DIEPPE, New Brunswick-Cavendish Farms announced recently it had concluded an agreement to buy the assets of Maple Leaf Potatoes, the frozen potato business of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., including a 142,000-square-foot processing facility in Lethbridge, Alberta. The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2012.
The company expects to retain all employees currently working at the Lethbridge plant in addition to international employees. Cavendish Farms will continue to produce and market all products formerly offered by Maple Leaf Potatoes in the near term and will seek to retain all existing customer relationships. The Lethbridge plant currently produces a variety of high-quality products, including frozen French fries and other specialty potato products.
The Lethbridge plant is strategically located in close proximity to Southern Alberta's prime agricultural region, renowned for its high yields of quality potatoes ideal for French fry production. The plant operates to the highest quality and safety standards and has been HACCP-certified since 2001.