In the past 15 years, we’ve acquired more than 30 companies, and we have a major opportunity to achieve greater efficiencies by concentrating these operations in fewer, larger-scale plants. We can achieve cost reductions by streamlining and investing in our prepared meats and bakery businesses, such as our new Ontario bakery to be commissioned in 2011. We’re also investing in efficiency by rolling out SAP as our integrated operating systems platform to give us faster, richer data on Maple Leaf’s business performance. These transformational initiatives will involve a substantial investment and result in Maple Leaf becoming an even stronger competitor.

Photo: Joe Childs, Distribution Fork Lift Lead Hand, Viceroy frozen bakery plant