MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
(TSX: MFI) today announced that it is taking immediate action to
further support its front line staff, emergency food relief and
health care providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The actions include a weekly bonus for its hourly staff, an
investment of approximately $2.0
million to support emergency food relief efforts and an
investment of $2.5 million in a new
fund to provide personal support to front line health providers
during this crisis.
"In this global crisis, we are compelled to look beyond our
business and do what we can to support the many dedicated people
who continue to deliver the critical services we depend on, as well
as the most vulnerable in our society," said Michael McCain, President and CEO. "We encourage
all companies with resources and capacity to do what they can to
add their support. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in
working alongside governments to fight this pandemic and restore
our public and economic health."
Maple Leaf Foods' expanded efforts focus on four key
efforts:
- Supporting Essential Staff: Producing safe,
nourishing food is an essential service that is made possible by
the dedication of people who work in our production and
distribution facilities. Effective immediately, Maple Leaf Foods
will be providing its hourly people who are working to maintain a
safe supply of food with an $80/week
additional support payment, in addition to regular and overtime
pay.
- Supporting Emergency Food Relief: In partnership with
the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security (the "Centre"),
Maple Leaf Foods will be supporting the critical efforts of food
security organizations to meet vastly increased demands. In
addition to $500,000 in financial and
food contributions recently committed, Maple Leaf Foods and the
Centre will be launching a matching campaign to raise an additional
$2.0 million to support emergency
food relief efforts across Canada.
- Supporting Health Care Workers: Maple Leaf
Foods will be donating $2.5 million
to the CANADIAN FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS PROTECTION FUND
(CFHPPF), a fund being established by hospital foundations across
the country to provide additional support for front line health
care workers.
- Supporting Knowledge Sharing: As a major Canadian
food company, making safe food is at the core of what Maple Leaf
Foods does. Our supply chain knowledge of how to operate in
food-safe, pathogen-controlled environments can provide
transferable practical knowledge on how to keep Canadian
manufacturing and supply chains safe. Maple Leaf Foods will be
working with its peers and partners in the public and private
sector to coordinate forums for knowledge sharing and expertise to
combat this pandemic, and keep our supply chains safe as we provide
essential services.
About Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Foods is a producer
of food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf®, Maple
Leaf Prime®, Maple Leaf Natural Selections®, Schneider's®,
Schneiders® Country Naturals®, Mina®, Greenfield Natural Meat Co.®,
Lightlife®, Field Roast Grain Meat Co.TM and Swift®. Maple
Leaf employs approximately 13,000 people and does business
in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is
headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares
trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MFI).
Website: www.MapleLeafFoods.com
Twitter: @MapleLeafFoods
About the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food
Security
Over 4 million Canadians face food insecurity. They
live with the uncertainty of how they will feed their
families…every day. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically
heightened this issue. People who live with food insecurity don't
have the means to meet their normal food needs, let alone stockpile
for the future. The Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
is ramping up efforts to support emergency relieve through a public
matching campaign to be launched this week. We have a deep and
long-term commitment to advance sustainable food security for all
Canadians, but these times require extraordinary measures.
Website: www.feedopportunity.com
Twitter: @feedopportunity
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SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc.