Maple Leaf Foods Q3 2025 Earnings Report

Maple Leaf Foods EPS Results

• Actual EPS: C$0.49
• Consensus EPS: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

Maple Leaf Foods Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $1.01 billion
• Expected Revenue: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

Maple Leaf Foods Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q3 2025
• Date: 11/5/2025
• Time: Before Market Opens
• Conference Call Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
• Conference Call Time: 8:00AM ET

Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI) Inc is a consumer-packaged meats company. It produces prepared meats and meals, fresh pork, and poultry and turkey products. The company also has agribusiness operations. These operations supply livestock to the meat products business operations. Its main markets are Canada, the United States, Japan, and China. The key brands are Maple Leaf and Schneiders, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally, Shopsy, Mitchell's Gourmet Food, Larse, Parm, and Hygrade.

Maple Leaf Foods Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Positive Sentiment: Completed the historic spinoff of pork into Canada Packers, retaining a 16% stake and an evergreen supply agreement while repaying $389M of debt—total-company net debt fell to ~ $1.35B and leverage is ~2x, strengthening the balance sheet.
• Positive Sentiment: Reported strong Q3 results with total-company sales up 8% and adjusted EBITDA up 22% to $171M (adj. EBITDA margin 12.6%), and continuing operations also grew sales 8% with margin expansion—management says YTD run rate is aligned with FY adjusted EBITDA targets.
• Negative Sentiment: Rapid raw-material inflation (pork trims/bellies up sharply) caused sequential margin pressure in the CPG business; management plans price increases that take effect Feb 1, 2026 and additional SG&A cuts, but near-term volatility and pricing lag remain a risk.
• Positive Sentiment: Innovation and portfolio momentum remain strong—over 50 product launches this year including new brands Mighty Protein and Musafir, plus double-digit growth in Prime Poultry and expanded poultry capacity supporting ongoing top-line and market-share gains.

Presentation

[Operator]

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Maple Leaf Foods' third quarter 2025 financial results conference call. As a reminder, this conference call is being webcast and recorded. Please note that there will be a question-and-answer session following the formal remarks. Instructions for participating in the Q&A will be provided following the conclusion of the formal presentation. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Omar Javed, Vice President of Investor Relations at Maple Leaf Foods. Please go ahead, Mr. Javed.

[Omar Javed, VP of Investor Relations at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you, and good morning, everyone. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that some statements made on today's call may constitute forward-looking information, and our future results may differ materially from what we discuss. Please refer to our third quarter 2025 MD&A and financial statements and other information on our website for a broader description of operations and risk factors that could affect the company's performance. We have also updated our third quarter investor presentation to our website. As always, the investor relations team will be available after the call for any follow-up questions you may have. With that, I'll turn the call over to our President and CEO, Curtis Frank.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you, Omar, and good morning, everyone. It's great to be with you today to share our third quarter 2025 results. Joining me on today's call is David Smales, our Chief Financial Officer. I'll first speak about the business developments from a strategic and operational standpoint. Dave will provide a more detailed summary of our financial results, and I'll return with a short summary to close out our call here this morning. This quarter marks a historic moment for Maple Leaf Foods. On October 1st, we completed the spinoff of our pork operations into Canada Packers, one of the most significant portfolio transformations in our company's history. Canada Packers is now an independent public company focused on delivering premium, responsibly produced pork to the world.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Maple Leaf Foods now operates as a purpose-driven, protein-focused, and brand-led consumer packaged goods company with a bold vision to be the most sustainable protein company on Earth. We will maintain a strategic relationship with Canada Packers through a 16% ownership stake, and an evergreen supply agreement will ensure long-term security of high-quality, sustainably raised pork supply. Before diving into our business commentary, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and to thank the entire Maple Leaf and Canada Packers teams who have executed with focus and resilience during this period of intense business transformation. I'm incredibly proud and grateful for their dedication, passion, and living expression of our Maple Leaf values. We also wish the Canada Packers team continued success as they prepare to host their first earnings call as an independent public company a little later this morning at 9:30 A.M.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

A transaction such as this naturally introduces some additional complexity to our financial reporting for this particular quarter. The third quarter represents the final period in which Maple Leaf Foods will report total company results for our pre-spinoff combined business that are inclusive of the pork operations. Accordingly, David and I will speak to the total company results, which include Canada Packers, as well as to the continuing operations of the CPG business, which exclude Canada Packers. Additionally, we have provided pro forma financials for Maple Leaf Foods going back eight quarters to support comparability and transparency as we transition to our new reporting structure. Given the increase in financial reporting materials, our goal is to keep the key messages clear, simple, and focused on what matters the most. To that effect, four headlines serve as our key takeaways from our quarter.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

First, we delivered another very strong quarter of results for the total company, highlighted by exceptional top-line growth and significantly improved profitability year over year. Second, our year-to-date total company performance through the end of Q3 was firmly on a run rate to deliver in line with our previously announced full year 2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance of CAD 680 million-CAD 700 million. Third, the composition of these results inside the quarter played out a little differently than we had anticipated, given a rapid and sustained increase in raw material markets. This dynamic benefited profitability in our pork operations while driving input cost inflation and short-term margin pressure in our CPG business. Finally, we remain on strategy, and we are tracking well against our priorities for the year. Underscoring the strength of the quarter was total company sales growth of 8% and adjusted EBITDA increasing 22% to CAD 171 million.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Our adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 140 basis points to 12.6%. As compared to 11.2% last year. Our continuing operations also delivered solid results with 8% sales growth. And 110 basis points of adjusted EBITDA margin expansion to 11.1%. We continue to view our 8% revenue growth, more than 2x the CPG market growth rate in Canada and 3x the CPG market growth rate in the U.S., as an exceptional outcome that underscores the resiliency and the durability of our proven growth strategies. This momentum also drove market share gains in prepared meats, plant protein, and poultry, led by double-digit growth in our Prime Poultry sustainable meats brand. That said, while we delivered year-over-year margin expansion from an EBITDA perspective in our continuing operations, we also experienced short-term margin pressure on a sequential basis, driven by the rapid and sustained increase in raw material markets that I noted earlier.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

