{{Short description|Canadian frozen food company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox company | name = McCain Foods Limited | logo = McCain Foods New Logo.png | type = Private | founded = Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada (1957) | hq_location = 439 King Street West, 5th Floor | hq_location_city = Toronto, Ontario | hq_location_country = Canada | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = James Scott McCain – Chairman<br />Max Koeune – President and CEO of McCain Foods Limited <br />Danielle Barran – President of McCain Foods (Canada) | founders = Harrison McCain <br/> Wallace McCain | industry = Frozen food | products = French fries, appetizers, vegetables, desserts, entrees, and oven meals | revenue = {{increase}} $14 billion CAD (2023) | num_employees = 20,000 (2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mccain.com/about-us/our-business-brands/|title=Our business brands|access-date= August 4, 2020}}</ref> | website = {{URL|mccain.com}} }}
'''McCain Foods Limited''' is a Canadian multinational frozen food company established in 1957 in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=McCain Foods |url=https://www.careerbeacon.com/corpprof/mccain/mccain.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202165918/https://www.careerbeacon.com/corpprof/mccain/mccain.html |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |access-date=December 1, 2016 |website=CareerBeacon}}</ref>
It is the world's largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, with 1 in 4 french fries in the world being a McCain fry.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://magicvalley.com/news/local/update-mccain-foods-plans-million-job-expansion-of-burley-plant/article_272e1688-0e9f-51ee-9345-1945b9c5706d.html|title=Update: McCain Foods plans $200 million, 180 job expansion of Burley plant |first=Heather |last=Kennison |work=Twin Falls Times-News |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705000644/https://magicvalley.com/news/local/update-mccain-foods-plans-million-job-expansion-of-burley-plant/article_272e1688-0e9f-51ee-9345-1945b9c5706d.html |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |date=May 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> McCain maintains a global presence, with products sold in 160 countries, and operations in Canada, US, Brazil, UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Australia, South Africa, India, Japan, China, and more.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Business & Brands |url=https://www.mccain.com/about-us/our-business-brands/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate}}</ref> Its major competitors are Simplot and Lamb Weston.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Philpott|first1=Tom|title=Will This New GMO Potato Take Off? McDonald's Has Spoken|url=https://www.motherjones.com/food/2014/11/simplot-innate-new-gmo-potato-mcdonalds/|access-date=June 29, 2017|work=Mother Jones|publisher=Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress|date=November 14, 1014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Conagra Brands completes Lamb Weston spinoff, name change |url=https://apnews.com/7c6c97a8ca334e8998f185feb53ad02a |website=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 9, 2020 |date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>
==History== thumb|A plate with McCain Smiles, a face-shaped mashed potato bite. McCain Foods was co-founded in 1957 by brothers Harrison McCain and Wallace McCain with the help of their two older brothers.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-mccain-foods-co-founder-wallace-mccain-dies-at-81-2011may14-story.html |title=McCain Foods co-founder Wallace McCain dies at 81 |author=The Associated Press |date=May 14, 2011 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/mccains-passing-raises-questions/article995812/ |title=McCain's passing raises questions |date=March 20, 2004 |work=The Globe and Mail |first=Paul |last=Waldie |access-date=September 28, 2017 }}</ref> The company's original plant was located on the bank of the Saint John River.<ref name=":2" /> In their first year of production, the company hired 30 employees and grossed over $150,000 in sales.<ref name=":22">{{cite web |title=McCain Foods |url=https://www.careerbeacon.com/corpprof/mccain/mccain.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202165918/https://www.careerbeacon.com/corpprof/mccain/mccain.html |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |access-date=December 1, 2016 |website=CareerBeacon}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite news |author=The Associated Press |date=May 14, 2011 |title=McCain Foods co-founder Wallace McCain dies at 81 |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-mccain-foods-co-founder-wallace-mccain-dies-at-81-2011may14-story.html |access-date=September 28, 2017 |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune}}</ref> Within four years, McCain products first reached England.<ref name=":4">{{cite news |last=Austen |first=Ian |date=May 16, 2011 |title=Wallace McCain Dies at 81; Fed the World Frozen Fries |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/global/16mccain.