Maple Leaf Foods to acquire VIAU Foods for $215m

Maple Leaf Foods has agreed to acquire value-added meat product producer VIAU Foods for $215 million.

VIAU produces a range of prepared meat products such as Italian cooked meats, sausages, pizza toppings, shaved steak and meatballs, and is one of the largest producers of cooked and dry-cured pepperoni in Canada.

The company also supplies dried pepperoni and other pizza toppings to the North American foodservice industry and markets its products through retailers across Canada.

Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods said: “VIAU brings a portfolio of leading brands, a reputation for innovation and quality, skilled management and people, and excellent manufacturing assets.

“This acquisition expands Maple Leaf’s position in the growing market for premium dry cured and pepperoni meat products and provides further production capacity in Quebec, an important strategic base to grow both Canadian and US sales.

“It also enables VIAU to expand its portfolio to include raised without antibiotic products, leveraging Maple Leaf’s leadership in this growing market.”

Pat De Marco, president and COO of VIAU added: “It is with great pride that we join the Maple Leaf family.

“Our quality and food safety culture fits perfectly with Maple Leaf, the company that, for years, we have regarded as the Canadian industry leader.

“The resources that Maple Leaf brings will allow us to more quickly grow our business, provide additional product offerings to our customers, make further inroads into the US market, and provide more opportunities to our people. We are truly excited about the future possibilities.”