McCain Foods strengthens its position in the northeast US

McCain Foods acquires the family business Penobscot McCrum. This producer of frozen potato specialties is located in the state of Maine, thereby expanding McCain's North American operations in the northeast. According to McCain, the acquisition fits into the growth strategy of the fries company. The purchase includes the modern production facility in Washburn (Maine). This factory is seen by McCain as a nice addition to the nearby factory in Easton. Approximately 130 employees from the Washburn location will join McCain. The agricultural branch of Penobscot McCrum will remain independent but has entered into a long-term supply agreement to continue supplying potatoes to McCain. The northeastern region of the US is considered an important agricultural area, with Maine being one of the historical centers of potato cultivation. Penobscot McCrum opened a state-of-the-art fries factory in Washburn in 2020, allowing the company - after decades of cultivation and processing - to make a leap in production capacity. The location is considered one of the newest fry lines in North America. Synergy benefits McCain has been active in Maine for years with a large factory in Easton, owned by the company since 1976 and one of the larger potato processors on the East Coast. The combination of Easton and Washburn can yield scale and logistical advantages within one cultivation area. Penobscot McCrum has a long history: the roots of the family business date back to 1886, when the first generation of McCrum farmers became active in Mars Hill, Maine. In 2004, the family acquired the assets of Penobscot Frozen Foods, allowing the company to grow into a leading supplier of potato specialties. In 2022, a fire destroyed the (other) factory in Belfast; the company then further focused on Washburn. CEO Jay McCrum expresses full confidence that McCain will maintain the company's values and local anchoring: “We know McCain. We know their values. We have every confidence that they will build on the legacy of our family and at the same time enable us to continue to grow in agriculture, just as we have been doing for more than five generations.” “There is a lot of synergy between McCain and McCrum,” states Howard Snape, Regional President North America of McCain Foods. “We share a strong commitment to integrity, sustainability, and the highest quality standards. Both companies maintain strong relationships with local farmers, and that will remain so. McCain further emphasizes that the acquisition aligns with the strategy to bring production closer to key cultivation areas and to invest in sustainable, efficient production facilities. The company has been active in Maine for nearly half a century and sees the integration of the Washburn factory as a logical next step in that history.