Maple Leaf Foods announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Greenleaf Foods, SPC, a leader in plant protein products, is advancing plans to increase tempeh production capacity through the acquisition and planned build-out of a food processing plant in Indianapolis.  
 
Driven by growing demand for its Lightlife® tempeh products, phase 1 of the project involves the acquisition of a 118,000 square foot plant in Indianapolis which is expected to close in early April, and the installation of tempeh production equipment with initial capacity of approximately 4.5 million kg. The acquisition is subject to typical closing conditions, including completion of due diligence.
 
Based on early pre-engineering for the build-out of the plant, the estimated cost of the project, including the acquisition cost, is approximately $100 million. Initial production at the plant is targeted to begin in the first half of 2022, and when fully operational it will employ approximately 115 people. If demand for tempeh continues as expected, the plant offers the flexibility for the Company to proceed with a second phase of the project which could include doubling the capacity.
 
Building additional capacity for tempeh products aligns with the Company's goal of maintaining its market leadership position in this category and is consistent with its strategy to build capacity in support of the high-growth plant protein business through the effective deployment of capital.

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