Maple Leaf Foods Poultry Processing Plant

Project Overview

Graham delivered this Construction Management project involving the development of a 650,000-square-foot advanced poultry processing facility on a 40-acre site in London, Ontario. The completed plant is designed to support large-scale food production while integrating modern processing technology, operational efficiency and stringent environmental and food safety standards.

The facility operates continuously and was designed to support high-volume production, workforce efficiency and secure site operations. Building layout, access routes and parking infrastructure accommodate the plant’s 24-hour operating schedule and the large workforce required to support processing and administrative functions.

Facility Design and Operations

The processing plant incorporates advanced manufacturing systems and industry best practices in animal welfare and food safety. Two independent poultry processing lines operate within the facility, enabling product segregation and operational flexibility. Together, the lines support a weekly processing capacity of approximately 2.1 million birds.

In addition to the processing areas, the facility includes administrative offices, employee welfare spaces and operational support areas. The site also incorporates controlled access points and external security features to support safe and efficient site management.

Workforce and Workplace Environment

The plant’s design accommodates a large workforce required for continuous operations. Approximately 600 employees work per shift in the processing areas, with an additional 150 operations and administrative personnel on site during peak working hours.

Workplace planning focused on improving employee experience and operational efficiency. Circulation routes and interior layouts were designed to facilitate efficient movement throughout the facility, reduce travel times between functional areas and support safe working conditions. Employee-focused features were also incorporated to help create a comfortable and functional workplace environment within a large-scale industrial processing operation.