Nestlé's Sweet Investment

Last summer, Nestlé officials announced a record-breaking $165-million investment in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where a state-of-the art frozen foods operation began production this spring. The 325,000-sq. ft. (30,192-sq.-m.) facility will manufacture Stouffer's and Lean Cuisine brand frozen meals. Nestlé's partner, Millard Refrigerated Services, is building a 200,000-sq.-ft. (18,580-sq.-m.) temperature-controlled warehouse. Company officials estimate they will hire more than 1,000 workers at the site.
        Pinnacle Foods, a Fayetteville-based firm, will expand its operations and hire 100 new employees. The $8-million expansion includes a new cooler and new compressor and condenser space. Pinnacle Foods officials feel the expansion is a perfect match for Arkansas' expanding food industry.
        "The quality of the Arkansas work force has been a key factor in the success of this plant over the years," says Art Shuster, plant manager. "In addition, Pinnacle Foods has developed long-term partnerships with the city of Fayetteville and the state of Arkansas."
        Packaged cheese, salsa and chip packs will be manufactured at Creative Foods' new plant in the Aeroplex complex in Blytheville. A longtime Arkansas firm, Creative is the largest privately owned margarine manufacturer in the U.S., with another plant in Osceola that employs 241 workers.
        Warren officials had a speculative building available in the Warren Industrial Park that was close to poultry processing plants and had good transportation infrastructure. H&L Poultry Processing snapped it up for its 300-worker, 50,000-sq.-ft. (4,645-sq. m.) processing plant.
        "If we had not laid the groundwork and had not had the speculative building, we probably would not have H&L," says John Lipton, president of the Bradley County Industrial Development Corp. "You've got to have available building space in order to attract industry in today's industrial market."
        "We are very pleased with the work force we have hired," notes H&L vice president, Jack Lawhorn. "They are very conscientious, hard workers, and they've done a tremendous job picking up the process very quickly."

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