March 23, 2020, Mississauga, Ont. – Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has announced that it is taking immediate action to further support its frontline 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 million to support emergency food relief efforts and an investment of $2.5 million in a new fund to provide personal support to frontline health providers during the 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: 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, 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 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, a fund being established by hospital foundations across the country to provide additional support for frontline health care workers.
• Supporting Knowledge Sharing: Maple Leaf Foods will be working with its peers and partners in the public and private sector to co-ordinate forums for knowledge sharing and expertise to combat the pandemic, and keep the supply chains safe as the company provides essential services.

Maple Leaf Foods employs approximately 13,000 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia.