TSX: MFI
    www.mapleleaf.com

    TORONTO, July 18 /CNW/ - Maple Leaf today announced that it will close
its primary pork processing operation located on Marion Street, Winnipeg in
October, 2007. This closure reflects a further step in Maple Leaf's strategy
to centralize its primary pork processing operations in Brandon Manitoba by
the end of 2009, as it reduces its total primary processing volumes and
focuses growth in its value-added packaged meat and meals businesses.
    "Despite the age and limitations of the Marion Street plant, employees
have done a tremendous job in maintaining an excellent safety and productivity
record," said Rick Young, President, Maple Leaf Consumer Foods. "Our priority
is to minimize the impact on our people and provide an ongoing regional market
for producers by transitioning hogs to the Brandon plant."
    The Marion Street operation employs 145 people and processes between
15,000 to 20,000 hogs per week. The Company expects to provide other positions
for the salaried employees and opportunities for some of the hourly workers at
its other regional plants. Affected employees will be provided financial
support and outplacement and employment counselling services.
    The wind down of the plant will commence in early September and is
expected to be completed by October 26, 2007. Costs related to the closure of
this plant were previously accrued. Concurrent with the closure, Maple Leaf
will be commissioning a second shift at its Brandon plant, which will support
its future pork raw material requirements and value-added customers. Manitoba
is a very important centre for Maple Leaf's meat processing operations, where
the Company will employ approximately 2,800 people when the second shift
expansion at Brandon is complete.

    Maple Leaf Foods is a leading food processing company. Headquartered in
Toronto, Canada, the Company employs approximately 24,000 people at its
operations across Canada and in the United States, Europe and Asia. The
Company had sales of $5.9 billion in 2006.