Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, with the Meat Protein Group delivering top-line growth of 5% and an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 7.6% in the quarter.

"Although global pork markets continued in their dislocation during our first quarter as expected, we made excellent progress in important dimensions of this inflection point year," said Michael H. McCain, executive chair and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods. "Our supply chain has made exceptional progress back to full normalization, we have advanced our much-needed inflation pricing, we began taking advantage of our renewed access to the Chinese markets and continue to see strong performance across our brands.

"We have line of sight on being Adjusted EBITDA neutral in our plant protein business this year, and our world-leading London poultry plant start-up is going exceptionally well as it is now operating at a full single shift. At this point, we have full conviction that once pork markets normalize we will meet or exceed our financial targets of 14-16% Adjusted EBITDA margins, all while continuing to advance our vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth."

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

Outlook

Sales for the first quarter of 2023 were $1.17 billion compared to $1.12 billion last year, an increase of 4.3%, driven by higher sales in the Meat Protein Group more than offsetting a decrease in the Plant Protein Group. 

Net loss for the first quarter of 2023 was $57.7 million ($0.48 loss per basic share) compared to earnings of $13.7 million ($0.11 per basic share) last year. Net earnings were negatively impacted by results in the Meat Protein Group, driven by pork market headwinds, cost inflation and higher start-up expenses, partly offset by pricing actions taken in prior quarters to mitigate inflation. These results were mitigated by stronger results in the Plant Protein Group with improved margins and lower Selling, General, and Administrative spending as the segment continues to execute against its plan to be Adjusted EBITDA neutral in the latter half of 2023. In addition, results were negatively impacted by unrealized mark to market valuations on biological assets driven by changes in feed and hog markets, higher interest expense with increased rates and higher debt largely to fund strategic capital expenditures, partly offset by a tax recovery. 

Adjusted Operating Earnings for the first quarter of 2023 were $19.3 million compared to $16.1 million last year, and Adjusted Earnings per Share for the first quarter of 2023 was a loss of $0.12 compared to earnings of $0.03 last year due to similar factors as noted above.