ConAgra Foods, Inc. has announced 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. Lamb Weston’s existing facility in Richland employs approximately 500 people, and was built in 1972.
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. A frozen potato industry leader, the company currently operates 22 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.
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, Lamb Weston president. “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.”
“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.”
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