Agribusiness Allen Harim is poised to expand its footprint in Sussex County.
The company announced it is in negotiations to acquire the former Pinnacle Foods Vlasic processing plant in Millsboro. It plans to invest $100 million to convert the facility into poultry processing, cut-up, and cooking plant.
The plant is expected to employ about 700 people when it opens in November 2014. The Pinnacle Vlasic plant closed last November, costing the state approximately 200 jobs.
“The new facility will expand our processing capacity, allow us to introduce new products and hire more employees," said Allen Harim CEO Gary E. Gladys in a statement. "This will have a significant economic impact in Delaware, and serve as a symbol of our deep commitment to the United States market with an investment of an estimated $100 million.”
In a statement, Gov. Jack Markell called it an important expansion that “strengthens Harim’s commitment to Delaware, and it helps many Delawareans in Sussex County who want to work for this growing company."
State Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee says that’s not the only anticipated boon to the local economy.
“This expansion will create a demand for more chickens, which creates opportunities for our farmers to raise more chickens. But also, those extra chickens consume more grain, more corn and soybeans and that’s important,” said Kee.
Kee says the growth is especially needed in Sussex County where a large umber of jobs are seasonal.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Delaware) said he is pleased to see the shuttered Vlasic plant coming back to life.
“I've worked to keep this plant open for more than 20 years, and I was happy to be a part of an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure we replaced the jobs that could be lost if the plant closed for good," Carper said in a statement. “We started looking for a company that might utilize this fine facility. Our efforts have finally paid off, and I am grateful that Allen Harim will be taking over this manufacturing facility in order to expand its poultry processing operation and eventually restore hundreds of much-needed jobs to Sussex County.”
Allen Harim currently operates a processing plant in Harbeson, and has a hatchery, feed mill and corporate office in Seaford. Those facilities were part of Harim’s purchase of Allen Family Food in September 2011.
Allen Harim’s U.S. operations also include facilities in Maryland and North Carolina. The company employs about 1,400 workers and has 25 company owned farms and 270 independent growers.