McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand has announced a new “overarching global company philosophy”, pledging to “spread the goodness” with reformulation of products to eliminate additives or preservatives, emphasise its School Veggie Patches campaigns and highlight the benefits of fresh-frozen foods, and increase product transparency, which it says is “sure to further strengthen McCain Foods reputation in Australia and New Zealand.” “McCAIN has always been... ...Read more »

Wallace McCain, chairman of Canadian food group Maple Leaf Foods, and co-founder of frozen chip maker McCain Foods, has died at the age of 81. McCain died on Friday (13 May) in Toronto following a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death was announced by Maple Leaf’s board, which is yet to appoint his successor. “His incredible success in business was always balanced with the importance of family and community,” said Michael McCain, CEO of Maple Leaf Foods and Wallace’s son.... ...Read more »

The McCain School Veggie Patches program will officially open for registrations on 27 April 2011 for the second consecutive year, McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand announced today. Launched in May 2010, the McCain School Veggie Patches program helps primary school children learn about the origin and benefits of vegetables by planting and growing vegetables in their own school yard. McCain described the first year of the program as “a huge success”, with more than 2,700 schools taking... ...Read more »

A new survey commissioned by McCain Foods Australia has revealed that while 60% of Australians are concerned about the problem of food waste, only half of these people (32%) see it as an issue within their household. The survey, commissioned by McCain Foods Australia and surveying 1004 Australians, reveals a stark contrast between the concerns around food waste and the acceptance of responsibility within the community, with 47% of Australians admitting to throwing out food on a weekly basis. The... ...Read more »

McCain Foods has hit out at yesterday’s (13 April) strike action at a manufacturing site in Victoria.The chip maker said it had been in talks with local union representatives since December over how the company arranges days off. “We have been in discussions with the union since December on rostered days off and are surprised that the union have taken this illegal action as opposed to continuing discussions or seeking assistance from Fair Work Australia,” McCain’s local operations... ...Read more »

The food processing sector in Australia has received another blow with the second major plant closure in a fortnight. McCain Foods announced that their vegetable processing plant in Smithton, Tasmania will close in November 2010, advising that the cost to make necessary upgrades to the plant was unable to be justified. The news will see 115 workers made redundant and follows the recent National Foods announcement of the closure of their Berri juice plant in Riverland. McCain will keep the potato... ...Read more »