Our History

The Maple Leaf Foods we know today, was created in 1995 when McCain Capital Corporation and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired controlling interest in the company from Hillsdown Holdings plc. Maple Leaf Foods Inc., Canada's largest food processor, was amalgamated in 1991 through the merger of two diversified Canadian food companies, Maple Leaf Mills Limited and Canada Packers Inc.

Maple Leaf Mills Limited was officially formed in 1961 from the amalgamation of the Maple Leaf Milling Company Limited, Toronto Elevators Limited and Purity Flour Mills Limited. However, its origins can be traced to Grantham Mills, built in 1836 in St. Catherines, Ontario. Maple Leaf Mills Limited grew to be a prominent force in the production and distribution of flour-based products in Canada.

The Canada Bread Company Limited , which is 89.8 per cent owned by Maple Leaf Foods, was founded in 1911 with the amalgamation of five separate companies. In its 89 year history Canada Bread Company, Limited has grown to be an important Canadian and international manufacturer of value-added Flour-based products.

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 1860s. The architect of this merger was J. Stanley McLean, Secretary-Treasurer of the Harris Abbatoir Company, who became the first president of Canada Packers Limited, a post he held for 30 years. 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.