Maple Leaf Foods to open plant-based protein facility in Indiana, after announcing Canadian job cuts

[Anonymous]

The prominent Canadian meat producer is overhauling its facilities in Ontario, at a cost of 300 jobs.



MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has announced plans to build a US$310-million plant-based protein food processing facility in the United States.



The company says the new plant will be in Shelbyville, Ind., as it works to expand its plant-based protein business.



It will also invest approximately US$26 million to keep pace with growth in demand at its existing facilities.



The announcement comes several months after Maple Leaf announced an overhaul of its Ontario operations that will reduce employment in the province by about 300 people.



In January, the company launched a new pea-protein Lightlife burger, first with American food service companies. U.S. grocery stores will start to stock the product in late March, while the Canadian launch won't take place until April.



"We are really, really jazzed up about this," said McCain, saying the company seized on the rising demand of alternative proteins that look and taste like meat.



The new Indiana facility will double the company's current production capacity and produce tempeh, franks, sausages and raw foods, the company said.



Construction is expected to start in late spring this year, with production start-up expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.



Maple Leaf says it expects to employ approximately 460 people once start-up is completed.

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/04/08/maple-leaf-foods-indiana-plant-based-protein_a_23708231/">https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/04/0 ... _23708231/">https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2019/04/08/maple-leaf-foods-indiana-plant-based-protein_a_23708231/



Food processing plants are not the best jobs in the world. But, we will continue to bleed jobs to the US unless we become more competitive. And to do that we must reduce our tax and regulatory burden. It is really that simple.

[Anonymous]

We have several large food processing plants in Southern Alberta..



They generally do not provide mortgage paying jobs.

[Bricktop]

And I bet most of their American employees will be illegal immigrants.

[Anonymous]

We have several large food processing plants in Southern Alberta..



They generally do not provide mortgage paying jobs.

They are entry level unskilled jobs, I get that. But, my province has lost a lot of manufacturing to the US. We have missed out on Asian car plants, because we cannot compete with places like Alabama and Indiana. God knows Trudeau isn't helping close the competitiveness gap.

[Anonymous]

And I bet most of their American employees will be illegal immigrants.

Not at a big company like Maple Leaf Foods. Smaller employers are the ones who hire people without an SS number.

[Bricktop]

So labour is cheaper in the US?

[Anonymous]

So labour is cheaper in the US?

Taxes are lower and the gap between the two countries' tax rates is widening.



Wages are rising in Trump's US and stagnant in Trudeau's Canada.

[Bricktop]

I always find it odd that western governments strongly support competition in the private marketplace, but accept no responsibility at all for competing at the government level.

[Anonymous]

I always find it odd that western governments strongly support competition in the private marketplace, but accept no responsibility at all for competing at the government level.

Trudeau doesn't believe in competition. Everybody gets a participation ribbon.

[Bricktop]

Everyone loses, then.

[Anonymous]

Everyone loses, then.

That is correct. When we elected Trudeau, we all lost.

[Bricktop]

Well, you have an imminent opportunity to correct that misjudgment.

[JOE]

Everyone loses, then.

That is correct. When we elected Trudeau, we all lost.

Seoulbro wants Canadian workers to be paid & treated like slaves, BT.



The idea of an $18 minimum wage like they have in Australia would be unthinkable in most parts of the States. Many working class people barely get by in places like Alabama on $7.25 an hour. Thats less than $10 Canadian or Australian per hour.



If Australia adopted American labor laws & conditions, many Australian workers would find their wages & benefits cut in half.

[Anonymous]

Everyone loses, then.

That is correct. When we elected Trudeau, we all lost.

Seoulbro wants Canadian workers to be paid & treated like slaves, BT.



The idea of an $18 minimum wage like they have in Australia would be unthinkable in most parts of the States. Many working class people barely get by in places like Alabama on less than $10 an hour.



If Australia adopted American labor laws & conditions, many Australian workers would find their wages & benefits cut in half.

If you had read this thread, you'd know that wages were not even mentioned nor was Alabama..



Derailing our discussions to get your kicks is getting too predictable and boring..



Find a new hobby.

[Bricktop]

Playing golf on a highway might work.