During the quarter, when compared to Q2, key inputs such as pork trims increased by over 70% in a very short period of time. It is quite normal in these periods of rapid inflation to experience temporary margin compression due to the lag time in flowing through price increases to recover costs. These situations are common in CPG, and we know how to respond effectively. In response, we are taking decisive actions to mitigate these effects and to improve profitability looking forward. Firstly, to address the input cost inflation, we have initiated pass-through price increases in the CPG business. Given the timing of these inflationary impacts and the extended lead times required by retailer policies for all CPG companies during the holiday season, these price increases will fully materialize in the first quarter of 2026. Second.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

With the spinoff now complete, we are advancing the next phase of our Fuel for Growth initiative. Last week, we announced a second wave of SG&A reductions designed to streamline operations, enhance cost discipline, and align resources with our strategic blueprint. These changes are now being implemented across several areas of the business, including manufacturing, and will result in a leaner organizational structure and further cost efficiencies in 2026. Third, with the separation of Canada Packers, our previous natural hedge against rapid fluctuations in pork markets is no longer available. As you know, all CPG food companies experience some degree of quarter-to-quarter margin movement, the driver of which is simply normal lag times in executing pricing action, which can vary at certain times of the year and in certain market segments. Going forward, we believe we will have to modify the tools we use.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

In an effort to reduce that quarter-to-quarter movement as much as possible. Our continued success as a purpose-driven, protein-focused, and brand-led CPG company will depend on the disciplined execution of our proven growth strategies. These include investing in our portfolio of leading brands such as Maple Leaf Schneiders, Greenfield, and Maple Leaf Prime to grow the core business. Leveraging our leadership in sustainable meats, expanding our geographic reach into the U.S. market. Plugging what makes Maple Leaf unique into our customer strategies, and accelerating the pace of impactful innovation. On the innovation front, this was an especially exciting quarter as we once again demonstrated our capability to shape the next generation of Maple Leaf brands and products. We were very pleased to announce the launch of two meaningful new brands, Mighty Protein and Musafir.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Mighty Protein positions Maple Leaf to leverage the growing protein moment that is upon us, offering healthy, high-protein fuel on the go. Consumers are seeking lean, nutrient-dense, complete protein in convenient formats, and that is exactly what Mighty Protein delivers. It is a poultry-based, high-protein meat stick, providing 12 grams of complete protein per serving with only 110 calories. It is gluten-free, sugar-free, and made with poultry that is raised without antibiotics or added hormones. Mighty Protein will be available in three distinct flavors across major mass retail, online, and convenience channels. Musafir, which means traveler, expands our presence in the frozen food section of the grocery store with South Asian-inspired protein-forward dishes designed for today's busy households. South Asians represent Canada's largest and fastest-growing demographic, and millennials and Gen Z are driving escalating demand for global flavors and convenient meal options.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Musafir offers a variety of globally inspired flavors in familiar formats and ready-to-eat meals, including vegetarian and poultry-based options such as burgers, nuggets, and savory bites, all prepared with traditional ingredients. Together, Mighty Protein and Musafir demonstrate the strength of our innovation engine and the momentum behind our CPG growth strategy. As we said last quarter, we are not only brand builders; we are brand creators. Greenfield and Mina have proven this approach, and Mighty Protein and Musafir represent the next step in that journey. These new brands, alongside over 50 products that we have launched this year, exemplify our commitment to translating consumer insights, disciplined execution, and our unique capabilities into compelling growth platforms for the future. With the historic transaction complete and a strong financial and strategic foundation in place, our focus now turns fully to the future.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

While our previous consolidated 2025 guidance no longer applies following the completion of the spinoff, our 2025 priorities are clear and remain unchanged. We are focused on delivering strong revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth, generating healthy free cash flow, and using it to strengthen the balance sheet. We are not providing updated guidance for the remainder of the year, as that would imply quarterly guidance. However, we do plan to update our long-term guidance framework in the months ahead. As a diversified protein CPG company, armed with a bold vision to be the most sustainable protein company on Earth and supported by thousands of passionate Maple Leaf people, we have never been better positioned to take on the future, leading in protein, one of the most attractive segments of the global food market.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Which continues to grow at approximately two times the rate of population growth, provides us with tremendous strategic opportunity. As we look ahead, we are ready to capitalize on this growing consumer demand for protein. We operate in a large and expanding total addressable market. Our strong portfolio of leading protein brands is our advantage. We have established proven revenue growth platforms, our margin expansion program is well underway, and we remain differentiated by our bold vision and our clear focus on shareholder value creation. It is an exciting time at Maple Leaf Foods. With that, I will now pass the call over to Dave to walk you through the financials.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you, Curtis, and good morning, everyone. I will begin with a brief overview of our total company results before turning to a discussion of continuing operations, cash flow, and balance sheet.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

