Canada Bread To Build $100M Bakery In SW Ontario

It intends to make a choice by the end of March, yet so far hasn’t contacted any municipalities.

Distribution costs will be a key consideration and that makes communities between Guelph and London prime candidates.

Weston’s has its main bakery in Kitchener and Maidstone Bakeries, which supplies Tim Horton’s outlets, chose Brantford in 2007 for its $30-million bakery.

Canada Bread intends to close three Toronto-area bakeries, at a cost of $25 million, in a related development. One each will close in early 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The 435 employees can compete for the 300 jobs at the new plant or for positions in other facilities owned by Maple Leaf Foods Inc.

Maple Leaf owns 89.8 per cent of Canada Bread’s shares.

Canada Bread was struggling financially about five or six years ago, but the management team pulled it out and it has become consistently profitable since then.