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1966, the company acquired trucking firm Day & Ross, operating it as a wholly owned subsidiary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Story |url=https://dayross.com/About-Us-Our-Story |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=dayross.com}}</ref> In 1968, McCain built a french fry plant in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and began exporting to Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://mccainfoodservice.com.au/about/our-history/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=McCain Foodservice Australia}}</ref> McCain first began exporting to the United States in 1969. In order to remain competitive, McCain focused on the Northeast region, saving on shipping costs and keeping prices low.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Stoffman |first=Daniel |url=https://www.mccain.com/media/1251/mccain-foods-limitedfrom-the-ground-up.pdf |title=From the Ground Up: The First 50 Years of McCain Foods |publisher=McCain Foods Limited |isbn=978-0-9783720-0-2 |location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada |publication-date=2007 |pages=167, 172}}</ref> It also began growing potatoes in Australia by 1970.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Nadia |date=July 11, 2024 |title=McCain scoops up Chobani's growth leader for new marketing director of growth as MD hunts what consumers want next, refires flagging QSR |url=http://www.mi-3.com.au/10-07-2024/mccain-scoops-chobanis-growth-leader-new-marketing-director-growth-md-looks-explore-what |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.mi-3.com.au }}</ref> McCain entered the European market In 1973, when it purchased a plant in Lewedorp, Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 20, 2020 |title=McCain Foods Expands in the Dutch Agrifood Industry |url=https://investinholland.com/news/mccain-foods-expands-in-the-dutch-agrifood-industry/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=NFIA }}</ref>
In 1975, McCain purchased a potato-processing plant in Washburn, Maine, and its McCain Foods Inc. subsidiary is established. The company opened another facility in Easton, Maine, the following year.<ref name=":3" /> The company entered Germany in 1978 by establishing McCain GmbH in Frankfurt.<ref>{{cite web |title=McCain: a very continental name. – Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/McCain:+a+very+continental+name.-a011531229 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}</ref> In 1981, McCain opened a facility in Harnes, France, its first in the country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Racz |first=Eszter |date=May 14, 2024 |title=McCain to invest in potato production in France |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-to-invest-in-potato-production-in-france/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Just Food}}</ref> The company purchased a second Maine facility, on Presque Isle, from the J.R. Simplot Company in 1987.<ref name=":3" /> The two plants would process about 250 million pounds of frozen potato products in 1988. McCain was designated as an official supplier to Burger King in July 1988.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gold |first=Allan R. |date=October 22, 1988 |title=Fast-Food Deal Gives Maine Potato a Lift |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/22/business/fast-food-deal-gives-maine-potato-a-lift.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It also acquired the Ellio's brand of frozen pizza from Dial Corporation in October.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 29, 1988 |title=COMPANY BRIEFS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/10/29/business/company-briefs-612588.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> That year, the company also expanded outside the Northeast, acquiring facilities in Othello, Washington and Clark, South Dakota from Pete Taggares.<ref name=":3" />
In 1990, the company purchased Tater Meal, a local company that had been making animal feed out of McCain's potato waste.<ref name=":3" /> By 1994, a feud between Harrison and Wallace over successorship resulted in Wallace being pushed out as co-chief executive.<ref>{{cite news |last=Farnsworth |first=Clyde H. |date=October 30, 1994 |title=Canadian Family's Feud |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/30/business/canadian-family-s-feud.html |access-date=June 19, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Wallace went on to buy Maple Leaf Foods the following year.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 8, 1995 |title=MCCAIN BROTHER OWNS MAPLE LEAF |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/mccain-brother-owns-maple-leaf |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.supermarketnews.com }}</ref> In 1997, McCain bought the food service business of rival Ore-Ida for $500 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2, 1997 |title=McCain Foods Completes Ore-Ida Food Service Acquisition |url=https://www.foodonline.com/doc/mccain-foods-completes-ore-ida-food-service-a-0001 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=www.foodonline.com}}</ref> The following year, the company sold its McCain Refrigerated Foods subsidiary to Dairyland Foods.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 1, 1998 |title=Dairyworld Foods to Acquire McCain Refrigerated Foods |url=https://www.dairynetwork.com/doc/dairyworld-foods-to-acquire-mccain-refrigerat-0001 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=dairynetwork.com}}</ref>
