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Kraft Heinz Canada, Highbury Canco Extend Leamington Facility Agreement Through 2027

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Rhea-AI Summary

Kraft Heinz Canada and Highbury Canco have extended their partnership agreement for an additional four years, ensuring continued production at the Leamington facility through 2027. This extension marks the third consecutive renewal in their longstanding collaboration. The Leamington facility, employing over 600 Canadians, will produce approximately $1 billion worth of Kraft Heinz Canada's products, such as Heinz beans, Heinz tomato juice, and Classico pasta sauce. Highbury Canco's facility also exclusively produces the tomato paste used in all Heinz Ketchup made at Kraft Heinz’s Mont Royal facility in Montreal. This agreement highlights Kraft Heinz Canada's commitment to Canadian communities and provides significant stability for Highbury Canco's workforce and operations.

Positive
  • Extension of partnership agreement through 2027 provides operational stability.
  • Production of Kraft Heinz products worth $1 billion over the next four years.
  • Supports over 600 jobs at the Leamington facility.
  • Exclusive production of tomato paste for all Heinz Ketchup in Canada.
  • Strengthens local economy in Southern Ontario.
Negative
  • Potential over-reliance on a single partner could pose risks if the relationship changes.
  • No new job creation announced, limiting community growth potential.
  • Extended deal does not address potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Insights

Extending the partnership between Kraft Heinz Canada and Highbury Canco might not seem like groundbreaking news at first glance, but it's quite significant for investors. This agreement ensures that approximately $1 billion worth of products will be produced in Leamington over the next four years. This provides a measure of stability and predictability for Kraft Heinz Canada's production pipeline and supply chain.

The financial implications are substantial. A guaranteed production source supports revenue forecasts and helps in cost management, given the known production costs at Highbury Canco. For investors, the agreement enhances confidence in the company's ability to meet product demand without disruptions. Furthermore, it's essential to consider that stable production environments often correlate with stable cash flows, which can positively affect stock valuations.

From an economic perspective, investing in local communities can have indirect benefits, such as favorable public sentiment and potential tax incentives. Therefore, while this news might not directly spike Kraft Heinz's stock price, it reinforces a strong foundation that can contribute to long-term financial health.

This extended agreement between Kraft Heinz Canada and Highbury Canco is noteworthy within the context of market dynamics. Kraft Heinz Canada secures a reliable production partner, ensuring that beloved products like Heinz beans and Classico pasta sauce remain consistently available. For consumers and retailers, product availability is critical and any disruptions can lead to lost sales and diminished brand loyalty.

From a market competition standpoint, this partnership strengthens Kraft Heinz Canada's position in the Canadian food market. By ensuring local production, Kraft Heinz can market its products as locally sourced, which often appeals to the growing consumer base that prioritizes sustainability and local economies. These factors can enhance brand equity and consumer loyalty.

Moreover, with 220 million pounds of Ontario tomatoes being used annually, Kraft Heinz demonstrates a strong commitment to Canadian agriculture, which can resonate well with consumers and policymakers alike. This commitment not only helps in market positioning but may also shield the company from potential trade and import-export regulations.

Approximately $1 billion in Kraft Heinz Canada products will be produced in Leamington over the next four years

LEAMINGTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kraft Heinz Canada and Highbury Canco announced the extension of their partnership agreement in Leamington for another four years, with the production deal now in place until the end of 2027. Today’s announcement marks the third consecutive extension in the longstanding partnership between the two organizations in Southern Ontario, a connection that has served to support jobs and bolster the local economy.

Highbury Canco employs more than 600 Canadians at its 2.1-million-square-foot facility in Leamington, where it produces some of Kraft Heinz Canada’s most beloved products, including Heinz beans, Heinz tomato juice and Classico pasta sauce. Kraft Heinz Canada, the country’s second largest food manufacturer, is excited to extend the partnership with Highbury Canco to ensure many of its locally sourced products will continue to be produced in Leamington for years to come.

“We’re proud to extend our agreement with Highbury Canco and look forward to continuing to have Kraft Heinz Canada products produced by the talented and hard-working employees at its Leamington facility for another four years,” said Simon Laroche, President, Kraft Heinz Canada. “We’ve built strong local partnerships across Canada, our second largest market globally, for over 100 years and this new deal signals our continued commitment to being a strong partner to Canadian communities.”

Kraft Heinz Canada continues to be Highbury Canco’s largest partner in Canada, with more than 220 million pounds of Ontario tomatoes being used in its products annually. Highbury Canco’s Leamington facility exclusively produces the tomato paste that is used in all the Heinz Ketchup made at Kraft Heinz’s Mont Royal facility in Montreal.

“Extending our partnership with Kraft Heinz Canada for another four years provides significant stability for our facility, and for our workforce,” said Sam Diab, CEO at Highbury Canco. “This is a mutually beneficial alliance that is of great significance to the Leamington community, and for all the Canadians that can continue to enjoy Kraft Heinz Canada products being produced at facilities such as ours.”

The estimated retail value of Kraft Heinz Canada products that will be produced at Highbury Canco’s Leamington facility over the next four years exceeds $1 billion.

About Kraft Heinz Canada

Kraft Heinz Canada’s heritage can be traced back over a century to when James Lewis Kraft of Stevensville, Ontario began selling cheese from a horse-drawn wagon in 1903. Heinz Canada was established in 1909 in Leamington, Ontario where its first products were pickles sourced from local growers. Following the 2015 merger between Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company, Kraft Heinz Canada became a subsidiary of the newly formed Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC). Now the country’s second largest food and beverage company, iconic Kraft Heinz Canada products like Kraft Peanut Butter, Heinz Ketchup, KD, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Renée’s Dressing, Jell-O, Classico, Kool-Aid and Maxwell House are found in over 97 percent of Canadian households.

Kraft Heinz Canada is driving transformation inspired by Kraft Heinz’s global purpose, Let’s Make Life Delicious, by creating memorable community moments through local initiatives such as Kraft Heinz Project Play and Kraft Hockeyville, while also supporting food banks across Canada through Kraft Heinz Project Pantry. Learn more about our journey by visiting kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn.

dan.lebaron@zenogroup.com

236-991-4832

Source: Kraft Heinz Canada

FAQ

What is the duration of the new agreement between Kraft Heinz Canada and Highbury Canco?

The new agreement extends through the end of 2027.

How much will Kraft Heinz Canada's products produced at the Leamington facility be worth?

Approximately $1 billion worth of products will be produced over the next four years.

How many employees work at the Highbury Canco Leamington facility?

The Leamington facility employs over 600 Canadians.

What products are produced at Highbury Canco's Leamington facility for Kraft Heinz Canada?

Products include Heinz beans, Heinz tomato juice, and Classico pasta sauce.

Where is the tomato paste used in Heinz Ketchup made?

The tomato paste is produced exclusively at Highbury Canco's Leamington facility.

What significance does the partnership extension hold for the Leamington community?

The extension provides stability for the workforce and supports the local economy.

The Kraft Heinz Company

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