Toronto, Canada (November 12, 2025) – McCain Foods (McCain), a global leader in prepared potato and appetizer products, has entered into an agreement to acquire Penobscot McCrum LLC (McCrum), one of North America’s premier suppliers of frozen potato specialty products. The transaction represents an important step in strengthening McCain’s North American network and its operations in potato products. Closing of the transaction is subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
The transaction includes McCrum’s potato processing facility in Washburn, Maine. The McCrum farming operation will remain independently owned and will enter a long-term potato supply agreement with McCain. All of the approximately 130 employees at the Washburn facility will join McCain, with McCrum’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer supporting the transition.
McCain has been part of Maine’s potato industry for nearly 50 years, acquiring its Easton, Maine, processing facility in 1976 and working alongside local growers, ever since. Built in 2020, the McCrum processing facility in Washburn is a state-of-the-art and highly automated plant, adding capacity to complement McCain’s Easton facility, supporting local employment and regional supply resilience.
The American Northeast is an important agricultural hub, and an area where McCrum has a proud legacy, providing a strong foundation for continued growth and further investment in Maine farmers that will bring more Maine-grown potato products to tables across the country.
“As family-owned companies dedicated to producing foods families love, there is a lot of synergy between McCain and McCrum,” says Howard Snape, Regional President, North America, McCain Foods. “We share a strong commitment to integrity, sustainability, and the highest-quality standards. Both companies enjoy strong relationships with local farmers, and all of that will continue. On the ground, we expect this transition to be seamless for the newest additions to the McCain team and the McCrum farmers who grow potatoes for us.”
The acquisition will further support McCain’s position as a leader in the supply of North American potato products, advancing innovation, strengthening transportation logistics, and enhancing customer service. Incorporating McCrum’s state-of-the-art processing facility will also provide flexibility to pursue modernization, lower costs, optimized processing, and better serve McCain’s customer base.
“This is a natural next step for the long-standing partnership between our farming operations and McCain Foods,” says Jay McCrum, Owner and CEO, Penobscot McCrum. “We know McCain. We know their values. We have every confidence they will build on our family’s legacy while allowing us to continue to grow in agriculture, just as we have for more than five generations.”
For more information, please visit mccain.com.
About McCain Foods
McCain Foods Limited is a family-owned business founded in 1957 in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada. Today, the company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of frozen potato products and a global leader in prepared appetizers and snacks. Its products can be found in restaurants and retail stores in more than 160 countries around the world. The company has major production, retail and corporate operations around the world, employs approximately 22,000 people, operates 49 production facilities on six continents, partners with 3,900 farmers and generates annual sales in excess of $16 billion CAD.
About Penobscot McCrum
Penobscot McCrum, LLC is a Maine-based, family-owned company dedicated to excellence in potato products. Built on values of honesty, integrity, hard work, and quality, the McCrum family represents five generations of potato farmers dating back to 1886 in Mars Hill, Maine. As a vertically integrated enterprise, Penobscot McCrum oversees every stage – from field to table – ensuring sustainability and the highest standards. Today, the company is one of North America’s premier suppliers of superior, value-added potato specialty products, offering unique innovations and family favorites. Committed to stewardship and quality, Penobscot McCrum proudly delivers products that reflect its heritage and passion for potatoes.
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