On a total company basis, sales were CAD 1.36 billion, an increase of 8% compared to last year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 22% to CAD 171 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 140 basis points to 12.6% compared to 11.2% in the third quarter last year. Our strong top and bottom-line performance for the total company was driven by robust, profitable growth in both our CPG business and pork operations compared to a year ago. As Curtis noted, the overriding factor in the quarter for total company results sequentially was the benefit to pork operations from strong market conditions, while the CPG business experienced the opposite side of this through higher raw material input costs in prepared foods. Turning to continuing operations, sales were CAD 1 billion, an increase of 8% compared to last year.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Prepared food sales increased by 5.3%, driven by the impact of inflationary pricing taken earlier in the year, along with improved product mix in the quarter. In poultry, sales were up 15.7% due to improved channel mix with growth in both retail and food service volume, as well as pricing impacts. Adjusted EBITDA for continuing operations increased by 19% to CAD 112 million in the quarter versus the third quarter of last year, with adjusted EBITDA margin improving 110 basis points to 11.1% compared to 10%. Profitability improved in both prepared foods and poultry, supported by favorable mix, efficiency gains, and the benefits from the investments in our London Poultry and Bacon Center of Excellence facilities. These gains were partially offset by input cost inflation in prepared foods, including a 40% increase in pork belly prices and a 50% increase in average pork trim prices versus the same quarter last year.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

This resulted in a timing impact on margins in the quarter due to the standard lag required to execute appropriate pricing actions. To address this, we have initiated price increases with benefits expected during the first quarter of 2026. SG&A for continuing operations increased by CAD 4.7 million in the third quarter compared to last year, driven by higher variable compensation costs, partially offset by a higher level of consulting fees incurred in the third quarter last year. Earnings from continuing operations for the quarter were CAD 23.3 million, or CAD 0.19 per basic share, compared to a loss of CAD 1.8 million or CAD 0.01 per basic share last year, after removing the impact of the non-cash fair value changes in derivative contracts.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Startup and restructuring costs, and items included in other expense that are not representative of ongoing operations, adjusted earnings for continuing operations represented CAD 0.21 per share for the quarter compared to a loss of CAD 0.01 per share in the third quarter of 2024. On a total company basis, capital expenditures totaled CAD 27.8 million for the quarter compared to CAD 25.8 million in the third quarter of last year, and CAD 77.7 million year to date compared to CAD 65.6 million last year. Total company free cash flow was CAD 46 million in the quarter and CAD 378 million over the last 12 months, reflecting the robust performance of the business and disciplined capital spending, and following on from the CAD 385 million generated in full year 2024.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

This strong free cash flow momentum was reflected on the balance sheet, with total company net debt ending the quarter down by CAD 242 million versus a year ago to approximately CAD 1.35 billion, and down from a peak level of CAD 1.8 billion during our large capital project investment phase. In line with our stated priorities, our leverage ratio remains well within an investment-grade range, with a total company net debt to trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA ratio of 2x at the end of the quarter compared to 2.1x at the end of the second quarter of 2025, and 3.1x a year ago. Upon closing the spinoff on October 1st, Maple Leaf repaid CAD 389 million of debt. We also remain focused on disciplined capital allocation, executing on our NCIB in August to repurchase approximately 250,000 shares. Yesterday, Maple Leaf declared its fourth quarter dividend.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

When combined with the dividend announced by Canada Packers yesterday, the total exceeds the pre-spin quarterly dividend paid by Maple Leaf Foods and reflects our prior commitment that the first post-spin dividends for Maple Leaf and Canada Packers combined would be at least equal to the dividend level immediately prior to the spinoff. I'll now turn the call back to Curtis.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Okay, thank you, Dave. Before we move to questions, I want to take a moment to bring it all together. This was truly a historic quarter for Maple Leaf Foods. We successfully launched Canada Packers as an independent public company and at the same time delivered another very strong quarter of results. Our combined third quarter performance for the total company, 8% revenue growth and over 20% increase in adjusted EBITDA, reflects the continued strength and the resilience of our business. In our continuing operations, we have achieved 8%.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

year-to-date sales growth, a 26%. Increase in adjusted EBITDA to CAD 358 million year to date. And a 180 basis point improvement in adjusted EBITDA margin to 12.3% year to date. That's an outcome we are all proud of, especially given that our sales growth is materially outpacing the North American CPG market, and our margins continue to show strength relative to our protein industry peers. We're also fully aware that we have work to do to recover the sequential margin pressure we experienced this quarter, and we are taking decisive and proactive actions to restore that momentum. Stepping back, the big picture is clear. We are on strategy, we are executing against our priorities, and we are building momentum for the future. Lastly, I want to thank the entire Maple Leaf team for their dedication, resilience, and hard work.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Delivering a major spinoff, strong financial results, and two new brand launches all in one quarter is an extraordinary accomplishment, and I couldn't be more proud of what we've accomplished together. With that, operator, please open the line for questions.

[Operator]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin the question-and-answer session. Should you have a question, please press the star key followed by the number one on your touch-tone phone. You will hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press the star key followed by the number two. If you are using a speakerphone, please lift the handset before pressing any keys. One moment, please, while we assemble the queue. Your first question comes from Mark Peterie of CIBC. Please go ahead.

[Mark Peterie, Equity Research Analyst at CIBC]

Yeah, thanks, and good morning.

