JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Nestle Prepared Foods Co. announced Tuesday it will spend $60 million to expand its frozen foods plant at Jonesboro and hire as many as 200 new workers.
The plant currently has about 600 workers, including 200 added in the last six months for increased production of the Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine lines.
The plant will add a production line and will build a new bakery so it can produce pizzas for both brands, the company announced.
Solon, Ohio-based Nestle Prepared Foods said Nation Pizza Products of Schaumburg, Ill., will operate the bakery, which will be designed for future expansion.
Nestle said the expanded portion of the plant will turn out products that include Lean Cuisine Brick Oven Style Pizzas and Stouffer's Corner Bistro Flatbreads.
''The announcement of our decision to expand the facility in Arkansas reflects our commitment to investing in manufacturing capacity to help us meet demand for our successful Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine brands,'' said Dale Morsefield, Nestle Prepared Foods Co. vice president of supply chain and operations.
The $165 million, 325,000-square-foot plant was built starting in 2001 with production beginning in 2003. The expansion will add 50,000 square feet of manufacturing area to accommodate preparation and packaging of the pizzas.
