The improvements come from the costly transition to a new
meat-processing plant in Hamilton that was accompanied by the closure of a
number of smaller and older plants, including the Schneider Corp. plant in
Kitchener.
Fourth-quarter sales increased by 10 per cent to $873
million and annual sales increased by 4.3 per cent to $3.38 billion.
During its transition, Maple Leaf sold its bakery division
to Bimbo Bakery of Mexico, its feed-milling and rendering businesses, its
turkey farms and quota and its turkey-processing plant at Thamesford.
