Our customers and consumers look to us for a steady stream of new ideas, whether it’s by broadening existing categories, developing new ones, or finding more effective packaging solutions. That’s why we launched ThinkFOOD! in early 2009 as the hub of our creativity and innovation. As the foremost food innovation centre in Canada, the facility is designed to drive collaboration between our product developers and customers and to sharpen our consumer insights. In the first nine months of operation, ThinkFOOD! held over 65 customer sessions and supported more than 40 new product launches.

Great new ideas all emanate from listening to the consumer. We’re continually reaching out to learn what more we can do – or do better. We comb the world for food trends and successful products and then look for the best opportunities to adapt these to our own markets. In 2009, we launched over 100 new product innovations. Some of the best included Dempster’s Oven Fresh, an artisan-quality fresh bread, ready to finish, bake and serve; a new line of seasoned and ready-to-cook Maple Leaf Prime® fresh chicken products; and Maple Leaf Prime® Gourmet ready-to-bake fresh chicken and pork entrees. We’re listening!