Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has unveiled its second annual Integrated Report, showcasing its financial performance and robust initiatives aimed at caring for its workforce, communities, and the environment.
In his address to stakeholders, CEO Curtis Frank highlighted the company’s steadfast commitment to creating shared value despite facing intense transitions and disruptions. Maple Leaf, with approximately 13,500 employees, operates primarily in Canada, the United States, and Asia.
Employee well-being is a cornerstone of Maple Leaf’s ethos. The company completed social compliance audits at its major facilities in 2023 and initiated an enhanced social compliance program. Maple Leaf is also planning an independent third-party assessment focusing on the human rights impact on its migrant workforce.
Safety remains paramount, with Maple Leaf reporting zero fatalities in 2023 and achieving a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.40, a significant improvement from its baseline year in 2012. The company is committed to diversity and inclusion, with goals to increase the representation of women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in management by 2030.
The Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security, celebrating its seventh anniversary, has committed over $12.4 million to 33 initiatives addressing food insecurity. The company’s employees actively contribute to community well-being through volunteer programs across Canada.
Last year, Maple Leaf completed the transition of its Ontario poultry processing operations to a new London Poultry facility, equipped with advanced technologies for animal welfare. The company also ensures all owned sow spaces meet open sow housing standards and has significantly reduced antibiotic usage in hog production operations.
In its commitment to better food, Maple Leaf launched Maple Leaf Natural Selections, offering deli meats with simplified ingredients and packaging. Despite challenges, including the global pandemic, Maple Leaf remains dedicated to reducing its environmental footprint by 50% by 2025. It is also a founding member of the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-Food (CANZA), driving sustainability in Canada’s agri-food sector.
Continuing its partnership with Nutrien, Maple Leaf has expanded regenerative agriculture efforts, doubling investments and scaling operations from 19,000 acres to 160,000 acres.
Maple Leaf acknowledges the challenges in meeting aggressive sustainability targets but remains committed to transparent updates on its progress. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, Maple Leaf Foods is poised to make a significant impact on sustainability and the well-being of its stakeholders.
