Pinnacle Foods Group LLC has officially opened a 17,000-square-foot expansion to its Fort Madison canned meat factory today. The newly expanded location brings 65 jobs to Fort Madison, Iowa. Governor Terry Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds joined Mayor Steve Ireland and local government officials and Pinnacle Foods executives to celebrate the grand opening of the facility at today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The expansion includes the addition of production and packaging lines for the company’s Nalley chili and Brook’s bean brands. As a result of the expansion, more than 80 products have been added to the factory’s existing production portfolio of Armour canned meats and chili.

“We are excited to support the growth of our company by expanding production in Fort Madison,” says Bryan Langerud, plant manager of Pinnacle Foods’ Fort Madison factory. “The State of Iowa and the City of Fort Madison were critical to our successful expansion and we thank them for their support over the past year.”

"I am excited to welcome these new jobs to the Fort Madison area," said Gov. Branstad. "I am pleased that Pinnacle Foods Group has chosen to invest here and create jobs here. This is great news for our state."

Mayor Steve Ireland said, “We were thrilled for the opportunity to partner with Pinnacle Foods in their expansion. They are a valuable employer in the Fort Madison economy.”

Pinnacle Foods made a $20 million capital investment to expand the Fort Madison facility, upgrade infrastructure, and install new manufacturing equipment at the plant.

Source: Pinnacle Foods Group LLC