4 June 2008 - H.J. Heinz Co. is opening a new frozen meals manufacturing plant in Pee Dee Commerce City Park, Florence County, South Carolina.
The company will produce its Weight Watchers Smart Ones and Boston Market frozen meals at the new facility, which is expected to hire 350 people.
The facility is scheduled to open during the summer of 2009.
“Our frozen meals business is growing rapidly and the new facility is a sign of our commitment to supporting and sustaining this growth,” said Dave Moran, President and CEO of Heinz North America.
Meanwhile, media reports from New Zealand state that Heinz may be considering making further purchases in the country.
"We're always looking for similar opportunities in both countries or tied into larger corporate deals," Mike Milone, head of Heinz Australia and New Zealand, was reported as saying at an analyst meeting in New York earlier this week.
Last week, FLEXNEWS reported that Heinz recorded higher fourth-quarter earnings based largely on increased prices.