Brazil strengthens its role as a key growth market as the company expands its production capacity in the country.
São Paulo, Brazil (October 29 2025) – McCain Foods (McCain), the leading prepared potato company, announces the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Araxá, Minas Gerais, with an estimated investment of R$ 1.8 billion, our biggest investment historically in the region.
In recent years, McCain has strengthened its presence in Brazil with significant investments, such as the inauguration of the Araxá plant in 2022 and the full acquisition of Forno de Minas in 2023.
The Araxá plant expansion project includes a new French fry production line, and a pre-formed products line – significantly enhancing McCain’s capacity in Brazil to meet rising demand with greater local agility, ensuring continued support for regional customers, and advancing innovation through new technology.
The new production line is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2027 and aims to significantly expand McCain’s ability to serve customers throughout Brazil, with a focus on the Retail, Cash & Carry and Food Service channels, including the Fast-Food segment.
“Brazil is on track to become the third-largest market for frozen French fries globally, positioning itself as a strategic priority for McCain. This investment reaffirms the importance of the Brazilian market to our business and our ambition to grow in a consistent and responsible way,” says Aluizio Periquito Neto, Managing Director of the McCain Brazil group.
The expansion also includes the construction of new storage facilities dedicated to raw potatoes, ensuring a continuous supply of high-quality products throughout the year. The cold storage capacity for frozen products will also be expanded.
In addition to strengthening the company's presence in the country, expansion will bring significant socioeconomic benefits to the region. It is estimated that more than 350 jobs will be created in Araxá, along with the involvement of over 1,000 professionals in the agricultural sector.
Sustainable Expansion
One of McCain's key priorities is strengthening its commitment to planet-friendly practices. Therefore, the expansion will follow global operational standards, which guide how facilities are designed and operated to reduce environmental impact. The existing plant already operates with 100% renewable energy and recently received carbon neutral certification1 from BSI for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
"Driving sustainable practices in everything we do and caring for the planet have always been global priorities for McCain — and the expansion of the Araxá plant will be no exception," concludes Periquito Neto.
About McCain
McCain do Brasil Alimentos is a division of McCain Foods Limited, a family-owned company founded in 1957 in Florenceville, Canada. A global leader in frozen French fry production, McCain is also prominent in the prepared appetizers and snack segment, with a presence in more than 160 countries. With approximately 22,000 employees worldwide, the company operates 49 production facilities across six continents, maintains partnerships with more than 3,900 farmers, and reports annual revenues exceeding CAD 16 billion.
McCain has been present in Brazil for over 35 years and has been expanding its operations in the country. In 2022, it inaugurated its first local factory in Araxá (MG), a key milestone in strengthening its national operations. The company has also expanded its footprint in the Brazilian market through the acquisition of local companies such as Serya and Forno de Minas.