December 26, 2006

Foster Farms expands wing-processing capacity

Foster Farms' cooked chicken plant in Porterville, California, US, expanded wing-processing capacity in hopes of capturing key foodservice accounts.

Foster Farms produces some 14 million kilogrammes of chicken wings a year. Although the firm also produces millions of pounds annually of cooked chicken strips, whole-muscle products, formed chicken products, mini corn dogs and pizza toppings for retail and foodservice (approximately 125 active products, 75 of which are produced on a regular basis), the recent expansion was a strategic decision to support the company's wing business, explained Paul Bravinder, manager of cooked chicken and a 23-year industry veteran who joined Foster Farms in 2001.

The plant started off with two processing lines in 1999, but has already expanded with another two lines since then.

The expansion increased capacity by approximately 30 percent, said Bravinder, and required the addition of 60 new full-time positions, bringing the facility's headcount to 400. Most importantly, the expansion landed the company accounts with key foodservice operators on the West Coast.