March 19, 2013

ConAgra's expansion project breaks ground in Russellville, Arkansas

The construction of the US$100 million expansion at a ConAgra Foods plant in Russellville, Arkansas is now under way.

The facility is expected to create at least 80 jobs when the expansion is completed in 2015, bringing total employment to more than 1,300 workers. The ConAgra plant currently produces Healthy Choice, Banquet and Marie Callender's products, but will add production of Bertolli pasta and P.F. Chang's Home Menu frozen meals as part of the 2012 acquisition of those brands.

ConAgra opened the Russellville facility in 1964 and has expanded the facility several times since it began operations. The recent ground breaking was attended by ConAgra officials, Russellville Mayor Bill Eaton and Jeff Pipkin, president of the Arkansas Valley Alliance for Economic Development, according to local media reports.