Maple Leaf funds lab-grown meat

Article Excerpt

MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC. $28 is still a hold. The company (Toronto symbol MFI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 123.9 million; Market cap: $3.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mapleleaffoods.com) has expanded beyond processed meat products in the past few years. Under that plan, it has acquired firms that make plant-based protein products under the Lightlife and Field Roast brands. The food giant has also invested $2 million in Evolved Meats, a start-up firm based in Kitchener, Ontario. Evolved is developing a way to grow meat directly from animal cells. This process uses 99% less land and 96% less water than current meat production. However, consumer demand for alternative meat products has waned in the past year, mainly due to the higher cost of these products compared to traditional meats. Maple Leaf Foods is a hold. hold…