08 Jun ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston Announces Plans to Expand Operations in Richland, WA
Construction on a new french fry line will begin immediately, allowing the company to keep up with global demand
EAGLE, Idaho, June 8 , 2016 – 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 Foods
ConAgra 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 Weston
Lamb 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.