History

 

In the early 1900s, Andrew (A.D.) McCain saw an opportunity to expand beyond farming and selling potatoes locally. In 1909, he created McCain Produce, a seed potato export company. His sons Wallace and Harrison McCain wanted their own business and their brother Robert suggested they consider frozen foods.

 

This defining moment was to be truly frozen in history. Since its modest beginnings with just 30 employees and first year sales of $152,678 in 1957, McCain Foods has grown to be a household name – a multi-billion dollar multinational leader in frozen food products creating thousands of jobs and feeding families around the globe.

 

 

 

 1957 Grand Opening of First french fry plant in Florenceville, New Brunswick Canada  

 

1950s

 

With the support of their brothers Robert and Andrew, Harrison and Wallace followed their dream of owning their own business.

 

McCain Foods Limited was incorporated in 1956 and the brothers’ first French fry plant started up in 1957 in their hometown of Florenceville, New Brunswick. In its first year, the company’s 30 employees produced 1,500 lbs. of product an hour and earned sales of $152,678.

 

While it was a modest beginning, they couldn’t have started at a better time. The 1950s saw a surge of growth in processed and more convenient food options.

 

 1969 Grand opening of first British French fry facility in Scarborough, England

 

1960s

 

The company started offering its frozen potato products to consumers outside of Canada – first to the United Kingdom, and later to Australia and the United States.

 

In the mid-60s, McCain chips become popular in the U.K. In 1968, McCain begins marketing in Australia. In 1969, McCain opened a plant in Scarborough, England.

 

 

 

1971 - Inpecting pies coming off the line at the new prepared foods plant, Florenceville, New Brunswick

1970s

    

McCain opened a prepared foods plant in Florenceville, the same town as its first French fry facility.

 

The company increased production capabilities further with additional plants in the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. and expanded existing facilities in Florenceville and the U.K.

 

The mid-70s also marked the beginning of an era of acquisitions, with the purchase of businesses in Europe and the U.S. In 1976, McCain started producing frozen pizzas. New pizza facilities were opened in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, in the U.K and Australia. In 1979, McCain completed a new French fry plant in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.

 

1983 - The finishing touches are put on the new juice processing plant in Grand Falls, New Brunswick

 

 

 1980s

    

McCain Foods continued to grow in the 1980s with strategic acquisitions, plant expansions, and the building of new facilities in countries around the world.

 

 

Three juice plants were added in Canada, new French fry plants were opened in France and Australia, and French fry processing facilities were purchased in France, the U.K. and the U.S. Other acquired operations included a vegetable processing plant in Australia, a value-added fish processing plant in England, a frozen food company in Belgium, and a potato-based animal foods plant and a pizza manufacturer in the U.S. 

 

1996 - Grand opening of the South American plant in Balcarce, Argentina 1990s

      

While the 1980s might be remembered most for acquisitions, such activity continued through the 1990s, which were further highlighted by millions of dollars in facility upgrades and expansions to keep up with increasing demand.

 

Acquisitions took place throughout the decade with the company purchasing operations in New Zealand, Australia, the U.K and the U.S, and the assets of companies in the Netherlands and France. New French fry processing facilities were built in Argentina and Poland. Additional plants were opened in Canada and France. The company invested in its information technology capabilities with establishment of a global McCain Group Data Centre in Florenceville.

 

In 1997, McCain bought the Ore-Ida Food Service frozen French fry and appetizer business, including its five production facilities – a first step to McCain becoming a world leader in frozen appetizers.

 

 

2007 - McCain Foods constructs an C$18 million potato processing plant in Gujarat Province, India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000s - Present

 

McCain Foods has continued to expand steadily with new plants in Canada, the U.S, China, India, Mexico, and South America. It also embraced the new century with entry into South Africa, acquiring a French fry plant in Delmas and two frozen vegetable plants. The year 2000 was also the year McCain built its potato processing technology centre in Florenceville as part of its commitment to researching the best agriculture and potato practices. 

 

The number of company operations around the world continued to grow with the purchase of additional food processing facilities in Canada, a frozen food company in Taiwan, a roasted vegetable producer in the U.S., and two frozen Chinese food manufacturers in Canada. In 2001, the acquisition of Anchor Food Products created the world’s largest appetizer company.

 

And in 2008 –– a new $65 million state-of-the-art potato processing plant was opened in Florenceville, Canada replacing the first factory ever built by McCain more than 50 years ago.  .

 

Today, McCain Foods Limited has more than 20,000 employees working in 57 factories on six continents around the world.