DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (AP) -- Sara Lee Corp. says it will spend more than $130 million to open a new sliced meat manufacturing facility in Kansas City, Kan.
The food maker says the plant in Kansas will have more than 250 jobs and be operational by 2011.
The Downers Grove, Ill.-based company says it is making the investment in the plant to give it capacity for long-term growth in the meat business.
CJ Fraleigh, chief executive of the company's North American Retail and Foodservice division, says the plant will help the company build on its Hillshire Farm and Sara Lee brands.
Food companies have been refocusing their efforts on manufacturing sliced meats and other packaged, convenience products as the U.S. consumer looks to cut costs by eating more meals at home.