In 2000, the company acquired Old South from Pasco Beverage Group. At the same time, it sold them McCain Citrus, including its three production facilities in Chicago, New Jersey and California.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 15, 2000 |title=McCain's buys Old South brand |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mccain-s-buys-old-south-brand-1.215087 |access-date=June 18, 2025 |website=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 25, 2000 |title=Pasco Beverage Group Completes $70 Million Acquisition of McCain Citrus, Inc. |url=https://www.just-drinks.com/news/pasco-beverage-group-completes-70-million-acquisition-of-mccain-citrus-inc/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Just Drinks }}</ref> McCain purchased the production facilities and food service business of Anchor Food Products in 2001. In the same transaction, H.J. Heinz Company acquired Anchor's branded products.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 23, 2001 |title=McCain Foods, Heinz to Acquire Anchor Food Products |url=https://progressivegrocer.com/mccain-foods-heinz-acquire-anchor-food-products |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Progressive Grocer }}</ref> In 2002, McCain also acquired Wong Wing Foods Inc. Of Montreal, Canada's leading manufacturer of frozen Chinese entrées, egg rolls, and dim sum.<ref>{{cite web |title=McCain Foods Acquires Wong Wing Foods Inc. |url=https://www.lexpert.ca/big-deals/mccain-foods-acquires-wong-wing-foods-inc/345386 |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=www.lexpert.ca }}</ref> In 2004, McCain opened a french fry production plant in Harbin, China.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Eric |date=December 17, 2020 |title=McCain to build second potato processing plant in China |url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/17520-mccain-to-build-second-potato-processing-plant-in-china |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Food Business News }}</ref> The company also opened a factory in Gujarat, India, in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Whitehead |first=R. J. |date=January 17, 2013 |title=McCain increases India investment as it struggles to meet demand |url=https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2013/01/17/McCain-increases-India-investment-as-it-struggles-to-meet-demand/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=FoodNavigator-Asia.com }}</ref> That June, the company purchased Jon-Lin, a manufacturer of vegetable-based appetizer products.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 12, 2006 |title=US: McCain purchases veggie group Jon-Lin |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/us-mccain-purchases-veggie-group-jon-lin/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref>
In July 2012, the company acquired CelaVíta, a chilled potato producer in the Benelux region. It became a subsidiary of McCain Foods Holland.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 27, 2012 |title=McCain Foods to Acquire Leading European Chilled Potato Producer |url=https://www.fdbusiness.com/mccain-foods-to-acquire-leading-european-chilled-potato-producer/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=FDBusiness.com }}</ref> In December, McCain's Australian subsidiary acquired Kitchens of Sara Lee, including the rights to Sara Lee brand for the Pacific Rim market.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 19, 2012 |title=McCain Foods to acquire Kitchens of Sara Lee (Australia) from Hillshire Brands |url=https://www.potatopro.com/news/2012/mccain-foods-acquire-kitchens-sara-lee-australia-hillshire-brands |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=PotatoPro }}</ref> Pinguin NV sold its Lutosa division to McCain in 2013. The transaction included the brand as well as two production facilities.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 6, 2013 |title=PinguinLutosa: Sales of Lutosa to McCain completed |url=https://www.potatopro.com/news/2013/pinguinlutosa-sales-lutosa-mccain-completed |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=PotatoPro }}</ref> In August 2014, the company sold its frozen pizza business, including Ellio's, to Dr. Oetker.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 25, 2014 |title=Dr. Oetker Buys McCain Pizza Business in North America |url=https://www.frozenfoodsbiz.com/oetker-buys-mccain-pizza-business-in-north-america/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Frozen Foods Biz }}</ref> That month, it also announced plans to close its facility in Prince Edwards Island, eliminating 121 jobs. Due to a shift in demand, it had become McCain's smallest and least utilized facility over the previous decade.<ref>{{cite web |date=August 7, 2014 |title=McCain Foods closing Borden-Carleton french fry plant |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/mccain-foods-closing-borden-carleton-french-fry-plant-1.2730051 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=CBC}}</ref>
