Hotdog! Maple Leaf Foods Donates Record-breaking Number of Hotdogs in Celebration of the May Long Weekend - More than four million hotdogs provided to food banks across Canada

TSX: MFI
www.mapleleaffoods.com

TORONTO, May 16, 2014 /CNW/ - In celebration of the Victoria Day long weekend, Maple Leaf Foods donated more than four million hotdogs to food banks across the country.

"The May long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer and every Canadian should have the opportunity to celebrate," said Lynda Kuhn, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs at Maple Leaf Foods. "We're so pleased to partner with food banks and their associations to help feed Canadians across the country."

Maple Leaf Foods made the donation of over four million wieners and smoked sausages to food banks in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec and New Brunswick. The product brands include Maple Leaf® Top Dogs® Original Wieners, Schneiders® Country Naturals ™ and Natural Selections™ in pork, chicken and beef varieties.

"Protein is by far the most needed item by food banks in Ontario," said Bill Laidlaw, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Food Banks. "We are very appreciative of this generous donation made by Maple Leaf Foods and for their longstanding support of our organization. The amount of fresh protein is incredible and this donation is yet another example of their commitment to ensuring every Ontarian has enough to eat."

Note to Editors:

• See Backgrounder for regional quotes and information
• View Maple Leaf's Hotdog Donation Infographic
• For great hotdog recipes, visit http://appehtite.ca

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a leading food processing company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company employs approximately 18,000 people at its operations across Canada and in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Asia. The Company had sales of $4.4 billion in 2013.

BACKGROUNDER

Alberta

Maple Leaf is donating over 28,000 packages of hotdogs in Calgary and the surrounding region in partnership with the Calgary Food Bank.

About Calgary Food Bank

The Calgary Food Bank is a charitable organization dedicated to gathering and distributing quality emergency food to Calgarians and the agencies that serve them.

• Quote from the Calgary Food Bank: "The May long weekend is traditionally a time to kick off summer BBQ season with family and friends. This thoughtful donation will help 28,320 families in the Calgary area, enabling them to spend time with their loved ones and enjoy a Canadian favourite for BBQ season."  Trudi - Ann Webster, Communications and Donor Coordinator- food Industry, Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank

Saskatchewan

Maple Leaf is donating nearly 26,000 packages of hotdogs in Saskatoon, Prince Albert and the surrounding communities in partnership with the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, Prince Albert Food Bank and the Saskatoon Friendship Inn.

About Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre

The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is a progressive and collaborative organization that uses a systems approach to develop programs and services initiatives that address the underlying causes of food insecurity and poverty in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

• Quote from the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre: "The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre receives approximately 12,000 requests for emergency food each month, half of which are for children.  With Maple Leaf's generous support we're able to provide much-needed resources to people forced to rely on our food bank's services during a difficult time in their lives.  We thank Maple Leaf for making community a priority." Laurie O'Connor, Executive Director, Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre

About Prince Albert Food Bank

Prince Albert Food Bank provides appropriate nutrition to those without means of providing for themselves.  Prince Albert Food Bank works to cultivate, develop and encourage ways of eliminating hunger and believes in providing those with in need with nutritious and fresh foods in a safe, supportive and clean environment.

• Quote from the Prince Albert Food Bank: "Thank you very much for your generous donation of hotdogs. Protein items and particularly meat is one of the most difficult items for us to stock. Not only does this assist our food bank program, it also helps in our kitchen. Without your help our freezers would most likely be empty. The impact on both the food bank and its clients could not be greater. From all of us here at the Share A Meal Food Bank, Thank You!" Wes Clark, Co-manager, Prince Albert Food Bank

About Saskatoon Friendship Inn

Saskatoon Friendship Inn relies on community-wide partnerships and support to fulfill its commitment to regular meal service and friendship.  With values of friendship, compassion and fostering a sense of belonging, Saskatoon Friendship Inn also provides individual and group service programs for children, youth, and adults experiencing poverty.

• Quote from the Saskatoon Friendship Inn: "It's imperative that we receive donations. All of our food is 100 per cent donated and it makes a huge impact on the lives of our guests and the inner-city of Saskatoon.  It's with huge gratitude that we accept this donation from Maple Leaf Foods."  Sandy Stack, Acting Executive Director, Saskatoon Friendship Inn

Manitoba

Maple Leaf is donating nearly 13,000 packages of hotdogs in Winnipeg and the surrounding region in partnership with Winnipeg Harvest.