[Mark Peterie, Equity Research Analyst at CIBC]

Maybe first, just on the top line strength, we saw some sequential deceleration in prepared meats, but acceleration in poultry. Could you just give some color on that? How much of that is pricing, and then maybe just some detail on sort of the volume and mix components?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah, for sure. Good morning, Mark. Thanks for the question. We were, as I noted in my comments, especially pleased this quarter with the sustained top-line growth that we experienced. Relative to our CPG peers in North America, relative to our pure protein peers, continue to see a very, very solid outcome. At an aggregate level, it was a function predominantly of positive mix benefits and price. Recall that we took some level of pricing in Q2. Turned out that was not adequate. We have to take some steps forward, obviously.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

The volumes were relatively flat, but important to note inside of that that our branded volumes were quite positive. You noted in prepared foods that the prepared meats component has slowed. There are a couple of important nuances inside of that. Prepared foods includes our prepared meats and our plant protein business combined now that we've consolidated plant protein. We actually saw what we view as pretty strong growth in the prepared meats business on the top line. It grew at almost 6%, which implies double-digit declines in plant protein in line with the category, and that's kind of exactly what happened. Very strong growth on the prepared meat side as well at nearly 6%. In poultry, you would have noted in our supporting materials that the revenue growth was in and around 16%.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

That is really a function of the positive benefits of the London Poultry investment really starting to shine through in a material way. Operationally, everything is obviously on track. It has been an incredible startup. We are through that phase. The ability now to get more product into a value-added tray with a brand on it is really showing through in better mix. We did have increasing allocations as poultry demand continues to be strong in the Canadian market, and allocations are growing alongside that, so that drove some positive volume impact. We also saw the benefits of our sustainable meats business. Our Prime RWA brand, in particular, was quite strong in the quarter. We saw double-digit growth in the sustainable meats component of poultry, which was also positive.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

You could view 16% maybe structurally as a little on the high side, but there is no question that poultry continues to be a growth category for us and one that is very positive. All in all, it was a really great outcome on the top line.

[Mark Peterie, Equity Research Analyst at CIBC]

Yeah, okay. I appreciate that color. Just to follow up, you obviously highlighted the pressure from the higher input costs. Could you give some more detail on the price actions you have taken, some context on how you expect Q4 to be impacted versus what you felt in Q3? Will those be fully implemented for Q1, or will there also be some spillover effect to Q1? Obviously, this is pending how the cutout trends from here.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah, I mean, there are some moving parts inside of that, as you are well aware.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

I think the headlines would be, first and foremost, we don't offer quarterly guidance, so we didn't provide an outlook for Q4 specifically, but I do feel as though adding some color is important. In Q3, the headline would be, "Pleased with the progress year over year from a margin point of view, added more than 100 basis points of margin." That was, again, very positive, very constructive, and shouldn't get lost in the overall narrative. We did see sequentially, as we noted, I think, with full transparency, that there was a sequential headwind mostly due to raw material input costs. That impacted us on a sequential basis. As we look to Q4, I think the headline would be expecting kind of more of the same, would be similar market conditions overall, would probably be the best headline I could give you for Q4.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Similar market conditions overall. We have taken steps to proactively restore the margin on a sequential basis. That includes, but is not limited to, includes taking price increases effective Q1. Those take effect, Mark, in and around the very first week of February. Think about that as impacting Q1, and most of Q1, I think, would be the headline. We fully expect to get back right on track after that.

[Mark Peterie, Equity Research Analyst at CIBC]

Okay. Appreciate all the color and all the best.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you.

[Operator]

Your next question comes from Martin Landry of Stifel. Please go ahead.

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Hi, good morning, guys. I just want to go back to the comments on Q4. You take a lot of effort to highlight the fact that raw material are rising, risen fast. I am not too sure what will be the impact on your margins for Q4.

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Previous answer was not too clear for me anyways. Just. Do you expect margins to be under pressure on a year-over-year basis in Q4?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Good morning, Martin. As I noted. We expect similar conditions in Q4 than Q3, which would imply similar types of margin pressure in the fourth quarter as we experienced in Q3. The remedy for that is advancing our pricing forward. We're doing that. Now. We've communicated that to our retail customers and our retail partners now. That will be in place for February. There's a normal period of time that all CPG companies face over the holiday season that's upcoming, where the retailers implement what's essentially a blackout policy to protect and preserve the holiday season. You won't see price changes for all consumer packaged goods companies, all consumer packaged goods food companies through that time period.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

That window reopens on February 1, and we're taking steps to improve our pricing in February.

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Okay. It's not easy to read between the lines, but you're saying that you expect similar market conditions. Your profit margins expanded on a year-over-year basis in Q3. When you say similar market conditions, is that what you imply?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

When I say similar market conditions, I'm implying we'll have sustained margin pressures in the fourth quarter like we did in the third quarter.

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Okay. Okay. And then just to talk about your new brands that you've launched. I understand these are available right now in Canada. Can you talk a little bit about the distribution you have currently and then how that may expand on a go-forward basis?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

On the two new brand launches?

