Maple Leaf Foods to close Panet Road plant on December 31

Dec. 22, 2014 – The Canadian Press is reporting Maple Leaf Foods will permanently close its Panet Road, Winnipeg, Man.-based plant on December 31.

Maple Leaf said its expanded Lagimodiere plant, also in Winnipeg, is fully commissioned and requires only minimal work to optimize its operation.

The Panet Road plant will be the sixth closure just before New Year’s Day under a multi-year reorganization of the Toronto, Ont.-based food giant’s operations, noted the Canadian Press. The remaining two of eight closures, in Kitchener, Ont., and Toronto, are scheduled for the end of March 2015.

Another Toronto-area facility in Brampton, Ont., has been expanded while a new Hamilton, Ont., plant is being commissioned to produce weiners and sliced meats. It is expected to be in full production by the end of the first quarter.