US Bubba Foods acquires former meat plant in Hastings

Bubba Foods, a Florida company that makes frozen hamburger patties has acquired the former Armour-Eckrich plant in Hastings.

Jacksonville-based Bubba Foods said it plans to close on the sale this month and have the plant up and running by mid-summer.

More than US$11 million will be spent on the acquisition and renovations of the plant, which closed last July, costing 370 jobs.

President and CEO Billy Morris said that the Hastings plant will allow Bubba Foods to meet the strong demand for the Bubba burger in the Midwest and West Coast.

In addition, the company is also spending US$7.7 million to expand an existing plant in Elberton, Georgia.