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Yes.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah, I can.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Actually, Martin, the one thing I would add on the margin side that you might want to consider as a follow-up and our team can help as well is to explore the relative margins that we have in the business, even under sustained raw material pressures as compared to our protein peers. And our team would be happy to follow up with you and kind of walk you through our view of that because I think it might be helpful and informative. On the two brand launches, we're really excited about Mighty Protein and Musafir for very different reasons. I kind of dug into that in my opening comments. Both are being incredibly well received in terms of they're both being launched into the market in real time right now. To start this fourth quarter.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

They'll start to show up on grocery stores in the next couple of weeks. The distribution support has been very, very strong. They'll be broadly distributed. We tend to have really great coverage across all of our brands in the Canadian retail market. These are Canadian brand launches, and they will be incredibly well distributed throughout the Canadian market. Mighty Protein, actually being a shelf-stable product, also gets us access to some alternative channels where we traditionally haven't had as much penetration. Things like convenience, could be gyms, convenience locations, areas where shelf-stable products are more prevalent. It actually expands our distribution reach, and that's another reason why we're so excited about that product. Both incredibly on trend.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Taking full advantage of the protein moment, which we do not view as a fad, we view as foundational to the human diet, and two brand launches that we are really, really excited about. We have a history of being able to scale up brands in the Canadian market. Last quarter, we highlighted two very important ones, I think, in Mina Halal and in our Greenfield Natural Meat Co offering. These are just the next two brands that we are launching in our large portfolio, and we are probably equally, if not more, excited about.

[Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel]

Super. Thank you, and best of luck.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you.

[Operator]

Your next question comes from Michael Van Aelst of TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

Hey, good morning. I just wanted to follow up one more time on the Q4 pressures, margin pressures. I mean, I fully understand the timing delay in passing on higher costs.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

The one thing I wanted to ask you about, though, is we obviously came into the quarter with much higher pork costs. We have seen a big drop-off, big seasonal drop-off in the hog price over the course of November. Can you explain how early you lock in prices for the quarter, your cost for the quarter, sorry? If the hog prices and therefore the pork cut out were to stay at the current levels for the rest of the quarter, would that create a reasonable amount of relief to the pressures that you saw to start the quarter?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

There are a few things that matter inside that question, Mike. Firstly, good morning. There is a lag effect in terms of when those cost benefits flow through. The effects of

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

late Q3 spill into Q4, the benefits that we'll see in Q4, hopefully, as markets come off, hopefully, we'll experience in the first quarter, and so on. There's a combination of risk management programs, the pricing lags that naturally take effect, and the time it takes for those meat costs to flow through into the P&L. That is one component that I think is important. The other thing is the composition of the cut out in technical terms matters, but really what that means is the cuts of meat that carry the increases are really important. The cuts that go into the prepared meats business, things like trims and bellies, have been particularly impacted. You have to look beyond the cut out to the individual cuts that are affected from an inflationary point of view. That is important.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

The last thing I would note is it's not just pork inflation that's impacting the business. I know we've talked about that a lot, particularly given the communication importance of this quarter with the separation of Canada Packers and the moving parts between the two companies. Beyond pork inflation, we're seeing a situation, I think, as you're well aware, where beef inputs are at all-time highs. Turkey in real time is being impacted by the avian influenza implications in the North American markets. Poultry demand is strong, and markets continue to be strong. All competing proteins have relative strength all at the same time. It's really the combination of those inflationary effects that impacted the third quarter. I think it will continue to impact Q4. As I said, it's normal in CPG. You feel inflation.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

There's a normal amount of lead time to flow increased pricing through against that inflation. We'll do that in the first quarter. Other than that, I'll resist the temptation, as I always say, to give you quarterly guidance because I think that would be inappropriate at this time. That just gives you some further context for why we're saying we expect similar market conditions to persist into the fourth quarter.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

Okay, great. That's helpful, Curtis. You also touched on or teased us with some comments about how you plan to modify some tools and use them to minimize the volatility quarter to quarter. Can you provide some examples of how you may do that going forward and, I guess, why you weren't doing it previously?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah. Great question. Thank you, Mike. An important reminder for me to talk about.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We have been doing them previously. There were three things we're doing in response to the inflationary impacts we're feeling. We've talked about the pricing changes, and that's one that's important. Always important in these inflationary environments to manage our costs to the best of our ability. You would have heard me comment in my remarks earlier that we've taken the next step in our fuel for growth playbook around cost reduction, and we're completing another SG&A reorganization, actually in real time here in the last week or two, and it's continuing on. Number two is managing our costs in an effective way. The third question, which is the one you asked, is what steps can we take that we're not taking today to improve the stability of our margins kind of quarter to quarter?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

I would start by noting, and this is very important context, that all consumer packaged goods companies in food, virtually all of them in food, have some level of quarter to quarter margin movements embedded in their business. All food CPGs have that. We do too. This just happens to be a quarter where that was clearly evident. There are three things, Mike, that we're exploring. Given the separation. We did have a bit of a natural hedge between the pork business and the prepared foods business. I think it's important to be transparent about that. We knew that was obviously going to be disrupted. That's not necessarily new news, but this quarter just happened to illuminate the significance of that. The three things that we're studying, only to see if there's something we can do different beyond what we're doing today, are number one, our pricing mechanisms.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

How much is on formula relative to list price, how we manage our deal and future pricing inside of any particular quarter. I think it's just good hygiene to explore those pricing rhythms and pricing mechanisms. We're just stepping back in that area. The second is the role of physical hedges, meaning using physical inventory as a natural hedge in the procurement function and their implications to storage and things like that that we're evaluating and studying. The third is the efficiency and the efficacy of our derivative hedges, our financial hedges. Of course, in pork, you hedge hogs, not individual cuts of meat. There isn't always a straight line to perfect efficiency, and we're stepping back to study our effectiveness in that area. It doesn't mean we don't deploy all three of these mechanisms today.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

It does mean that we're taking prudent steps to evaluate whether there are further opportunities to kind of manage the quarter to quarter movements in margin. There will always be some. There is in all CPGs. These steps won't be perfect, but we do believe there's potential that they could be helpful.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

Great. Thank you very much.

