Maple Leaf Foods Inc. announced that the company has been selected as the official provider of hot dogs, sausages and sausage buns to the Toronto Blue Jays(TM). The partnership positions Maple Leaf as the exclusive supplier of hot dogs, sausages and sausage buns, which will be sold under the Schneiders and Villaggio brands, throughout the Rogers Centre during Blue Jays games, concerts and other events at the stadium. The partnership also provides Maple Leaf with high-visibility Schneiders and Villaggio branding opportunities at Rogers Centre.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. announced that consolidation of production will largely occur next year when the company plans to close 5 plants. A new distribution center in southwestern Ontario is expected to open in late June, which along with Western Canadian distribution center will consolidate operations from 17 distribution centers down to 2. In June the company will close the final legacy Toronto bakery which will complete 3 into one plant consolidation in Ontario. In the second quarter the company is closing 2 bakeries that produce snack cakes, a category that the company has decided to exit.

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. For the period, the company reported loss before interest and income taxes of CAD 8,705,000, loss before income taxes of CAD 25,205,000, net loss of CAD 14,742,000 and net loss attributed to common shareholders of CAD 14,938,000 or CAD 0.11 per diluted share on sales of CAD 1,112,833,000 against earnings before interest and income taxes of CAD 11,699,000, loss before income taxes of CAD 5,944,000, net loss of CAD 5,775,000 and net loss attributed to common shareholders of CAD 5,791,000 or CAD 0.04 per diluted share on sales of CAD 1,160,823,000 a year ago period. Cash used in operating activities was CAD 2,389,000 against CAD 24,949,000 a year ago period. Additions to long term-assets were CAD 76,055,000 against CAD 55,806,000 a year ago period. The 36% increase supports an intense period of activity and network transition activities primarily the renovation of 2 plants in the west and the ongoing construction of new Hamilton facility. Adjusted operating earnings for the first quarter were CAD 7.6 million compared to CAD 31.7 million last year, primarily due to lower earnings in the Protein Group as market pricing and foreign exchange impacted primary pork processing and hog production earnings. Adjusted earnings per share declined by CAD 0.12 to a loss of CAD 0.06 from adjusted earnings per share of CAD 0.06 last year. Net debt at the end of the first quarter was CAD 1.2 billion, up a relatively modest CAD 30 million from the end of 2012. Capital expenditure investment for the year 2013 at this point is unchanged at CAD 425 million, of which CAD 325 million relates to strategic projects. Note that the SAP investment is decreasing significantly as that project winds down and is replaced by normal course IS expenditures.