ConAgra Foods to invest $50m in Iowa plant

ConAgra Foods is planning to invest $50m to expand its plant located in the Waterloo MidPort Industrial Park in Iowa.

The company will produce David snack seed at its Waterloo unit once the expansion is completed.

ConAgra specialises in producing food products that include cooking oil, frozen dinners, hot cocoa, hot dogs and peanut butter.

With the expansion the company will potentially increase its production by an estimated 30%, adding around 99,000ft² to its existing facility.

The expansion would include the construction of processing, packaging, warehouse and administrative areas, and is expected to create 55 additional jobs.

ConAgra Foods senior vice-president of supply chain Mike Tracy said: "Waterloo is a great fit for ConAgra Foods and our new snack seeds facility. Waterloo has an excellent workforce and the location will allow us to meet our current and future business needs.

"Selecting Waterloo, pending approval of state and local assistance, for this work was made possible through great partnerships between ConAgra Foods and local officials, and we look forward to having a continued presence in Waterloo."

The new production line will create an automated manufacturing platform for enhanced flexibility in packaging options as per business requirements.

Waterloo Mayor Buck Clark said: "This expansion is great for Waterloo’s tax base and it adds new employment opportunities for the whole Cedar Valley area. Furthermore, ConAgra continues to strengthen and diversify its Waterloo location by adding yet another product line."

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Image: ConAgra produces cooking oil, frozen dinners, hot cocoa, hot dogs and peanut butter. Photo: courtesy of ConAgra Foods.