Maple Leaf Foods to acquire VIAU Foods

Established in 1977, VIAU produces a range of value-added prepared meat products, including Italian cooked meats, sausages, pizza toppings, shaved steak and meatballs, and is the Canadian market leader in cooked and dry-cured pepperoni. The business also produces a range of gourmet deli and premium charcuterie products, including salametti, capocollo, pancetta and sliced chorizo. VIAU supplies dried pepperoni and other pizza toppings to the North American foodservice industry and markets its products through retailers across Canada. It employs 470 people at its two facilities in Laval and Montreal. VIAU will continue to be led by the current management team. The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash-on-hand and drawings under Maple Leaf's existing credit facility and is expected to close in December, subject to regulatory review. “VIAU brings a portfolio of leading brands, a reputation for innovation and quality, skilled management and people, and excellent manufacturing assets,” said Michael McCain, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods. “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.” “It is with great pride that we join the Maple Leaf family,” said Pat De Marco, president and COO of VIAU . “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.”

Maple Leaf Foods to acquire VIAU Foods

Canadian pork processor Maple Leaf Foods has signed a definitive agreement to acquire VIAU Foods, a producer of premium Italian cooked, dry-cured and charcuterie meats for a purchase price of CA$215m, including CA$30m in Maple Leaf stock.

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