Transitioning of meat business leaves Maple Leaf Foods with FY loss, brighter future
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013. Adjusted Operating Earnings for the fourth quarter was a loss of $21.7 million compared to Adjusted Operating Earnings of $70.0 million last year. Year-to-date Adjusted Operating Earnings were a loss of $12.3 million compared to Adjusted Operating Earnings of $172.0 million last year.
"We are in a peak phase of executing our prepared meats network strategy, which added tremendous costs and inefficiency in the quarter as we ramped up five new facilities while continuing to operate our parallel older plants," said Michael H. McCain, President and CEO. "As expected, this is causing short-term earnings volatility, which was compounded by weak protein markets. Our Bakery business delivered solid results for the quarter and increased earnings for the full year. We are very pleased with this performance, particularly with strong gains in our U.K. and frozen bakery operations."