MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO – Maple Leaf Foods reached an agreement with Polar Pork to acquire four hog farms in central Saskatchewan. The transaction is expected to close in June 2022 subject to satisfaction of closing conditions.

The deal includes two sow barns and two nursery barns with the potential to supply approximately 140,000 pigs, Maple Leaf said. The company expects to invest up to C$27 million in the barns over time. The investment will include acquisition costs and capital investments to maximize capacity and add additional animal care enrichments.

Maple Leaf said the acquisition is directly tied to the company’s plans to grow production at its flagship pork processing plant in Brandon, Manitoba to increase supplies of high-quality meat to key customers in domestic and international markets. The farms also will enhance Maple Leaf Foods’ overall pig supply and substantially increase its pig production capacity in Saskatchewan.

“This purchase offers us ready access to some of the healthiest hogs in Saskatchewan that will allow us to enhance our deliveries of high-quality pork to customers in Canada and Asia,” said Michael Detlefsen, president of the Maple Leaf Foods Pork Complex. “Bringing these barns into Maple Leaf Foods aligns with our strategy to pursue growth both domestically and abroad.

“We are very impressed with the skill the Possberg family and the team at Polar Pork have brought to the operation of these barns,” Detlefsen added. “Based on this foundational work, Maple Leaf Foods is well positioned to build on its strengths and high standards to raise healthy pigs in Saskatchewan and produce high quality pork.”