[Operator]

Your next question comes from Vishal Shreedhar of National Bank. Please go ahead.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Hi. Thanks for taking my questions. With respect to the pricing, it seems like Q3 had margin impact related to commodity inflation. You anticipate Q4 will as well, and then part of Q1 will. It just seems like a very long leg. I'm wondering.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

If there's something about Christmas that's causing you to not be able to take pricing quicker than you otherwise would have, or should we anticipate in an inflationary environment, it could be upwards of a six-month lag?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Good morning, Vishal. Thanks. That's an excellent question. I appreciate that. And I appreciate you asking and giving me the opportunity to clarify. Normal lead times in consumer packaged goods are about 12 weeks, about. Depending on the channel, maybe even 8-12 weeks. Christmas, the holiday season, is a unique time. It's a unique time because it has abnormally longer lead times. All CPGs face those abnormally longer lead times over the holiday season, all CPGs. We are one of them. That's because retailers have policies where they don't accept price changes over the holiday season.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

The first date they allow after the holidays is February 1, and that's when we're moving forward. It is an abnormally long period of time. We acknowledge that. We are simply operating within the normative rules that apply equally to the industry.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Okay. With respect to the product launches and the 50 new products that you referenced earlier in the call, given that this is a new spinout, I'm having difficulty understanding the magnitude of this. Is this a regular year? Is this something strong? What should we expect from that growth initiative in terms of numerical quantification to help us quantify how meaningful this is?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

On the two brand launches, Vishal?

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

On the two brand launches, yeah. Just in total of your innovation pipeline and how significant I should anticipate that to be as I look forward.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We included a couple of slides in our deck, and that might be the materials that you're referencing. The first slide was just demonstrating the fact that we've put out more than 50 items into the market this year. The next two, obviously, highlighting the two new brand launches. Those are there for a reason. I would start by saying if you took a little bit longer lead time, and we were backed up to a certain extent given the implications of the pandemic and the fact that not a lot of innovation went out the door in the pandemic and the early parts of the post-pandemic economy. We're now getting back into, I would say, above-average rhythm of launching products into the market. I mean, keep in mind, Maple Leaf is a company that has 8% revenue growth.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

When you compare that to the broader consumer packaged goods market, to our peers, it is very, very strong. Our desire and goal and commitment is to keep that level of growth sustainable well into the future. When you are looking to quantify the impact of these, this is what great CPG companies do. They launch items. They launch items that have the potential to be impactful. Some of them simply are aided in the sustainment of the current trajectory of growth. Some of them tend to be more incremental where you move outside of core categories and into new adjacent categories. That is why we are excited about the meat stacks opportunity in particular because it is an adjacency. I would think about these more as this is a business that is growing above mid-single digit levels at or above mid-single digit levels of growth. We want to sustain that.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

These are the types of activities that we're taking to sustain that level of growth. This, combined with our leadership position in sustainable meats, our U.S. growth platform that we continue to be excited about, the brands we launched last quarter that we highlighted, like Mina and Greenfield, the core brands that we have in our portfolio that are number one and two brands in the category: Maple Leaf Schneider's, Maple Leaf Prime. When you pull all that together, that's the very reason that we're experiencing the outsized growth rates that we are in the market today. These brand launches are intended for us to continue that level of success.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Okay. With respect to SG&A, the SG&A initiatives that you have coming in fuel for growth, is there an ability for you to give us some sort of magnitude of the benefits I should anticipate in 2026?

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Is it neutral?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah. We will at some stage. I think that would tie into our 2026 outlook, which. We understand there's a desire to understand, and will come after. This particular call. What's important to note is even in the last quarter, Vishal, we did pick up 50 basis points of leverage in our SG&A rate as a percentage of sales. You are starting to see the benefits of some of the reorganization work that we've done shine through. There is more work coming, obviously. That will all be embedded in terms of the 2026 benefits of things like our SG&A work, the procurement work that we've already completed, the work we're doing from a manufacturing point of view. That will have a multi-year benefit. You can expect to see that when we provide more clarity on our 2026 outlook.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Okay.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Sorry, just to jump back to the pricing comment and the pricing coming in in Q1. Is that pricing that's coming in for Q1 reflecting the situation today? If the commodities continue to escalate, at what point is there a cutoff such that in Q1, you will not be able to pass on the entirety of the price subsequent to that date, that February date that you mentioned? This commodity impact may linger into Q2 or Q3. Obviously, we do not have the history to gauge Maple Leaf Foods' remaining code vulnerability to these commodity swings. I want to be able to triangulate that in future quarters should the commodity prices continue to run.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We are pricing for all the known inflation we have today. That is essentially what the market kind of allows for. It is very difficult to move forward and price for what we do not know.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We'll continue to adjust our pricing as required moving forward if it's required. At this stage, we're very confident that we've included all the known inflation that we have in the business. Very uncommon that that would linger, Vishal, for several quarters. Very uncommon. What we don't know is the consumer response to new pricing in the market and the volume impacts that come with that. That will certainly play itself out over time. Very important to have the number one and two brands in the category and the type of marketing and innovation support that we do have in inflationary environments like this.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

To ask the question the other way, if the inflationary environment continues to the end of the year, your pricing in December, in February, sorry, will reflect the commodity price today. Did I characterize that correctly? Would that land?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yes. Yes.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Okay.

[Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank]

Thank you.

