of Canada's largest commercial bakery in Hamilton, Ontario: David Adames, President of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce; Councillor Brenda Johnson, Ward 11, City of Hamilton; Mayor Bob Bratina, City of Hamilton; Michael McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110928_C7460_PHOTO_EN_3993.jpg

Image with caption: "Bread being baked at Maple Leaf Foods 385,000 square foot Trillium bakery in Hamilton, Ontario. It is Canada's largest commercial bakery producing a variety of fresh bakery products for Canadians to enjoy. (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110928_C7460_PHOTO_EN_3995.jpg