In April 2015, McCain announced the closure of its plant in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, and the elimination of 120 jobs.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 24, 2015 |title=McCain Foods to Close Wisconsin Plant, Eliminate 120 Jobs |url=https://www.manufacturing.net/home/news/13181572/mccain-foods-to-close-wisconsin-plant-eliminate-120-jobs |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Manufacturing.net }}</ref> In December 2015, the company purchased Intevation Food Group and established the new Infinity Foods subsidiary focused on contract manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 31, 2015 |title=Infinity Foods, Inc., acquires Intevation Group LLC |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/infinity-foods-inc-acquires-intevation-group-llc/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref> In March 2016, the company acquired a majority stake in frozen food manufacturer Van Geloven to expand its reach into Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.<ref>{{cite web |last=Van Looveren |first=Yoni |date=March 3, 2016 |title=McCain acquires majority stake in Van Geloven |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/food/mccain-acquires-majority-stake-van-geloven/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=RetailDetail EU }}</ref> McCain launched the McCain Marché snack line in August,<ref>{{cite web |date=August 31, 2016 |title=McCain Foods launches Canada snacks line |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-launches-canada-snacks-line/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref> then announced the acquisition of Great American Appetizers in September 2016. It became McCain's Great American Snack subsidiary.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 1, 2016 |title=Great American Snacks, Inc., announces acquisition of Great American Appetizers |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/great-american-snacks-inc-announces-acquisition-of-great-american-appetizers/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref> Two years later, its Monroe, North Carolina, factory was closed.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 2, 2018 |title=McCain Foods to close plant in US |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-to-close-plant-in-us/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 28, 2018 |title=Great American Snacks announces closure of Monroe, North Carolina Plant |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/great-american-snacks-announces-closure-of-monroe-north-carolina-plant/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref>
By 2017, the company was the world's largest manufacturer of frozen potato products, and has over 20,000 employees and 47 production facilities in six continents. The company generated more than $8.5 billion in annual sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/news_home/Business/2017/05/McCain_Foods_USA_to_invest_$20.aspx?ID=%7B24011E73-94EA-4975-9597-459B8D343D81%7D&cck=1 |title=McCain Foods USA to invest $200 million in french fry manufacturing expansion|access-date=September 29, 2017 |work=Baking Business |date=April 5, 2017 |first=Keith |last=Nunes}}</ref>
In 2017, McCain announced that it would source 100% cage-free eggs by 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shazal |first=Sofiya |date=June 6, 2025 |title=2025 marks milestone year for cage-free egg commitments as major food companies achieve targets |url=https://sustainablefoodbusiness.com/2025-milestone-year-cage-free-egg-commitments/ |access-date=August 1, 2025 |website=Sustainable Food Business }}</ref>
In 2018, McCain acquired 49% of Brazilian cheese bread company Forno de Minas Alimentos SA.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 5, 2018 |title=Canada's McCain buys 49 percent of Brazil's Forno de Minas |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/canadas-mccain-buys-49-percent-of-brazils-forno-de-minas-idUSKBN1GH3BI/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |work=Reuters }}</ref>
In January 2019, the company announced the closure of its production plant in Colton, California, laying off about 100 workers.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 31, 2019 |title=McCain Foods USA to close Colton frozen vegetables plant |url=https://www.potatopro.com/news/2019/mccain-foods-usa-close-colton-frozen-vegetables-plant |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=PotatoPro }}</ref> The facility had been at the center of a large recall only months earlier.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 23, 2018 |title=McCain Foods USA recalls frozen roasted vegetables. Foods using these as ingredient are being recalled as well|url=https://www.potatopro.com/news/2018/mccain-foods-usa-recalls-frozen-roasted-vegetables-foods-using-these-ingredient-are-being |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=PotatoPro }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bloch |first=Sam |date=January 31, 2019 |title=McCain Foods closes the California facility responsible for 2018's largest food safety recall |url=https://thecounter.org/mccain-foods-closes-california-plant-whole-foods-trader-joes-listeria-recall/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=The Counter }}</ref> McCain announced it had acquired a 70% stake in Sérya, a Brazilian frozen food company, in May.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 10, 2019 |title=McCain Foods Buys Majority Stake in Sérya |url=https://www.frozenfoodeurope.com/mccain-foods-buys-majority-stake-in-serya/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Frozen Food Europe }}</ref>