About Winnipeg Harvest

Winnipeg Harvest is a non-profit, community-based food distribution & training centre. Winnipeg Harvest collects food donations and shares them with disadvantaged members of their community.  Among their services, Winnipeg Harvest offers training opportunities to help people "step up and out of poverty."  Winnipeg Harvest aims to eliminate the need for food banks in our community.

• Quote from Winnipeg Harvest: "We appreciate Maple Leaf Foods' support at this critical time. Addition of meat products to hampers adds to the value of the hampers we distribute to families. Currently we share food with more than 50,000 Winnipeggers and an additional 10,000 people in rural areas; with nearly half being children. Thank you Maple Leaf for helping us feed hungry families." David Northcott, Executive Director, Winnipeg Harvest

Ontario

Maple Leaf is donating nearly 43,000 packages of hotdogs across Ontario in partnership with the Ontario Association of Food Banks.

About Ontario Association of Food Banks

The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a network of 127 food banks and over 1,100 hunger relief programs and agencies across the province. Together, we serve 375,000 individuals, including 131,000 children, every month. The OAFB is committed to reducing hunger through sustainable solutions that ensure the long-term health and success of communities across the province. To learn more, visit: ontariohunger.ca.

• Quote from the Ontario Association of Food Banks: "Protein is by far the most needed item by food banks in Ontario. We are very appreciative of this generous donation made by Maple Leaf Foods and for their longstanding support of our organization. The amount of fresh protein is incredible and this donation is yet another example of their commitment to ensuring every Ontarian has enough to eat." Bill Laidlaw, Executive Director, Ontario Association of Food Banks

New Brunswick

Maple Leaf is donating 36,000 packages of hotdogs in Moncton and the surrounding communities in partnership with Food Depot Alimentaire.

About Food DEPOT Alimentaire

Food DEPOT Alimentaire is a non-profit charity that services more than 20 food banks, community kitchens and agencies in southeastern New Brunswick. Food DEPOT Alimentaire's services include food distribution, fundraising and food collection, and advocacy.

• Quote from the Food DEPOT Alimentaire: "The meat product that we are receiving from Maple Leaf Foods is going to put a smile on the faces of a lot of needy families. We all take for granted that these products, feeding over 2,500 families, are in every food basket in Southeastern New Brunswick.  But what people don't know is that most of the time, we do not have the funds to get these products.  So this bonus puts a smile on our faces and the clients we serve.  This contribution it makes it more meaningful for Food DEPOT Alimentaire to help people in need.  A big hug and thank you to Maple Leaf for this." Ray Gould, Director, Food DEPOT Alimentaire

Montreal

Maple Leaf is donating almost 70,000 packages of hotdogs in Montreal and the surrounding area in partnership with Moisson Montréal and Sun Youth.

About Moisson Montréal

A non-profit organization, Moisson Montréal is a major center for the collection, sorting and distribution of food for emergency food assistance. The organization dispatches nearly 1,000 tons of food to more than 200 community organizations in the island of Montréal, who in turn provide food assistance to 142,000 people of which 41 000 are children. The largest food bank in Canada, Moisson Montréal is funded and fueled primarily by donations. Its operation requires the collaboration of nearly 4,000 volunteers per year.

About Sun Youth

The mission of Sun Youth is to provide a highly personalized service and implement new programs to improve the current situation of its clientele through education, awareness and material assistance.

Sun Youth is committed to the entire community, without discrimination, by a dedicated commitment and an acute awareness of the continuing challenges.

Image with caption: "National infographic (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40413.jpg

Image with caption: "Chef and Culinary Director Bob Villeneuve with Maple Leaf Foods celebrates Maple Leaf's historic donation of four million hot dogs to food banks across Canada. (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40427.jpg

Image with caption: "Moncton infographic (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40411.jpg

Image with caption: "Saskatchewan infographic (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40412.jpg

Image with caption: "Toronto infographic (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40414.jpg

Image with caption: "Calgary infographic (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) (CNW Group/Maple Leaf Foods Inc)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140516_C8781_PHOTO_EN_40428.jpg

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2014/05/16/20140516_C8781_DOC_EN_40429.pdf

SOURCE: Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

Media Contacts:
Dave Bauer, Corporate Communications, 905-285-1510
Nicole McRonney-Apaw, Communications Coordinator, 905-285-5684