[Operator]

Your next question comes from Irene Nattel of RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

[Irene Nattel, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets]

Thanks. And good morning, everyone. I want to come back to consumer behavior. Obviously, we're hearing a lot of discussion about, yesterday, pet values determined uneven. We're hearing a lot about value-seeking behavior. In the release, you noted promotional spending was up, was a factor in both poultry and prepared Foods in Q3. I was just wondering what you're seeing out there and also what the retailers are kind of demanding or asking for in terms of promotional support.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Good morning, Irene. I would view the headline for the consumer environment as stable but cautious. The caution is a result of all the things we know about today: ongoing inflation, some of the geopolitical tension that exists in today's world.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

As a result, value-seeking continues to be a key theme. That has not changed quarter over quarter from our perspective, and it is certainly a key theme. Where we are excited is where we are positioned in the market to offer value to value-seeking consumers, I think, is really, really positive. Number one, we are a protein-focused company at a time when protein demand is very strong and growing. Our leading brands allow us to have capabilities across all value segments in the grocery store, whether that is our leading premium brands, our RWA brands, or some of our regional value brands, which give us an opportunity to compete in different areas of our categories and across different parts of the grocery store. We have a scalable growth platform in the U.S. that we are obviously excited about that gives us some level of growth support.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Our leadership in sustainability and sustainable meats continues to kind of differentiate us in a really positive way. You combine those things with the innovation that we're putting out and feel really good about our ability to compete and grow inside of what's clearly a difficult and continues to be challenging consumer environment. That will be tested in the first quarter when we take additional inflationary pricing and continue to be really confident that the volume response will be positive. I mean, we did, Irene, take pricing in the second quarter from an inflationary point of view. It's not like we didn't see this inflation coming. Just the magnitude and the duration exceeded our original forecast, and now we're coming forward with another wave. The volume response in the last quarter has actually been pretty positive.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

The branded volume growth was up this past quarter, and I view that as a success story.

[Irene Nattel, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets]

That's great. Thank you. Just on the trade promotion piece of it, would you say that it's sort of normal levels, above normal levels right now?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Oh, no. Still. More promotional, still above. Kind of "normal levels," Irene, still above. There's still more promotional support required to get the volume and the market share outcomes that we're seeing. That's, to a certain degree, one of the reasons why you're seeing strong growth, 8%, and margins that are pressured somewhat in the short term. You take the combination of the inflation and the consumer environment. Those two things combined are really what's putting pressure sequentially on the margin. Again, on a relative basis, really happy. On a year-over-year basis, really happy. From the top-line perspective, really happy.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Need to own the fact that we've taken a step back sequentially, and we need to get that back on track.

[Irene Nattel, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets]

Understood. Thank you.

[Operator]

Your next question comes from Étienne Ricard of BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

[Étienne Ricard, Equity Research Analyst at BMO Capital Markets]

Thank you. And good morning. As it relates to the U.S. business. What sales performance are you seeing in this geography, and how would the pricing power differ between Canada and the U.S., given I believe the U.S. tends to be more sustainable meats?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah. That's a very important point. I'll answer the second part first. We're obviously a much smaller player, both in terms of our brand presence and our absolute size in the United States market. What gives us pricing power in the U.S. is our meaningful point of difference in sustainable meats. We've got a leadership position in the sustainable meats segment, while a small.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Portion of the United States market is growing rapidly. We're growing inside of that. That gives us pricing confidence. I don't think, given the inflationary support that's very clear that exists today, that we'll have any problem in a material way of passing that through in the U.S. market. That brand leadership gives us that level of support in sustainable meats, which is a competitive difference and continues to be positive. We did see positive growth in our prepared meats business in the U.S. this past quarter, and we expect that to continue.

[Étienne Ricard, Equity Research Analyst at BMO Capital Markets]

Thank you very much.

[Operator]

Your next call comes from John Zamparo of Scotiabank. Please go ahead.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Thank you. Good morning. I wanted to follow up on trade promotions and specifically the seasonality of it. I think in the past, you've said that Q3 is typically the peak. Is that still the case?

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

I do not suspect you'll quantify a year-over-year change in Q3. Whatever that number was, do you expect it to remain similar in Q4 on a year-over-year basis?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah. I do not think you'll see a material departure Q4 versus Q3 from the promotional intensity and frequency that exists in the business. It tends to shift. Summer tends to be hot dogs and sausages. Winter tends to be ham and bacon, and the peak season throughout the holiday season. The category dynamics change, but from a materiality perspective, it's not significantly different between Q4 and Q3, I think, in the new business.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Okay. Thank you for that. I wanted to ask broadly about price elasticity from consumers at the current time. I know there's a lot of uncertainty here. You do not have a crystal ball, but.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

It does not seem like you are seeing trade down based on your comments about branded sales and RWA. I wonder if just the general context of the consumer environment makes you think differently than you otherwise would. It is early in Q4, but any signs that you have seen any change there?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We have seen a margin impacted by higher levels of promotional intensity for certain. That has happened for certain. Otherwise, we think we would be operating at higher levels of margin than we are today, even higher than we are today. That has played out. I do not expect that will change materially in the quarter ahead.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Okay. Lastly, on the Buy Canada theme, it is always tough to measure this, but I wonder what you can say about what you thought the impact was in Q3. Is it fair to say we are seeing a more moderate impact in Q4?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

