McCain Foods Moves To Acquire Penobscot McCrum In Bid To Strengthen North American Processing Network
McCain Foods has entered into an agreement to acquire Penobscot McCrum LLC, adding one of North America’s established suppliers of frozen potato specialty products to its portfolio as the company continues to expand its processing footprint in the region. According to McCain, the deal remains subject to customary closing conditions.
Expansion Through Added Processing Capacity
The transaction covers McCrum’s potato processing facility in Washburn, Maine, a plant built in 2020 and described by the company as “state-of-the-art and highly automated.” McCrum’s farming operation will remain independently owned but will supply McCain under a long-term potato supply agreement.
McCain confirmed that approximately 130 employees at the Washburn facility will join its operations, with McCrum’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer supporting the transition.
McCain has maintained a long-standing presence in Maine since acquiring its Easton processing facility in 1976. The addition of Washburn is positioned as complementary capacity that supports employment and regional supply resilience.
Strategic Rationale In Key Agricultural Region
McCain said the American Northeast remains a critical agricultural hub for the company, with McCrum’s established role in the region forming a basis for further development. The integration is expected to support modernization, logistics, and customer service improvements across McCain’s North American network.
“As family-owned companies dedicated to producing foods families love, there is a lot of synergy between McCain and McCrum,” said 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 companies also highlighted their long-standing relationship, particularly around farming operations and local supply partnerships.
“This is a natural next step for the long-standing partnership between our farming operations and McCain Foods,” said 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.”
