Maple Leaf Bakery has broken ground on an $11 million expansion to its 80,000-sq.-ft. bakery in Roanoke, Va. The investment includes a 50,000-sq.-ft. expansion and the addition of a new line. The expansion will create approximately 40 to 50 new jobs with an anticipated facility start-up December 22, 2001. "The consumer demand for our products has increased steadily since the facility opened in 1998," says Richard Lan, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Bakery. "The expansion will further position Maple Leaf Bakery as the leader in par-baked technology, and premium frozen and specialty baked goods." Maple Leaf Bakery is an independent operating company of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., producing top quality par-baked bread, rolls and bagels for the in-store bakery and foodservice market segments across the United States. Maple Leaf Bakery distributes its products across the United States under the California Goldminer, Sourdough and Eurofresh Crusty Breads brands.

The Stellar Group has started design and development of a new 185,000-sq.-ft. distribution center for Casa Ley, S.A. DE C.V. This facility will store and distribute perishable goods such as frozen and refrigerated seafood and deli meats. Casa Ley is a supermarket chain that operates 100 food and general merchandise stores in Western Mexico. Stellar services include project development, site planning, master planning, programming, architecture and engineering. The low-temperature distribution facility will contain office and welfare areas, machine and mechanical rooms, battery charging rooms, racking system, truck docks and shipping doors. The refrigeration system will consist of energy efficient compressors, condensers, evaporators and microprocessor-based control system.