Maple Leaf Foods is shutting down two US plant-based meat manufacturing sites as the Canadian company aims to improve profitability amid weakening demand.
In a statement issued yesterday (22 September), the meat and plant-based product group said it seeks to “simplify” operations, “improve the competitiveness of its manufacturing network” and “strengthen the structural profitability” of the business.
Production at plants in Seattle, Washington, and Turners Falls, Massachusetts, will be wound down over the next 12 to 18 months.
Maple Leaf did not disclose the number of jobs affected but said it would consider opportunities at other facilities where feasible.
Curtis Frank, president and CEO, said the plant protein business has “changed significantly” and declining volumes have left the manufacturing network substantially underutilised. Maintaining three facilities at these utilisation levels creates structural costs that are not sustainable over the long term.
The owner of Field Roast, Lightlife and Yves Veggie Cuisine will move production into what it called a single “plant protein centre of excellence” in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Maple Leaf plans to invest in the site and add employees as operations expand.
Frank said concentrating production in Indianapolis would “significantly improve the economics” of the manufacturing network and help build “a structurally stronger and sustainably profitable plant protein business”.
The CEO had told analysts in March 2025 there was “a pathway to profitable growth” in plant protein and he saw it as an “upside opportunity”.
In May, the company relaunched Yves Veggie Cuisine in Canada after acquiring the discontinued brand from Hain Celestial.
In the latest statement, Frank said the closures “do not change our commitment to the plant protein category”, insisting the move “strengthens the foundation of the business”.
In the second quarter ended 30 June, Maple Leaf’s sales rose 1.6% to C$1.02bn ($723.8m). Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.8% year on year to C$137.1m.
Prepared foods, which includes plant-based protein, saw sales fall 2% in the quarter, reflecting lower volumes and higher trade promotion spending. Poultry sales rose 7.1%.
Maple Leaf reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance for mid-single-digit revenue growth and adjusted EBITDA of C$520m to C$540m.
