ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston Announces Plans to Expand Operations in Richland, Wash.
June 08 2016 - 12:04PM
Business Wire
Construction on a new french fry line will
begin immediately, allowing the company to keep up with global
demand
ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) announced today that its Lamb
Weston business will expand operations at its facility in Richland,
Wash., with the addition of a new french fry processing line. The
more than $200 million investment is expected to add 128 full time
positions.
Worldwide demand for frozen french fries continues to increase,
and Euromonitor predicts that the frozen potato category will grow
2.6 billion pounds by 2020. This capacity expansion will allow Lamb
Weston to continue its global growth. Construction on the
state-of-the-art processing line is expected to begin immediately,
with completion in the fall of 2017. Once complete, the added line
is expected to increase annual processing capacity by more than 300
million pounds.
“We have a tremendous opportunity to help our customers realize
their global growth projections, but we need to make more french
fries to do that,” said Greg Schlafer, President, Lamb Weston.
“Investing in capabilities like this is indicative of the
opportunity we see in potatoes, and our specific opportunity at
Lamb Weston to lead the category.” He added, “We’re proud to be a
part of the community in the Tri Cities, and expanding in Richland
is a natural extension of our existing presence here. We’re
especially grateful to the community partners who worked with us to
bring this expansion plan to life.”
Lamb Weston partnered with several officials and organizations
in the Tri Cities and Washington to establish its plans for
expansion. The company would like to recognize Governor Jay
Inslee’s office, the City of Richland, Senator Sharon Brown,
Senator Mark Schoesler, TRIDEC, the Association of Washington
Businesses, and the Department of Commerce.
“We are so pleased with Lamb Weston’s decision to expand their
operations in Richland,” states Cindy Reents, City Manager of the
City of Richland. “This is not only an investment in our city but
our community overall, and we are thrilled to continue our
relationship with this respected company.”
Lamb Weston’s existing facility in Richland employs
approximately 500 people, and was built in 1972. The company has
several offices and facilities in the Tri Cities, including an
Innovation Center in Richland, corporate offices in Kennewick, and
two additional manufacturing facilities in Pasco. Lamb Weston is
one of the largest employers in the Columbia Basin, with
approximately 4,500 employees in the region. A frozen potato
industry leader, the company operates 22 manufacturing facilities
in North America, Europe and China.
About ConAgra FoodsConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is
one of North America's leading packaged food companies with
recognized brands such as Marie Callender's®, Healthy Choice®,
Slim Jim®, Hebrew National®, Orville Redenbacher's®, Peter
Pan®, Reddi-wip®, PAM®, Snack Pack®, Banquet®, Chef Boyardee®, Egg
Beaters®, Hunt’s® and many other ConAgra Foods brands found in
grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra
Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence,
supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other
vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known
restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For
more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.
About Lamb WestonLamb Weston, a ConAgra Foods brand, is a
leading supplier of frozen potato, sweet potato, appetizer and
vegetable products to restaurants and retailers around the world.
For more than 60 years, Lamb Weston has led the industry in
innovation, introducing inventive products that simplify
back-of-house management for our customers and make eating more
delicious for their customers. From the fields where Lamb Weston
potatoes are grown to proactive customer partnerships, Lamb Weston
always strives for more and never settles. Because, when we look at
a potato, we see possibilities.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160608006081/en/
ConAgra Foods, Inc.Shelby Stoolman,
208-424-5461shelby.stoolman@conagrafoods.com
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