In 2020, the company announced it would invest $200 million to build a second potato production plant in China, based in the Yangling Agriculture Hi-Tech Development Zone in Shaanxi Province.<ref name=":1" /> McCain announced in February 2021 that it had sold a majority stake in Wong Wing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Best |first=Dean |date=February 24, 2021 |title=McCain Foods to retain stake in Wong Wing |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-to-retain-stake-in-wong-wing/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref> It also became the largest shareholder of vertical-farming business TruLeaf, following an initial investment in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last=Best |first=Dean |date=February 25, 2021 |title=McCain Foods again backs vertical-farmer Goodleaf Farms |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-again-backs-vertical-farmer-goodleaf-farms/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 12, 2018 |title=McCain Foods invests in Canadian farming business TruLeaf |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-invests-in-canadian-farming-business-truleaf/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref> That August, it also sold its Sara Lee frozen baked goods and desserts business in Australia to New Zealand investment firm South Island Office.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coyne |first=Andy |date=August 24, 2021 |title=McCain Foods sells Sara Lee in Australia to investor South Island Office |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-sells-sara-lee-in-australia-to-investor-south-island-office/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref> In September, it revealed The Simple Root, a new line of dairy-alternatives made with potato and other root vegetables, for the US, Canada, and UK markets.<ref>{{cite web |last=Best |first=Dean |date=September 16, 2021 |title=McCain Foods to launch potato-centric alt-dairy brand |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-foods-to-launch-potato-centric-alt-dairy-brand/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref>
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, McCain suspended all shipments into the Russian market and scrapped its plan to build a factory in the country.<ref>{{cite web |last=Coyne |first=Andy |date=March 11, 2022 |title=McCain ends Russia factory project, stops shipments |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-scraps-russia-factory-project-ceases-shipments/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref> In June, the company purchased predictive crop intelligence technologies from Resson.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 29, 2022 |title=McCain Foods Ltd. Invests in the Future of Farming, Acquires Predictive Crop Intelligence Technologies from Resson |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/resson/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref> Then, in July, it entered into a partnership with NUGGS, whereby McCain would produce the company's plant-based chicken nuggets.<ref>{{cite web |date=July 9, 2019 |title=McCain Announces a Partnership with NUGGS |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/mccain-announces-a-partnership-with-nuggs/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ellis |first=Jack |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Plant-based 'NUGGS' maker SIMULATE raises $50m from Ohanian fund, McCain Foods |url=https://agfundernews.com/simulate-plant-based-nuggs-maker-raises-50m-from-mccain-alexis-ohanian |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=AgFunderNews}}</ref> McCain opened its first production unit in Brazil in August<ref>{{cite web |last=Siscaro |first=Sérgio |date=August 21, 2022 |title=McCain opens first plant in the country |url=https://www.ccbc.org.br/en/publicacoes/news-ccbc/mccain-opens-first-plant-in-the-country/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=CCBC.org.br}}</ref> and then acquired the Netherlands-based Scelta Products in September.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 13, 2022 |title=McCain Foods Acquires Scelta Products |url=https://www.mccain.com/information-centre/news/mccain-foods-acquires-scelta-products/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=McCain Foods Global Corporate }}</ref>
The company announced in March 2024 that it had sold CelaVita to a Dutch investment group.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holland |first=Fiona |date=March 5, 2024 |title=McCain to sell Dutch chilled potato business CelaVita to local investor |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-to-sell-dutch-chilled-potato-business-celavita-to-local-investor/ |access-date=June 20, 2025 |website=Just Food}}</ref> In April 2024, after having acquired a minority stake in 2021, McCain bought Strong Roots, a plant-based frozen food company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schroeder |first=Eric |date=April 15, 2024 |title=McCain Foods acquires Strong Roots |url=https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/25901-mccain-foods-acquires-strong-roots |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Food Business News }}</ref> In July, it announced plans to discontinue its Fries To go line and close its Lincolnshire factory.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Paul |date=July 26, 2024 |title=McCain plan to close Grantham chips factory puts 115 jobs at risk |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2g7n3n1z3o |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=BBC }}</ref> In September, it sold frozen-pizza brand Sibarita and a manufacturing plant to Molinos Río de la Plata in Argentina.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krizanovic |first=Paula |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Argentina's Molinos Río de la Plata buys frozen-pizza assets from McCain |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/argentinas-molinos-rio-de-la-plata-buys-frozen-pizza-assets-from-mccain/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref>
