McCain Food announces major investments in North America and Brazil

The Canadian group McCain Food Ltd, one of the world’s largest producers of frozen french fries with operations in 160 countries across 6 continents and more than 20,000 employees worldwide, has completed two major strategic operations.

Image credits: McCain Foods

In the first, the US division McCain Foods USA has invested $300 million to expand the processing facility in Othello, Washington by around 15,700 m². This expansion will make room for the installation of a state-of-the-art processing line which will double production capacity and have a big impact on the North American market. Construction will begin this month with anticipated completion by the end of 2021.

In step with its US expansion, the group has also broadened its horizons in Brazil with the acquisition of 70% of Sérya, a company based in Araxá (Minas Gerais) that produces pre-formed potato specialties for the local market. The deal comes just one year after the partnership agreement with Forno de Minas, a company in which McCain has a 49% stake and which owns the remaining 30% of the Sérya business. Brazil is one of the most promising growth regions and the fifth largest market in the world for frozen french fries, with broad potential to become the third largest market by 2021.