I think so. I mean, like you say, it's very difficult to quantify the impact. We'd like to think there's positive tailwinds in that area. There's lots of pride in all things Canada these days, as I think there should be. Very difficult to quantify. I would suspect it's moderating. I've been in the camp squarely that from day one, we should expect that that will be momentum that's maybe a little shorter to live than we would all like, and that at some point in time, it would moderate. I think what you're seeing here in terms of our growth is a less Buy Canada and more really solid execution of what our proven growth strategies in the market are proving to be resilient, durable, effective, and growth strategies that we think will take us well into the future.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Okay. Thanks for that.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Sorry, just one more. On the long-term guidance framework that's coming near term, I assume you don't want to steal its thunder, but any sense of what investors can expect? Is it likely to focus on a specific margin target, or are you leaning more towards an overall growth algo? Anything you're willing to share at this point?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Not much I'm willing to share. I think it's premature. We're in the process right now, and this is normal in our business. We're normal at this stage. Our 2026 budget gets presented to our board in the month of December, along with our forward-looking strategic plan for the future. The outcome of that dialogue, discussion, and approval and alignment process will ultimately guide our communications around guidance.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

I think it's premature today, but you should expect us to be coming forward with that in the short coming months ahead.

[John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank]

Understood. I'll leave it there. Thank you very much.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Thank you.

[Operator]

Just a reminder, if you wish to ask a question, please press star one. Your next question comes from Michael Van Aelst of TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

I just want to follow up, actually, on the top-line growth, which has been impressive this year, even if it is slowing a little bit, as we kind of cycle tougher comps as well. The two new brands that you're launching, can you talk about the addressable market for these? If you don't have a specific number, maybe something what you think relative to the Mina and the RWA, for example.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

The Musafir brand, Mina is probably a good proxy, Mike, in terms of the total addressable market. A very fast demographic. Opportunity in the Canadian market. What's interesting, we commented on Gen Z and millennials having a real and sustained interest in global food flavors, and maybe less of a propensity to cook from scratch. Those two things combined, the desire for more diversity in flavor offerings, more diversity in food offerings, but in a prepared meal occasion, makes the total addressable market for Musafir maybe even larger than the halal opportunity. I would say equal to or greater than what we've seen and experienced in Mina Halal, without putting a number around it. I'd have to spend some time doing that. I haven't, but I could. On the meat snacks opportunity, this isn't your normal

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

kind of meat stick. Number one, it's not refrigerated. It's shelf-stable. Number two, 12 g of protein at 110 calories. Is a really awesome nutritional benefit for people who are looking for healthy protein on the go. And that's a large and very rapidly growing total addressable market. What's exciting about meat sticks is the ability to, number one, have success in our core business, which would be the retail environment, but also extend distribution into alternative channels: health food stores, convenience locations, gas and convenience locations, drugstore offerings, which obviously, as you know, are large and growing. Gyms, workout facilities. The shelf-stable reach makes the distribution opportunities much more material. We're already having success in gaining distribution in those areas. I'm excited to, looking forward to report out a little bit more news around the success. Right now, we're just getting the product into the market.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Our supply is selling out quickly, which is always a very positive outcome in a product launch. I am sure we will get some positive updates along the way.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

Great. That is helpful. Last question. With leverage down at two times now, what is the plan for free cash flow next 12 months? Given the weakness in the share price, is it your intention to be active on your NCIB?

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

David, maybe you would cover this one.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Yeah. Morning, Mike. Similar to Curtis's comments around outlook for 2026, obviously, this view of capital allocation and how that aligns with our view of the next 12 months all kind of wrapped up together. What I can say is, and consistent with what we say in the outlook, we intend to continue to build on the track record of growth in the annual dividend. That is a key focus for us.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We are evaluating those future capital allocation opportunities with a desire to return capital to shareholders. We are just working through the strategy for that, timing for that, the quantum of that. That will all be wrapped up in the guidance we give going forward, as well as our view that the share price is undervalued today. I talked about this last quarter. Nothing's changed in our view today post the spin. All those factors will be things that we're considering as we lay that out going forward. I'm not going to talk to specifics today, but it is a very active conversation.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

Is there anything preventing you from buying back stock this quarter?

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Obviously, being in a blackout period up until now this quarter, there's nothing in and of itself presenting any obstacles to implementing share buybacks when we're outside a blackout period.

[David Smales, CFO at Maple Leaf Foods]

We are mindful of the butterfly structure, and that has some restrictions around it. As we demonstrated in August, we have some flexibility to operate within that. That is all part of the algorithm we are working through right now as we decide on the right strategy going forward.

[Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen]

All right. Thank you.

[Operator]

There are no further questions at this time. I will now turn the call back over to Mr. Frank. Please continue.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

Great. Thank you for joining us today. It was obviously a historic quarter with the completion of the spinoff of Canada Packers. There was lots of complexity required in our reporting this quarter. We tried our best to simplify the key themes for you that are of most importance and appreciate your patience in taking the time to walk through with us today.

[Curtis Frank, President and CEO at Maple Leaf Foods]

On the surface, it was a very successful quarter, 8% growth on the top line, a significant improvement in our adjusted EBITDA. Our focus moving forward is obviously on sustaining the growth momentum we have in the business and continuing to create value in a way that's inspiring and enduring. We are looking forward to speaking with you next quarter. Thank you and have a great day.

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.

Participants

Executives

• David Smales, CFO
• Omar Javed, VP of Investor Relations
• Curtis Frank, President and CEO

Analysts

• Étienne Ricard, Equity Research Analyst at BMO Capital Markets
• Michael Van Aelst, Managing Director at TD Cowen
• John Zamparo, Equity Research Analyst at Scotiabank
• Vishal Shreedhar, Analyst at National Bank
• Mark Peterie, Equity Research Analyst at CIBC
• Irene Nattel, Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets
• Martin Landry, Consumer and Retail Analyst at Stifel