In 2024, McCain Foods was named into class action lawsuits along with Cavendish Farms, Lamb Weston, and Simplot in a conspiracy to coordinate prices on frozen potatoes. The four firms, which control 98% of the potato market in the United States, are alleged to have coordinated price increases starting in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmunk |first=Rhianna |date=November 20, 2024 |title=Alleged 'potato cartel' accused of conspiring to raise price of frozen fries, tater tots across U.S. |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/potato-cartel-fries-tater-tots-hash-browns-1.7387960 |access-date=March 18, 2025 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Harvey |first=Simon |date=November 19, 2024 |title=McCain, Lamb Weston among frozen-food firms facing price-fixing lawsuits |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-lamb-weston-among-frozen-food-firms-facing-price-fixing-lawsuits/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wu |first=Daniel |date=November 21, 2024 |title='Potato cartel' mashed competition to raise french fry prices, lawsuits say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/20/potato-cartel-price-fixing-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129235743/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/11/20/potato-cartel-price-fixing-lawsuit/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=June 19, 2025 |newspaper=Washington Post }}</ref>
In May 2025, McCain subsidiary Van Geloven announced it would close three of its six production plants in Belgium and Netherlands, affecting 142 jobs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rompaey |first=Stefan Van |date=May 15, 2025 |title=Snacks producer Van Geloven to close three plants |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/news/food/snacks-producer-van-geloven-to-close-three-factories/ |access-date=June 19, 2025 |website=RetailDetail EU }}</ref>
In November 2025, it was announced McCain had acquired the Washburn, Maine-headquartered supplier of frozen potato specialty products, Penobscot McCrum (McCrum) for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bhowmik |first=Satarupa |date=November 13, 2025 |title=McCain Foods acquires US peer Penobscot McCrum |url=https://www.just-food.com/news/mccain-acquires-penobscot-mccrum/ |access-date=November 13, 2025 |website=Just Food }}</ref>
In late March 2026, it was announced McCain ANZ would be closing the Hastings, New Zealand vegetable processing plant on January 31, 2027.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ruru |first1=Karanama |title=McCain confirms Hastings vegetable processing plant will close in 2027|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360955215/mccain-confirm-hastings-vegetable-processing-plant-will-close-2027 |access-date=March 24, 2026 |date=March 24, 2026|work=Stuff}}</ref>
==UK operations== McCain Foods' UK subsidiary has a factory in Scarborough, North Yorkshire; the subsidiary sponsored the former football stadium in the town until the football team was dissolved on June 20, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirecoastradio.com/features/celebrating-50-years-of-mccain-in-scarborough.php|title=Celebrating 50 Years of McCain in Scarborough|website=Yorkshire Coast Radio|access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref> There is also a plant at Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, and a cold store in Easton, Lincolnshire.{{cn|date=March 2025}}
A legal case in which McCain Foods (GB) Ltd sued Eco-Tec (Europe) Ltd. was decided by the High Court in 2011. McCain had ordered a system intended to remove hydrogen sulphide from biogas produced in its waste water treatment plant, which would allow the gas to produce power and heat for the Whittlesey plant. The system proved to be "impossible to commission successfully" and so McCain sued for compensation. The court's ruling confirmed that Eco-Tec were in breach of their contract.<ref>Allen, A., [https://gatehouselaw.co.uk/mccain-foods-gb-ltd-v-eco-tec-europe-ltd-2011-ewhc-66-tcc-27111/ McCain Foods (GB) Ltd v Eco-Tec (Europe) Ltd [2011] EWHC 66 (TCC) 27/1/11] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207040401/https://gatehouselaw.co.uk/mccain-foods-gb-ltd-v-eco-tec-europe-ltd-2011-ewhc-66-tcc-27111/ |date=December 7, 2023 }}, ''Gatehouse Chambers'', published February 14, 2011, accessed January 16, 2023</ref>{{primary-inline|date=March 2025}} Legally, the court took a broadly inclusive approach to the scope of the losses incurred by McCain and the damages due to them, declining to treat a number of items as "consequential losses" for which Eco-Tec sought protection under a contractual exclusion clause.<ref>England and Wales High Court (Technology and Construction Court), [https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2011/66.html McCain Foods Gb Ltd v Eco-Tec (Europe) Ltd.] (2011) EWHC 66 (TCC), delivered January 27, 2011, accessed January 16, 2023</ref>{{primary-inline|date=March 2025}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.mccain.ca }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mccain Foods}} Category:Canadian companies established in 1957 Category:Food and drink companies established in 1957 Category:1957 establishments in New Brunswick Category:Food and drink companies of Canada Category:Multinational food companies Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Canada Category:Food and drink companies based in New Brunswick Category:Frozen food brands Category:Privately held companies of Canada Category:Canadian brands Category:Carleton County, New Brunswick Category:Family-owned companies of Canada