TSX: MFI

www.mapleleaffoods.com

TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2012 /CNW/ – Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSX: MFI) today
announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its
potato processing facility in Lethbridge, Alberta to Cavendish Farms,
an affiliate of J.D. Irving Ltd.

The Lethbridge facility employs approximately 135 people and makes a
variety of frozen French fries, hash browns and specialty potato
products. The business has annual sales of approximately $75 million
and markets its products to domestic and international customers. Maple
Leaf will realize proceeds of approximately $60 million from the sale,
which includes inventory and working capital, which will be used to pay
down debt. The transaction is expected to close by the end of December,
2012.

“This business will be in good hands in a company that is focused on
growth in the value added potato business,” said Michael McCain,
President and CEO. “The quality of our products and strength of our
people, customer and producer relationships were pivotal to completing
this agreement,” said Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf
Foods.

Cavendish Farms is a producer of frozen potato and appetizer products
and a leader in the food industry. It supplies North American and
international customers for retail, restaurant and institutional
use. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.cavendishfarms.com.

Maple Leaf Foods is a leading Canadian meat, meals and bakery company
committed to delivering nutritious and innovative food products to
consumers around the world. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, the
Company employs approximately 19,500 people at its operations across
Canada and in the United States, Europe and Asia. For more information,
visit www.mapleleaf.com.

SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc.