ConAgra Foods commences major expansion of Arkansas facility

US-based packaged foods company ConAgra Foods has broken ground on the $100m expansion of its facility in Russellville, Arkansas, a move which is expected to create more than 80 new jobs over the next two years.

The expansion project was originally announced by the company in September 2012.

The expansion of the facility will facilitate the production of Bertolli and PF Chang’s Home Menu frozen meals.

These brands were acquired by the company from Unilever in 2012, as part of its plan to strengthen its frozen foods business.

Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development president Jeff Pipkin said that ConAgra Foods has been producing food products in Russellville since 1964 and continues to be one of the largest employers in the region.

"With this exciting expansion announcement today, we know the company will be a significant part of our local economy for years to come," Pipkin added.

ConAgra Foods has expanded its Russellville manufacturing operations numerous times since the facility was originally built in 1964.

The facility, located at 3100 Main Street, currently produces Banquet, Healthy Choice and Marie Callender’s products, and has a workforce of 1,300.

In August 2012, ConAgra completed the acquisition of Unilever’s North American frozen meals division, which includes the Bertolli and PF Chang’s Home Menu frozen meals businesses, in a $267m deal.

The acquisition included the licence for ConAgra to use the Bertolli brand name in the frozen meals business as well as the transfer of Unilever’s licence to use the PF Chang’s Home Menu brand name.

ConAgra Foods, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, produces a wide range of food products including cooking oil, frozen dinners, hot cocoa, hot dogs, peanut butter and many others.

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Image: ConAgra Foods’ Russellville facility expansion will facilitate the production of Bertolli and PF Chang’s Home Menu frozen meals. Photo courtesy of ConAgra Foods, Inc.